A 91-year-old Staten Island resident was shocked to find thousands of dollars in traffic fines for a car he didn’t even drive. Instead, officials said someone copied his license plate and used it on another vehicle.
The man, who usually drives only to church or the nearby store according to his daughter, began receiving bills in the mail for tolls and traffic violations from all over New York and New Jersey. His daughter, Janine Mulè, couldn’t believe how many notices were coming in. “In the thousands. I’m telling you, the stack was this big,” Mulè said.
The license plate had been changed by using duct tape to match the numbers and letters on the resident’s license plate. Authorities have said the case is part of an ongoing issue in New York City where some drivers are using fake or altered plates.
Borough President Vito Fossella made a statement expressing his thoughts on cases such as this. “Don’t be surprised if you see people trying to defraud the system and defrauding innocent people like we saw in this case here today,” Fossella said. “It’s to be expected. Doesn’t make it right.”
The resident’s car was also booted at one point after trying to get help from government agencies, in which case his daughter had to go to court to have it removed. The process to do so was stressful for her. “I was crying. It was a lot,” she said.
Officials said they have a suspect and are working to make sure the real owner of the license plate isn’t held responsible for this issue at hand. On Friday, they put an end to the tickets he faced.
“There is a suspect in this matter, and we’re hopeful there will be a resolution and accountability for that individual,” Staten Island District Attorney’s Office spokesperson James Clinton said.
The case has raised awareness about license plate fraud in the city. Even small actions like taping over a license plate can create major problems for people who are innocent. Authorities continue to look over the case, and they hope to bring the responsible person to justice.
