NYC Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch today announced the adoption of stringent new traffic rules aimed at protecting public safety by enhancing enforcement against drivers who obscure their license plates to evade traffic laws, tolls, and automated enforcement systems. Initially proposed in January 2025, these rules will take effect on April 16, 2025, aligning city regulations with updates to the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law (VTL) that have been in place since September 1, 2024.
Commissioner Rodriguez emphasized the critical need for these changes, stating, “Drivers who obscure their license plates are not just breaking the law — they are putting everyone at risk. Clear and visible plates are more important than ever to ensure public safety, fairness, and improve traffic flow. Automated camera enforcement has been proven to reduce speeding and lower pedestrian fatalities, but it can only work if plates are visible, which is why these strengthened rules are critical to holding violators accountable and protecting all New Yorkers.”
Commissioner Tisch echoed this sentiment, adding, “Ghost plates only exist to evade the law, and they pose a threat to both public safety and traffic safety. Over the past year, the NYPD has taken thousands of illegal ghost plates off the streets, which are often connected to larger crimes. These new rules will strengthen our ability to crack down on this problem and make our streets safer for all.”
The updated rules, now part of Chapter 4 of Title 34 of the Rules of the City of New York, tackle the growing problem of “ghost cars”—vehicles with fake, obscured, or altered plates used to avoid enforcement mechanisms. Since the Adams administration began, over 73,000 ghost cars and unregistered motorized vehicles have been removed from city streets. Drivers who intentionally obscure their plates not only break the law but also shift the financial burden of tolls and fines onto law-abiding New Yorkers, undermining efforts to make streets safer and more efficient.
The adopted rules, finalized after a public hearing on February 6, 2025, impose strict visibility and display requirements. Plates must be securely fastened, readable, and, for New York-registered vehicles, positioned between 12 and 48 inches from the ground when feasible, with a $50 fine for parking with an obscured plate. It’s also prohibited to park or stand a vehicle with a plate covered, coated, or altered to obscure readability or distort its image in photos or videos, including clear coatings that reflect light and interfere with cameras.
Vehicles parked in violation of posted rules cannot use covers that conceal plates, registration stickers, VIN, or restrict access, and materials mimicking legitimate plates or obstructing them—except for toll transponders installed per instructions—are banned. Out-of-state plates are exempt from height restrictions but must remain legible and unobstructed, addressing concerns raised during public comments about the rules’ scope.
These rules bolster NYC’s Vision Zero initiative and its highly effective automated enforcement programs, such as speed and red-light cameras. A recent NYC DOT report highlights their success: speeding violations at camera locations have dropped by 94% on average, traffic injuries and deaths fell 14% at 2022 camera sites compared to non-camera locations, and 74% of violators receive no more than two tickets annually, showing behavioral change.
However, over 12,000 repeat offenders in 2023—accumulating 20+ violations—remain five times more likely to cause fatal or critical crashes. “Automated enforcement works only when cameras can accurately capture license plates,” Rodriguez noted. “These rules ensure reckless drivers face consequences.” With broad public support and no changes made to the proposed rules post-hearing, NYC is set to enhance safety and accountability starting April 16, 2025.
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Susan Shrestha
View More PostsSusan Shrestha is a Europe-based journalist. He covers a wide range of topics, from local matters to global affairs. Shrestha previously worked as a reporter for Khasokhas in Nepal.
