NYPD cracks down on motorists trying to evade congestion pricing toll
NEW YORK (WABC) -- One day after New York City completed its first full weekday of the new congestion pricing tolling program, police are cracking down on motorists trying to bypass the system.
Assisting the MTA, the NYPD stopped several drivers who tried to cover up parts of their license plates to avoid being charged as they entered the congestion zone.
New York Mayor Eric Adams conceded Tuesday drivers will attempt to evade the fee imposed by congestion pricing.
"That's just the ingenuity of mankind, humankind," Adams said during a news conference.
The mayor noted the "different ways you can block your plate. You can put different letters on your plate. There is going to be an entirely new industry on how to evade tolls."
On Tuesday, 82 summonses were issued during the NYPD Congestion Zone Enforcement Operation, including 29 for improperly covered license plates. The others were for various motor vehicle violations. There were two arrests were for criminal possession of a forged instrument (paper license plate) and another for aggravated unlicensed operator.
Officers are also tracking down people trying to drive the wrong way on one-way streets in an effort to avoid paying the toll.
Adams warned drivers to pay the toll or everyone will have to pay more.
"Any person who fails to pay their toll, it's going to come out of the pocket of those who pay their toll," he said. "I don't want to see an increase in the tolling amount because they are impacted by that failure."
It comes as NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch proposed a set of rules to expand the types of possible license plate obstructions subject to enforcement.
The proposed rules were published Tuesday in the City Record.
They establish clear visibility requirements for license plates, prohibiting anything-including dirt, rust, glass or plastic coverings, substances, or materials-that renders a license plate unreadable, obscured, concealed, or distorted, including rust, glass, plastic coverings or other materials.
Parking with an obstructed plate can result in a $50 fine.
A public hearing on the proposed rules will be held online on February 6.
For the most part, it has been a smooth rollout for congestion pricing, which has presented a new reality for New Yorkers since Sunday.
Questions about whether the program will ease traffic and help boost transit numbers are still swirling.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has vowed to closely study data and make changes to the program as needed.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is expected to discuss the start of the controversial program Tuesday afternoon.
It will be the first time Adams has talked about congestion pricing since its rollout on Sunday.
ALSO READ: Congestion pricing: What you need to know about toll bill, discounts and more
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