In March 2024, law enforcement in New York inspected a license plate during an operation on the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge. This event marked the start of a new task force to target ghost cars, vehicles with fake or altered plates that avoid detection by traffic cameras and toll systems in New York City.
In states like Tennessee and Pennsylvania, legislators are taking action against license plate flippers, devices that let drivers hide or change their license plates with the push of a button. While these devices are often used at car shows to switch between decorative plates, some drivers use them to avoid law enforcement, tolls, and speed cameras.
States like Texas and Washington have already banned license plate flippers since 2013. Across the U.S., altering or blocking a license plate is usually illegal, regardless of the method.
Tennessee’s new law, which took effect in July, bans the sale, purchase, and use of plate flippers. People caught buying one could face up to six months in jail and a $500 fine, while those manufacturing or selling them could face nearly a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
In Pennsylvania, the House passed a bill to ban plate flippers with penalties up to $2,000. This bill is now waiting for Senate approval.
Cities like Philadelphia are also cracking down. In April, Mayor Cherelle Parker signed a law banning plate flippers, with fines reaching $2,000 for violations. Councilmember Mike Driscoll stressed that tag flipping, which might seem like something from a James Bond movie, is a real problem that municipalities need to address.
New York is also targeting ghost cars through a task force launched earlier in 2024. In 2022, the city partnered with Amazon to limit the sale of license plate covers that block traffic cameras. This followed a law passed the same year to ban the sale of these products to New York City residents.
The focus on license plate flippers is tied to both criminal activity and lost revenue from tolls and traffic tickets. Obstructing a plate is a common violation, whether through flippers, tape, or even unintentional methods like a bike rack blocking the view. This makes it difficult for law enforcement to identify vehicles, which can impact public safety.
While most tolling agencies aren’t severely impacted, New York City’s MTA Bridges and Tunnels lost over $21 million in 2023 due to obstructed plates. The task force has seized more than 2,100 vehicles and made over 450 arrests since its launch, with many offenders involved in other crimes like illegal firearm possession or driving stolen cars.
Even though the losses represent less than 1% of the agency’s total revenue, they reduce its ability to fund public transportation. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey also reported losing about $40 million in toll revenue in 2022 due to missing or obscured plates.
Efforts to address these violations are growing, as agencies work to ensure everyone pays their fair share and contributes to safer roads.