New York City's new congestion pricing scheme is facing an unexpected challenge: drivers finding creative ways to avoid paying the $15 toll. Social media is abuzz with tips and tricks, ranging from simple methods like using bird poop to obscure license plates to more sophisticated devices that block cameras.
NYC implemented congestion charges, imposing tolls on drivers entering peak traffic areas daily. Officials estimate $500M revenue annually, but toll evasion and ghost cars could reduce earnings. Social media users share tips and tricks to avoid fees using shortcuts and concealing devices.
New York City has recently become the first city in the US to impose congestion charges on drivers entering its busiest areas, with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) collecting a $15 toll from most drivers. Things haven't been going as smoothly as authorities may have hoped, though, with some drivers already thinking up creative (and illegal) ways of toll dodging. In fact, some, eager to help others avoid paying their share of the congestion charge, have taken to social media to influence as many as possible. On TikTok, several videos have been shared with drivers showcasing their tricks for avoiding the automated detection cameras, while a Reddit thread has also revealed its own suggestions. From Bird Poop To James Bond-Style Devices According to a report from the New York Times, there are many ways that NYC drivers have been getting around paying fines for dodging the tolls, ranging from surprisingly low-tech yet effective methods to more sophisticated devices. See: NYC Will Charge You $15 To Enter Part Of Manhattan, A First For US City Drivers drivers smear sprays, affix reflective screens, or even scrape off specific letters and numbers on their plates. Some use fake paper tags or slap tape and stickers over them. The creativity extends online: TikTok users share tips for dodging toll cameras - like a sly route through a parking garage between 60th and 61st Streets. Redditors on the Unethical Life Pro Tips subreddit chime in with ideas, too, recommending everything from smearing plates with bird feces to purchasing devices that block plates with the press of a butto
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