An investigation by NBC News New York found that stores are still selling license plate covers in New York City, despite a ban instituted last April in an effort to crack down on toll evasion. “On a shopping trip for vehicle accessories, the I-Team found clear and even tinted plate covers openly sold at city retailers including AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts, and AutoPlus, the company that stocks shelves at Pep Boys.” Advanced Auto Parts pledged to immediately remove all the products from stores in the city. City Council Member Robert Holden (D-Maspeth), who wrote the law banning license plate covers, said he’d like to increase the allowable fine for stores that illegally sell the products. He’s also calling on police to step up enforcement of drivers with covers on their plates. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has estimated that it lost approximately $50 million in toll revenue last year due to motorists’ use of obscured, altered or defaced license plates.
