NYPD’s Congestion Toll Sweep Nets Nearly 200 Tickets, 3 Arrests, and 27 Seized Vehicles in 48 Hours
CNS –
Authorities reported that last week, New York City police went out to implement the controversial congestion pricing plan in Manhattan, slapping nearly 200 people with fines, arresting three, and seizing more than twenty automobiles.
The Post noticed on multiple vehicles on Sunday—the day the $9 toll went into effect—that some license plates had numbers or letters covered or wiped off, which could be the reason for 81 of the summonses issued by the department.
The enforcement operation was initiated on Tuesday by officers within the congestion tolling zone below 60th Street, which pretty much covers all of Manhattan south of Central Park.
Between 6 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Wednesday, 113 individuals were served summonses, while 82 individuals were served on Tuesday, according to the police. Police and sources reported that 29 tickets were issued on Tuesday for fake or hidden license plates, and 52 on Wednesday.
The NYPD added that further moving infractions, such as tinted windows, uninspected or suspended registrations, and unregistered or revoked cars, resulted in the issuance of summonses.
Authorities said two individuals were taken into custody on Tuesday on accusations of illegal possession of a forged instrument and aggravated unlicensed operation.
Authorities in New York City claimed on Wednesday that they had apprehended a wanted individual within the congestion zone; however, details on the suspect’s alleged crime were not immediately available.
Police and insiders reported seizing 17 automobiles on Tuesday and 10 more on Wednesday.
New York’s Congestion Pricing Nightmare: $9 Toll Forces Stranded Drivers to Pay Just to Leave
Daytime hours are specified as 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., and all standard passenger vehicles using an E-ZPass are now taxed $9 per day for entering the zone, as of Sunday.
Congestion pricing has many New Yorkers worried that it will discourage people from using the roads in favor of the subways, particularly in light of the recent spate of high-profile crimes that have occurred on the trains.
During a press conference on Monday, The Post requested that Governor Kathy Hochul provide her thoughts on how the MTA or the state intends to assess the success of the new toll scheme. The scheme seeks to generate billions of dollars to finance the MTA’s capital improvement plan.
You won’t believe the amount of data that will be available. I wouldn’t consider today’s data significant as it is the first day. “Let it sink in for a few days and then we can gauge a trend,” Hochul told The Post.
Additionally, the governor mentioned that they will be examining the data to determine the effects. “I have a lot of data that I’ll be analyzing, and I’m looking at everything from response times for emergency vehicles to the length of drive time.”