Cops: Suffolk crackdown nets drivers with bogus license plates

Suffolk police and other law-enforcement agencies issued more than 100 summonses Monday to drivers with illegal or fraudulent license plates, part of a countywide crackdown that will continue through the rest of the week.

Four other motorists linked to fraudulent licenses and vehicle registrations were arrested, officials said.

Motorists involved in criminal activities such as automobile theft or narcotics trafficking use fraudulent or obscured license plates to avoid law enforcement, officials said. Some motorists use fake or obscured license plates because they are engaged in insurance fraud or identity theft, while others try to avoid red light camera tickets.

“The officers’ efforts will ensure criminals will not only be held accountable but will no longer be able to hide their nefarious activities behind difficult to trace vehicles and license plates,” said Suffolk Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison in a news release.

The police department teamed up this week with the Suffolk Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and New York State Park Police to target motorists with fraudulent license plates and vehicle registrations, Harrison said. 

Officers from the four agencies issued 113 tickets, impounded eight vehicles for verification of ownership and seized 16 license plates. Two people were arrested and charged with third-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, while two others taken into custody face charges of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument.

“Our number one priority is to keep our residents safe — which goes hand-in-hand with keeping our roadways safe,” Suffolk Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. said in the release. “The joint enforcement operation to target individuals utilizing fraudulent or obscured license plates not only keeps dangerous, unauthorized vehicles off the roadways but penalizes the individuals using these methods.”