The NYPD issues 113 tickets and impounds 10 cars in a six-hour crackdown on congestion tolling

The NYPD issued more than 100 citations in six hours on Wednesday morning in Manhattan to drivers attempting to reduce the newly implemented congestion toll, police said.

From 6 a.m. to noon, officers distributed at 60th St. and Second Ave. and 60th St. and Broadway 113 tickets. Of those, 52 involved vehicles with covered or blocked number plates – an offense that has been heavily targeted since the congestion pricing scheme came into force on Sunday.

In addition to the citations, ten vehicles were seized during the operation – eight of which had revoked registrations and two of which were seized for other reasons. One person was arrested at the scene, although authorities clarified that the arrest was for a warrant unrelated to traffic pricing.

Remaining violations included suspended driver’s licenses, unregistered vehicles and other offenses in line with the city’s expanded enforcement efforts under the congestion pricing program, which now charges motorists $9 to enter Manhattan’s busiest areas south of 60th St., including parts of the Midtown, Caled and Lower Manhattan financial district.

Also handcuffed at the checkpoint near Columbus Circle was Staten Island artist, activist and very angry Scott LoBaido.

In a video posted to his

LoBaido stood on the roof of his SUV and held a larger cutout of a middle finger in his hand. “Fk you! “Fk you!” shouted the artist. “Fuck your traffic jams, damn prices!”

The video then shows a group of police officers trying to coax him out of his car and get him to walk onto the sidewalk. He was issued two citations for disorderly conduct for creating a dangerous situation and obstructing vehicular traffic, police said.

Originally published: January 8, 2025 at 9:43 pm EST