Rules Take Effect 30 Days After Adoption
On Monday, March 17th, NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the adoption of new rules to protect public safety by strengthening enforcement against drivers who obscure their license plates to evade traffic laws and tolls. These rules were announced in January and will take effect on April 16, 2025.
“Drivers who obscure their license plates are not just breaking the law — they are putting everyone at risk,” Rodriguez said. “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.”
“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 street safer for all,” Tisch said.
Drivers who intentionally obscure their plates not only break the law but also attempt to cheat the system — shifting the financial burden onto law-abiding New Yorkers while undermining efforts to make the city’s streets safer and more efficient.
New Rules to Strengthen License Plate Visibility
The newly adopted rules clarify that any obstruction to a license plate — whether dirt, rust, plastic coverings or any other material that makes a plate unreadable — is strictly prohibited. Parking with an obscured plate will result in a $50 fine.
The key rule changes include:
- License Plate Visibility: Plates must be securely fastened, properly displayed, readable, positioned between 12 to 48 inches from the ground when possible, and kept clean and unobstructed. No glass or plastic covers are allowed.
- Distorted Plates: No person shall stand or park a vehicle having a license plate that is covered, coated or altered in a way that obscures its readability. License plates must remain fully legible to both the human eye and automated enforcement cameras. Any material, including clear coatings or substances, that distorts or reflects light in a way that prevents cameras from capturing plate numbers in photographs or video recordings is strictly prohibited.
- Ban on Vehicle Covers: No vehicle may be parked with a cover that conceals its license plates, registration stickers, VIN or other identifying information. Covers that restrict access to the vehicle are also prohibited when the vehicle is in violation of posted parking rules.
- Prohibition of Altered or Fake Plates: Any material that conceals or mimics a legitimate plate is strictly prohibited. License plates must not be obstructed by any part of the vehicle or by items carried on it, except for officially issued tolling transponders installed according to mounting instructions.
Protecting NYC’s Automated Enforcement Programs
The Adams administration ramped up enforcement against “ghost cars” — vehicles with fake, obscured or altered plates used to evade law enforcement, tolls, speed cameras and parking rules. Since the start of the administration, over 73,000 ghost cars and unregistered motorized vehicles have been removed from city streets. Automated enforcement programs, including speed cameras and red-light cameras, are proven to save lives.
A recent NYC DOT report highlighted the overwhelming success of the city’s speed camera program:
- Major Decline in Speeding at Camera Locations: The average number of daily violations issued has dropped by 94% at locations with speed cameras.
- Significant Reductions in Injuries and Fatalities: Locations with speed cameras installed in 2022 saw 14% fewer traffic injuries and deaths than locations without cameras.
- Behavioral Change Among Drivers: 74% of vehicles that receive violations receive no more than one or two per year, showing that the program effectively deters reckless driving.
- Repeat Offenders Pose Major Safety Risks: While most drivers adjust their behavior, more than 12,000 drivers received more than 20 speed camera violations in 2023. These drivers are five times more likely to be in a crash that results in death or critical injury than the average driver.
Automated enforcement works only when cameras can accurately capture license plates, ensuring that reckless drivers face consequences. By preventing license plate obstruction and distortion, NYC is reinforcing its commitment to Vision Zero and making streets safer for all New Yorkers.
Courtesy of the NYC Department of Transportation
