Recent Streetsblog NYC posts about Temporary Tags

Assembly Member Paul Moriarty's bill would tighten penalties for selling or buying temp tags. Illustration: Martin Schapiro/Inset photo: Hal Brown for New Jersey Monitor

N.J. Legislator Proposes New Charges for Selling, Driving With Illegal Temporary License Plates

By Jesse Coburn | May 10, 2023 | No Comments

A New Jersey lawmaker on Monday proposed a major step toward dismantling the black market for the state's temporary license plates, introducing legislation that would create new criminal penalties for selling and driving with fraudulent paper tags.

New Jersey Assembly Member Annette Chaparro (top) grilled Motor Vehicle Commission Administrator Latrecia Littles-Floyd about the state's easily counterfeited paper license plates at a hearing on Monday.

N.J. Lawmaker Proposes Eliminating Paper Temporary License Plates to Fight Fraud

By Jesse Coburn | May 4, 2023 | No Comments

The proposal was floated at a legislative hearing Wednesday in Trenton, where Streetsblog's recent three-part investigation into temporary license plate fraud was widely cited.

Georgia: Our Temp Tags ‘Wreaking Havoc’ in NYC Because of Lax Rules, Few Investigators

By Jesse Coburn | Apr 19, 2023 | No Comments

Officials in Georgia admitted that its main agency in charge of regulating the retail car industry has only four investigators for 7,500 dealers in the state, making it difficult to crack down on illegal temp tag dealers who are "wreaking havoc" in New York City.

Pols in Georgia and New Jersey (clockwise from top left, N.J. Assembly Members Clinton Calabrese and Paul Moriarty, and Georgia Sen. Josh McLaurin and Rep. John Corbett) pledged to act to crack down on temp tag fraud.
Illustration: Martin Schapiro

N.J. and Georgia Lawmakers Pledge Action on Temp Tag Fraud Detailed In Streetsblog Investigation

By Jesse Coburn | Apr 18, 2023 | No Comments

"At a minimum, fines should be dramatically increased," said one New Jersey official. "Criminal penalties should also be considered."

Call 311 on phony plates, said for Public Safety Phil Banks on April 14. Photo: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

Toss Your ‘Ghost Car’ Complaints Into the 311 Abyss, Says Deputy Mayor Banks

By Kevin Duggan | Apr 14, 2023 | No Comments

NYPD already fails to issue tickets in response to 99 percent of 311 complaints about paper plate fraud.

Council Member Oswald Feliz (inset) will propose legislation to crack down on the problem of ghost plates documented in a three-part Streetsblog series. Illustration: Martin Schapiro

Council Member Proposes New Fines for Temp Tag Fraud Following Streetsblog Investigation

By Jesse Coburn | Apr 11, 2023 | No Comments

The proposed legislation from Oswald Feliz (D-Bronx) would empower the city to fine New Yorkers caught selling temporary license plates and increase fines to drivers using fake or fraudulent temp tags.