State DMV "actively investigating" license plate fraud concerns in Jamestown

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. (WIVB) — News 4’s series on License Plate Fraud continues — hearing from top state officials on how surrendered license plate numbers are fraudulently ending up on other cars mostly in the New York City area.

Meanwhile, innocent drivers here are getting hit with thousands of dollars in bogus tolls and are being forced to spend hours to get those bills reversed.

“Something is broken somewhere and they need a better system,” said Amanda Griffin.

She and her fiancé Erik Anderson of Jamestown were the first couple News 4 reported on and their license plate nightmare. After surrendering their plates in March of last year, Amanda and Erik were hit with nearly $10,000 in tolls and speeding tickets from New York City and New Jersey.

Somehow their old license plate number was found on multiple cars. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, once plates are surrendered and destroyed, their numbers are never used again.

But how does the license plate get destroyed and then several months later end up in New York City and New Jersey?

“Nobody wants to answer the questions, they just say it happens, these things happen that is the continuous answer I keep getting,” Griffin said.

Erik has been battling not only health issues, but also tolling entities.

“They put our lives through chaos and it’s not fair,” Erik said.

News 4 is now hearing from top state officials on the issue of License Plate Fraud and drivers across the state are using fake plates.

“Why are they doing it? They may be doing it because they’re going to pass over a toll and they don’t want to pay the toll, but they also could be up to other things, negative things within our communities, so we have a big concern,” said DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder.

Schroeder says officers with the DMV’s Division of Field Investigation are working with police to find those who are using fake or altered plates. But how are surrendered plate numbers ending up on other cars?

“There are 15.8 million New Yorkers who have a license, who therefore probably have a car or license plates and so the number is very miniscule in terms of that happening, but it’s something that we’re aware of and it’s something that we always want to figure out a way to do better going forward,” Schroeder said.

In a statement, the DMV says it, “[…] takes claims of fraud very seriously and we are actively looking into the situation in Jamestown/Chautauqua County. To be clear, as we have said before, DMV has no jurisdiction over disputed toll bills but feels strongly that these tolling/billing entities should not be issuing bills for plates that have been surrendered. Our system clearly indicates when a plate has been surrendered. Any questions about improperly issued bills should be directed to those billing entities.”

The issue of License Plate Fraud has caught the attention of the New York State Inspector General’s Office, which investigates allegations of corruption, fraud and abuse in state entities.

“I can only imagine how infuriating it must be to find yourself on the hook for something that you don’t owe the state or the city. As you know, we don’t comment on pending matters when they’re unresolved, but I can assure New Yorkers that we take very seriously allegations of fraud, corruption and wrongdoing in the agencies including the Department of Motor Vehicles,” said New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang.

The Inspector General encourages people who may be victims of License Plate Fraud or other issues involving state agencies to contact them.

“We want to hear from anyone who is concerned about whether or not government is operating properly and it absolutely rankles me to think about systems failing New Yorkers whether it is one individual system or a lack of communication and responsiveness amongst multiple systems which is often the case,” Lang said.

You can best reach the Inspector General’s Office by contacting the office at: 1-800-DO-RIGHT. As for the situation impacting, Erik Anderson and Amanda Griffin, Call 4 Action was able to get $500 in tolls and fees dismissed for them. A judgment against Erik was reversed and 13 other summonses were dismissed.

Since our first report, Erik and Amanda say they haven’t been getting anymore bogus toll bills.

If you have become a victim of License Plate Fraud we want to hear from you. You can contact our Call 4 Action Office at 716-879-4900. You are also urged to contact police.