On Jan. 16, members of the Yonkers Police Traffic Unit, Westchester County Department of Public Safety, and New York State Police conducted a traffic enforcement detail in the City of Yonkers targeting fraudulent and counterfeit license plates, including many out-of-state temporary license plates, paper tags, and dealer assigned plates.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Motor Vehicles in New York and many other states reduced services in the interest of public health early last year, resulting in a delay with the assignment of registration plates. As services have gradually been restored, some individuals have taken advantage of the situation and produced fraudulent paper and temporary tags under the belief that enforcement was being deferred; they were mistaken. Many of these vehicles, unregistered, uninspected, and uninsured, pose a public safety risk to motorists and pedestrians. Over 100 summonses were issued and 27 vehicles were impounded, including one arrest for a stolen recovered vehicle; five individuals had suspended licenses.
Navigating public services during the pandemic can be complicated, however it is no excuse for illegal or unlawful behavior. Many DMV services have transitioned online and additional information about DMV Reopening Guidance can be found here: https://dmv.ny.gov/more-info/dmv-reopening-guidance.
This enforcement detail is a result of law enforcement’s commitment to ensure the safety of our roads and preserve the quality-of-life for our residents. Please report traffic violations to the Yonkers Police at (914) 377-7900 – emergencies call 9-1-1.
