Nearly one-quarter of the captured incidents on the city’s speed camera system were rejected last year.

A new audit report released by New York City Comptroller Brad Lander's office found the city lost more than $100 million from drivers who used fake or defaced license plates.

What You Need To Know

  • Nearly a quarter of the captured incidents on the city’s speed camera system were rejected last year, an audit report released by the city comptroller's office found

  • Illegal plates and defaced plates were the leading reasons for rejections

  • According to the comptroller’s audit, ghost car speeding rejections increased by more than 5,000% in the last five years

The report found that since 2019, the rejection of speeding incidents has increased drastically.

Cars with illegal and counterfeit plates, referred to as “ghost cars,” were the leading reason for rejections, followed by defaced plates, according to the audit.

The audit also found ghost car speeding rejections increased by more than 5,000% in the last five years.

The Department of Transportation said the audit found high rejection rates mainly in their older cameras. The agency said they are confident that this issue will be resolved as a result of upgrading cameras to newer technology.

A report on Monday revealed plate misconduct cost the MTA $46 million and the Port Authority $40 million in unpaid tolls back in 2022.

Mayor Eric Adams has vowed to crack down against ghost cars.

The NYPD and the New York City Sheriff’s Office have ramped up their enforcement, issuing thousands of summonses, towing hundreds of vehicles and, in some cases, arresting drivers.

“I’m wondering, are they getting fined or are they getting away with it? Or the ones who actually drive lawfully, are they the ones being ticketed all the time?” Queens resident Maria Trapassa said.

The report recommends more enforcement of illegal plates and ghost cars on the roads and passing legislation to create a system where citizens can report defaced or fake plates.