New York City drivers could face a $50 fine if they’re caught with an obscured license plate as part of a new push announced in January that aims to curb toll evasion and improve street safety. City and state officials have been working for years to stop drivers from tampering with their plates to dodge tolls,

New rules go into effect next month to help city officials crack down on ghost cars, which have fake or obscured license plates to avoid enforcement. The new city rules,

NYC’s Department of Transportation is cracking down on license plates. New rules effective from April 17 demand plates must be readable. Plates too dirty to read or purposely hidden will get you a $50 fine.

If you’re planning to drive or park with an obscured or altered license plate anywhere in New York City, law enforcement officials say you’d better think again. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and New York City Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said this week that proposed rules announced in January as part of a crack down on so-called ghost plates and other license plate-related violations will now take effect April 16.