A retiree from Long Island is facing an unusual predicament as traffic tickets from across the nation continue to arrive at her doorstep, despite having given up driving years ago.
Beda Koorey, a 76-year-old resident of Huntington, stopped driving in 2020 after selling her car and surrendering her license plates. Surprisingly, she still receives numerous traffic tickets from various states, leaving her confused and frustrated. As Koorey shared, “These came yesterday from Chicago, speeding tickets. They are $100 each.”
Koorey’s previous license plates, customized with the call sign of the Starship Enterprise (NCC-1701) from Star Trek, have become a source of trouble. For merely $15, similar novelty plates can be purchased on platforms like Amazon and eBay. This has led to some enthusiasts replacing their real plates with these replicas and committing traffic violations.
These violations span various infractions, including red light breaches, speeding, parking, and even school zone offenses. Further complicating matters, Koorey is hit with E-ZPass toll charges, despite not having a vehicle. She recounted a particular incident, “I got a phone call from Ohio, a police chief looking for plates because they were involved in a robbery.”
The New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) acknowledges the misuse of novelty plates but emphasizes that enforcement is a job for law enforcement authorities. The DMV states that it does not link Koorey to her former license plate in its records. The agency stresses the responsibility of each state and billing entity to verify they are using the latest New York DMV data.
Koorey’s situation is exacerbated by her hearing and vision impairments, making managing this onslaught of tickets even more challenging. Her attempts to address the issue have exhausted her resources. “I’ve run out of ink. I’ve run out of stamps,” she lamented. Adding to her distress is the financial burden imposed by these erroneous fines, as Koorey is on a fixed income.
Koorey’s predicament underscores a significant flaw in the system that allows novelty plates to be used as genuine identifiers, inadvertently targeting innocent citizens. Despite clear evidence of her non-involvement, Koorey finds herself with an unjust reputation across the states.
Koorey’s experience highlights a pressing issue with the novelty plate system, revealing its vulnerabilities and the associated risks for former vehicle owners. It serves as a reminder of the importance of rigorous enforcement and verification processes to protect individuals from undue penalties.
Source: Abcactionnews
