Driver caught applying license plate gadget to steer clear of tolls on GW Bridge: Port Authority

A serial toll evader who used a gadget to conceal his license plate was arrested Friday although making an attempt to cross the George Washington Bridge, Port Authority police mentioned.

Lequincy Anderson, who owes approximately $20,000 in unpaid tolls and costs, was pulled about by police allegedly hoping to zoom past the toll plaza with the license plate-concealing product, officials reported.

His arrest arrives as the Port Authority announced Monday it recovered extra than $25 million from toll evaders final yr.

Anderson experienced 292 confirmed unpaid violations that resulted in $5,167 due in tolls and another $14,600 owed in fees, authorities stated.

He allegedly utilised a gadget that lowered a black protect more than the car’s license plate to evade tolls — reminiscent of the well-known Aston Martin DB5 driven by James Bond that experienced revolving plate numbers, in accordance to footage presented by the Port Authority.


The alleged toll evader was caught while on the George Washington Bridge.
The alleged toll evader was caught on the George Washington Bridge. Christopher Sadowski

Anderson is dealing with fees of theft of assistance, tampering with a govt document, and possession of burglar applications.

He was also hit with tickets for incorrect show of license plates and failure to create an insurance coverage card, authorities claimed.

Anderson’s financial debt to the bi-condition company even now pales in comparison to the best 10 repeat toll evaders that had to pay back up the most significant default judgments in 2023, the Port Authority unveiled Monday.

General, the company collected $25 million tied to toll evasion in 2023 — an maximize of 14% compared to the preceding calendar year.

EM Padilla Trucking Corp., primarily based in Weehawken, acquired the leading spot in unpaid tolls and costs at $201,358, the Port Authority reported.

JRK Xpress Corp., primarily based in Reading, Pennsylvania, and Do 1 Do Appropriate Expert services in Lodi, NJ, rounded out the major 3 at about $185,000 and $141,000, the Port Authority claimed.

Only a person New York-dependent enterprise, New Generation Transportation, positioned in the Bronx, manufactured the top rated 10 checklist.

Attempts to access the corporations were unsuccessful.


A general view of the George Washington Bridge toll plaza.
The bi-condition agency compiled a major 10 record of the largest toll evaders in 2023. Christopher Sadowski

A few people, all from Bergen County, also built the major 10 position.

The agency’s police force issued 5,861 toll evasion-similar summonses, which includes 4,446 summonses for obstructing, lacking, or phony license plates.

“With improved patrols and the deployment of additional technological know-how across our infrastructure, we will capture toll violators and they will spend what they owe,” Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole mentioned in a statement.