Streetsblog exposed widespread use of covered or defaced license plates, prompting public pressure and enforcement. The NYPD, MTA, and other agencies marked their 100th joint action against so-called "ghost cars," reporting 5,340 vehicles seized and millions of dollars recovered in unpaid tolls and penalties since March 2024. Officials framed the seizures as responding to New Yorkers demanding removal of these vehicles. Inquiry into seized-vehicle disposal revealed the NYPD does not crush or destroy cars; the MTA takes cars tied to unpaid tolls, and the NYPD either returns or auctions cars, enabling some vehicles to return to the road.
Yes, the NYPD, MTA and other policing agencies took a victory lap yesterday to celebrate their 100th joint enforcement action against "ghost cars," but Streetsblog's contribution to exposing the crime of covered or defaced plates was very much the subtext of the presser. Sure, officials touted the 5,340 vehicles they've seized and the "millions" of dollars in unpaid tolls and penalties they've recouped since March 2024 (Patch and amNY also covered it).
No, she didn't mention Streetsblog, but, come on, it was obvious that she was name-checking-by-association! We were, after all, the New Yorkers who were doing all the loud and clear talking! We even wrote a hit song about it! (I mean, 1,077 Spotify fans can't be wrong, right?) The New Yorker wrote it up! So did the Times! And Ira Glass put us on "This American Life"! So we also took a victory lap yesterday.
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