News 12 got an exclusive look at how city agencies work together to crackdown on so- called ghost vehicles.

Nearly a dozen city agencies met at the RFK Bridge on Monday morning.

License plate cameras attached to patrol vehicles read plates in real time. These vehicles are parked along the highway during crackdowns.

Officers explained that if the system flags an issue with the plate, an officer notifies the patrol officers stationed at the checkpoint via radio. They then facilitate the traffic stop.

"We'll do a car stop to ascertain whether or not those plates are legitimate, If it's not, enforcement actions will be taken," saif Sylvester Ge, commanding officer of the NYPD's Highway Patrol Unit.

The enforcement includes flagging plates that are obstructed, altered, fake, etc. The taskforce also pulled over vehicles with expired paper plates, expired registrations and unpaid fines.

These multiagency operations are taking place in busy corridors across the five boroughs and is growing to include regions across the tristate.

Commander Ge said these crackdowns are a matter of public safety.

"Imagine, God forbid, if you or your family member gets hit by a vehicle. It's not traceable," said Commander Ge. "Who are they going to be claiming for insurance purposes? Covering medical fees? And then for our criminal justice systems, who are we going to be prosecuting?"

The city said these operations happen at random in an effort to make streets safer. The enforcement addresses crime, counterterrorism and holding fare evaders accountable.

According to NYPD data, in 2024 there were 61 operations organized by the state. By the end of the year, data showed the taskforce issued 34,319 summonses, seized 3,450 vehicles and secured $48.7 million in funds.

The NYPD released data from Monday's operation on the RFK Bridge.

Data showed the taskforce issued 495 summonses, seized 55 vehicles and issued 18,276 summonses.