Clifton Mark Man Used Fake License Plates To Avoid New York Tolls

Driving in the northeast, you're going to get hit with a few tolls. We're long past the days of having to stop at a booth and find exact change, nowadays, we can just keep driving, and the toll will snap a picture of your license plate and mail you the bill.

Read More: NY Lawmakers Eye 70 MPH Speed Limit on I-87

Unfortunately, this method leaves the state wide open to fraud, and one Capital Region man did everything he could to avoid paying.

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Using False Plates

On February 25th, a Rensselaer County resident reported fraudulent activity on their EZPASS account to the New York State Police. Upon investigation, they found a vehicle on River Crest Drive that had plates matching the victim's identification.

They arrested the owner, 27 year old Mazin S. Kakoum, who was using a forged license plate for three vehicles in order to bypass the New York tolls. He was found to have two other forged plates in his possession. He was charged with multiple counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument, and is due in court on March 18th.

How Illegal is it to Bypass Tolls?

Many hope to avoid paying their roadway tolls by either obscuring their license plates or, like the gentlemen above, using completely fake ones. This is a highly illegal practice in New York State, carrying a penalty of no less than $100 and no more than $500.

If you have covered your plate, you'll be forced to turn over the material you used to the authorities, and if you're using fake plates, those will be confiscated and you will likely be arrested and forced to wait for a court date.