License plate fraud bill introduced in state senate

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. (WIVB) – As News 4 continues its series on license plate fraud, a state senator from Western New York is introducing a bill in Albany that would increase the penalties for those with fake plates, who try to dupe the system.

The proposed legislation is in direct response to News 4’s reporting and the nightmare a Jamestown couple experienced for a year and a half.

The license plate fraud situation involving Erik Anderson and Amanda Griffin of Jamestown has caught the attention of Republican State Senator George Borrello. He’s introducing a bill that would increase penalties for license plate fraud to a felony.

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

She and her fiancé Erik want tougher penalties for those involved in license plate fraud. They had a nightmare experience for a year and a half as they were hit with thousands of dollars in New York City and New Jersey tolls and fees connected to the number from their old license plate, which they surrendered.

“Not just a slap on the back of the hand and a fine, I think whatever they rack up they should have to pay for it,” Erik said.

Call 4 Action helped get $500 in tolls and fees from the New Jersey Turnpike dropped for Erik and Amanda. We also got a collection agency to stop hounding them for payment. New York City then reversed a judgment against Erik and 13 other summonses have been dismissed.

Amanda and Erik say the bogus toll violations have stopped.

“Call 4 Action, everything that you’ve done to bring attention to this was really the motivation for me to want to strengthen this law in New York State and introduce this bill,” said Republican State Senator George Borrello.

According to the bill, Borrello justifies the need for this legislation by referring to WIVB News 4 reporting on license plate fraud.

“This bill is motivated in part by the experiences of families in Western New York, including Erik Anderson and Amanda Griffin of Jamestown, who have come forward to share the devastating impact of license plate fraud on their lives.”

This year’s state budget, increased fines for toll evaders which currently range from $150 to $500. State law also bans the sale of “ghost plates” and plate coverings. The state DMV can also revoke vehicle registrations for 90 days for repeat offenders.

Senator Borrello is introducing Senate Bill 8506. It would increase the penalty for license plate fraud on the first offense from a misdemeanor to a Class E felony, punishable of up to one year behind bars and a fine not less than $500. For a second offense, license plate fraud would move to a Class D felony, punishable up to three years in prison, a fine of at least $1,000, plus the driver’s license would be suspended for at least a year.

“I think it’s important that we send a message that this is a serious crime that’s costing New Yorkers millions of dollars,” Borrello said, “The current law in my opinion, is just far too lenient and it has emboldened these criminals to really in some cases, ruin peoples lives.”

The new session for state lawmakers begins in January. Senator Borrello would need to have this bill introduced in the Assembly as well and approved in both chambers for it to move to Governor Kathy Hochul for her signature. WIVB News 4 has reached out to the Governor’s Office on whether she supports this legislation and is waiting to hear back.

Borrello says that he’s heard of people not only in Chautauqua County, but also in neighboring Allegany County being affected by license plate fraud.

He acknowledges there are gaps in the state’s tolling system that allow for bogus toll bills to be sent to people who don’t deserve them. Borrello believes the issue of license plate fraud appears to coordinate with congestion pricing in New York City, where it costs more in tolls to enter certain areas of Manhattan.

“We need to have some kind of a stopgap measure to ensure that future victims of license plate fraud don’t become victimized by the State of New York as well,” Borrello said.

Borrello says he will present his bill to the Senate’s Transportation Committee in the new session says he’s supportive of State Comptroller’s Office, the State Inspector General’s Office, or some sort of independent agency doing an investigation on license plate fraud.