With congestion pricing now in effect in NYC, officials are cracking down on obscured license plates, or "ghost plates," to avoid the toll.

The crackdown could include a $50 fine for parked cars with obstructed plates, in addition to penalties for those caught driving through toll areas undetected.

The toll, known as congestion pricing, is meant to reduce traffic gridlock in densely packed Manhattan while also raising money to help fix the city’s ailing public transit infrastructure. It formally took effect Sunday.

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Driving into the heart of New York City just got more expensive thanks to a long-anticipated congestion pricing plan that went into effect this week.

New York City kicked off the first congestion pricing program in the US, part of an effort to reduce the number of vehicles in the world’s most traffic-clogged urban area while raising money for transit infrastructure.

Anticipating a rise in so-called "ghost vehicles" with the advent of congestion pricing, New York City officials are looking to give police more leeway to go after drivers who hide or obstruct their license plates.

The NYPD is warning drivers not to fake or cover their license plates before entering the congestion pricing zone in Manhattan. The agency’s Transportation Bureau posted two photos to X on Tuesday of two license plates – both showing tape covering one letter.

New York City officials say they will ramp up enforcement efforts against drivers trying to evade the new $9 congestion pricing toll by obscurig their license plates. FOX 5 NY's Linda Schmidt has the story.