Governor Hochul reports major results from enforcement operations on the New York State Thruway targeting persistent toll violators and ghost plates

New York – The New York State Thruway, one of the busiest and most important roadways in the nation, has long been a vital artery for millions of drivers each year. It connects upstate and downstate, carries interstate commerce, and serves as the main link for travelers across the Empire State. But in recent years, officials have grown increasingly concerned about a troubling trend—drivers dodging tolls by using fraudulent plates, altering registration tags, or simply refusing to pay.

Governor Kathy Hochul this week revealed the results of a sweeping set of enforcement operations aimed at tackling those very problems. Partnering with the New York State Police Troop T and the New York State Thruway Authority, state officials conducted three separate crackdowns in the Lower Hudson Valley and in Western New York over the summer. The numbers, according to Hochul, underscore just how persistent toll evasion has become.

In total, 140 vehicles were seized during the operations, and troopers issued a staggering 711 tickets. Many of the impounded vehicles were connected to motorists who owed large sums in unpaid tolls and fees. Altogether, nearly $125,000 was owed to the Thruway Authority by drivers stopped during the effort. Since the conclusion of the operations, the Authority has already recovered $71,000—more than half of the money owed—from just 20 vehicle owners.

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Governor Hochul said the effort was as much about fairness as it was about dollars and cents. “My administration is investing in critical infrastructure improvements that make our roads safer and more reliable, and by cracking down on unpaid fees and tolls, we’re ensuring those projects continue on time and on budget,” Hochul said. “Just 20 vehicle owners accounted for nearly 60 percent of unpaid tolls in this enforcement operation — money being taken out of your pockets — and our enforcement efforts are about keeping costs down for New Yorkers.”

The Growing Problem of Ghost Plates

At the heart of the enforcement effort is a relatively new and fast-growing problem: ghost plates. Across the country, states have reported a rise in fraudulent license plates—often temporary tags or counterfeit registrations—that are used to evade toll cameras and license plate readers. Some drivers cover or obscure their plates with tinted covers or plastic film. Others deliberately deface or alter their tags to make them unreadable. The result is the same: lost toll revenue and unfair cost burdens on drivers who pay what they owe.

Frank G. Hoare, Executive Director of the Thruway Authority, minced no words about the issue. “Let’s be clear: people who use fake plates or alter them up to avoid paying tolls are stealing from all of our customers who pay their tolls to travel on the 570-mile Thruway system,” Hoare said. “We are committed to collecting every dollar owed to us and if you try to avoid paying tolls, we’re going to find you. We appreciate Governor Hochul’s support and the hard work of New York State Police Troop T during the enforcement operations and we plan to carry out even more to keep tolls affordable and protect our customers who pay.”

For Hoare, the matter is not just about tolls—it’s about protecting one of the nation’s oldest and most critical toll highway systems. Since its construction in the 1950s, the Thruway has relied on toll revenue rather than tax dollars to maintain its 2,800 lane miles and 819 bridges. When drivers cheat the system, it undermines not only fairness but also the resources needed to maintain infrastructure.

Details of the Operations

The enforcement actions took place on three separate days this summer. Each operation focused on regions where toll evasion and fraudulent plates had been flagged as persistent problems.

• On Tuesday, June 24, troopers targeted traffic on the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, the vital span connecting Westchester and Rockland counties. That day, 53 vehicles were impounded, 24 of them directly tied to unpaid tolls and fees. Officers issued 231 tickets, including 39 for license plate violations.
• On Monday, July 21, state police returned to the Cuomo Bridge. This time, they impounded 61 vehicles, 25 of them for toll evasion. The day’s total reached 221 tickets, with 40 of those specifically addressing plate violations.
• On Thursday, August 21, the operation shifted west to Buffalo, where troopers stopped vehicles traveling on I-90. A total of 26 cars and trucks were seized, including two connected to unpaid tolls. Troopers wrote 259 tickets that day, 73 of them linked to license plate issues.

The scope of tickets shows the wide net cast by police. While many violations were directly tied to tolls and plates, troopers also wrote citations for speeding, failing to wear seatbelts, distracted driving, expired registrations, and expired licenses. In many cases, vehicle registrations had been suspended for toll nonpayment or lack of insurance, resulting in impoundment.

Enforcement as a Safety Measure

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James stressed that the operations were about more than revenue collection. “By using fake, stolen and obscured license plates, not only are people trying to circumvent the system to avoid paying tolls, but they are jeopardizing the safety of all those who travel our roadways,” James said. “Enforcements such as this play not only a pivotal role in traffic safety but show there will be consequences for those refusing to pay their fair share. I thank Governor Hochul for her continued support and the Thruway Authority for their shared mission to ensure that those who commit these evasive acts are held accountable.”

Ghost plates, in particular, pose dangers beyond toll plazas. Law enforcement relies heavily on license plate readers to track stolen vehicles, locate suspects, and identify cars involved in crimes. When plates are covered or fake, the entire system is compromised, making roads less safe for everyone.

Support from Lawmakers

The enforcement effort drew praise from lawmakers who have long argued that toll evasion undermines both fairness and safety. Assemblymember William B. Magnarelli voiced his support: “I thank the State Police and Thruway Authority for stepping up enforcement against ghost plates and toll evasion. The NYS Thruway system relies on tolls to ensure the system is safe and reliable for all motorists. Toll evasion unfairly places more of this burden on law abiding motorists. Additional actions like this will help discourage the practice and recover lost revenue.”

Encouraging Compliance

Officials also emphasized that there are easy ways for drivers to stay compliant. New York offers the E-ZPass system, which provides up to a 75 percent discount on tolls for passenger and commercial vehicles when the E-ZPass NY tag is used. For drivers without E-ZPass, cameras capture license plate images and bills are mailed to the registered owner through the Tolls By Mail system.

To make payment even easier, motorists can use the free Tolls NY app to manage accounts or pay bills. Customers can also sign up for text alerts to be notified when tolls are ready to pay, reducing the risk of missed deadlines.

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Toll bills are mailed within 30 to 40 days of travel, and drivers have until the due date to pay without penalty. If unpaid, bills escalate with late fees and violation notices—eventually resulting in $50 per notice penalties and possible collections.

The Thruway Authority has also created an Office of the Toll Payer Advocate, a resource designed to help motorists resolve disputes or difficulties with their accounts. The office ensures that drivers are treated fairly while maintaining the system’s integrity.

The Larger Picture: The Thruway’s Future

The enforcement comes at a time when the Thruway Authority is preparing for major capital investments. Its 2025-2029 plan commits $2.7 billion to infrastructure upgrades, including work on more than half of the Thruway’s pavement lanes and the rehabilitation or replacement of 20 percent of its bridges.

That funding, made possible by tolls rather than tax dollars, reflects the philosophy that those who use the Thruway should pay for its upkeep. Roughly one-third of the toll revenue comes from out-of-state drivers, meaning the system spreads costs beyond New Yorkers alone.

The Thruway also remains one of the most affordable toll roads in the country. Passenger vehicles pay less than five cents per mile, compared with six cents on the Ohio Turnpike, 16 cents on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and up to 39 cents on the New Jersey Turnpike.

Safety remains a central priority as well. The Thruway boasts a fatality rate well below the national average for highways. With more than 400 million toll transactions recorded in 2024 and 8.2 billion miles traveled, the system is among the busiest in the country. The Authority continues to stress safe driving practices, including the state’s Move Over Law, expanded in 2024 to cover all vehicles stopped along the road.

A Message of Shared Responsibility

At its core, the crackdown represents a message about shared responsibility. For the Thruway to remain safe, reliable, and affordable, officials argue, everyone must do their part. That means paying tolls, following traffic laws, and keeping registrations current.

Governor Hochul’s announcement placed the spotlight on a small group of violators whose actions had outsized consequences. Just 20 vehicle owners accounted for nearly 60 percent of the unpaid tolls uncovered during the operations. For Hochul, that was proof that targeted enforcement can deliver results.

As the Governor put it, the issue comes down to fairness: projects must be funded, roads must be maintained, and costs should not be shifted onto law-abiding drivers. With continued enforcement, state leaders hope to discourage toll evasion, recoup lost funds, and remind all motorists that when it comes to the Thruway, the rules apply equally.