One third-party investigation has now led to not less than 32 sellers getting shut down for violating non permanent registration guidelines. The sellers have all seen their licenses both suspended or revoked altogether and a few are dealing with legal investigations. It seems that those that deal in faux paper tags are dealing with much more scrutiny in numerous states throughout the nation.

Temp tag fraud is an issue throughout the nation. Sellers will fraudulently print paper tags for a charge and the probabilities for drivers are considerably nebulous. In probably the most mundane circumstances, the tags enable the customer to increase the time they’ve til they need to pay to register the automobile and get correct metallic tags. In probably the most excessive circumstances, the tags are primarily faux however look actual and folks can use them to commit crimes whereas driving round with tags that don’t lead wherever.

Now, the 32 dealerships throughout New Jersey and Georgia are dealing with over $150,000 in enacted or proposed fines. Three extra dealerships are on probation over the state of affairs. Of the sellers concerned, seven are underneath legal investigation.

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Extra: NYC’s Sheriff Workplace Seizes 76 Automobiles For Having Counterfeit Paper License Plates

In keeping with StreetsBlog, an unlimited array of those faux “ghost tags” have ended up in New York. They’ve allowed drivers to keep away from tolls, to drive with out insurance coverage, with out registration, or to commit extra severe crimes with out exposing their identities. Its investigation discovered that one vendor in New Jersey, F&J Auto Mall, issued 36,000 tags in 2021 earlier than it was shut down for fraud. F&J Auto Mall confronted solely a $500 advantageous over the state of affairs.

In complete, regulators recognized over 11,600 illegally issued temp tags as a part of this newest investigation. Lawmakers in each New Jersey and Georgia are working towards creating new legal guidelines and laws that might assist to stem the tide.

This isn’t the primary time Carscoops has reported on the existence of ghost tags. As early as June of 2023, Texas had set a plan in place to ban paper tags starting in July 2025. Add that state to the checklist of others right here who’re all placing the crunch on this shady state of affairs. Fraudulent sellers and companies that provide black market ghost tags should be feeling the warmth at this level. 

Picture Credit score: KHOU11