Operation on Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge Interdicted 44 Vehicles During Four-Day Blitz
Metropolitan Transportation Authority Bridges and Tunnels (MTA B&T) today announced that its officers interdicted 44 vehicles registered to persistent toll violators at the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge from December 12 through December 15. The scofflaws accounted for approximately $922,500 in unpaid tolls and fees. One of the top persistent toll violators from this targeted enforcement owed over $52,000 in tolls and fees.
“Our message is simple. If you cover your license plate or use fake plates, you will pay the price. If you’re a repeat offender, your car is going to be seized and you could get arrested,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “This is about fundamental fairness. It's not right when drivers in Mercedes and Porsches come onto our bridges and through tunnels and skip out on thousands of dollars in tolls. They're taking the public's money, and New Yorkers are not going to put up with it.”
“Bridge and Tunnel Officers have only gotten better over time at catching scofflaws,” said MTA Bridges and Tunnels Vice President & Chief of Operations Richard L. Hildebrand II. “We surpassed the total interdicted vehicles for 2022 by the summer and are capping the year off with another blitz to educate scofflaws and aspiring scofflaws – we have the tools to catch you, and trust me, paying the toll is a lot easier than being pulled over and having your car towed.”
Between Jan. 1 and Dec. 13, 2023, Bridge and Tunnel officers intercepted 2,705 vehicles – a 50% increase from the same time in 2022 and surpassed the total of 1,880 vehicles that were interdicted in all of 2022. Bridge and Tunnel officers have also issued 2,933 summonses for covered or obstructed license plates since the beginning of the year.
MTA Bridges and Tunnels, through tolls and fees collected, have recovered more than 98% of the tolls owed by recidivist toll scofflaws since the inception of its DMV Registration Suspension Program.
This enforcement aligns with a coordinated strategy by MTA B&T and city and state law enforcement partners, who announced a joint effort against obstructed and counterfeit license plates last year. Since the start of Open Road Tolling, Bridge and Tunnel officers have interdicted more than 9,178 vehicles for persistent non-payment of tolls.
MTA Bridges and Tunnels uses a variety of tools to identify violators and interdict vehicles:
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DMV registration suspensions
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Robust roadside interdictions
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Data-driven intelligence to continuously identify persistent toll violators
Motorists can avoid violation fees and registration suspensions by paying their toll bills on time, using the award-winning Tolls NY free mobile application to pay tolls or manage their E-ZPass accounts. E-ZPass NY Customer Service Center account holders can save up to 40% at MTA B&T tolled crossings by using E-ZPass. To set up an E-ZPass account or for more information, visit www.ezpassny.com. NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law prohibits any covering or coating that intentionally conceals, obscures, or distorts an image of license plates.