State Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, speaks during a news conference held by Republican senators last week.

The state Commissioner of Motor Vehicles says issues with stolen license plates in Chautauqua County has been resolved.

State Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, asked Mark Schroeder, state DMV commissioner, about the issue that involved the DMVs, including Chautauqua County’s, during a recent state legislative budget hearing on transportation. Schroeder said the state has mandated security systems that the state has put in place while making sure DMVs are equipped to destroy plates rather than have them sitting around.

“There’s a couple of areas of it,one of which is that we were aware that DMV and the State Police, maybe there was some duplicate plates, so we’ve had some very clear conversations with them and I do believe that that’s been resolved,” Schroeder said. “And the situation where, you know we have over 130 DMV offices across New York state, and so we’ve had a situation in Western New York, at a Western New York county, and we’re working with them, the County Clerk’s office, and we have been guiding them. … We’re really working on this and I feel very comfortable that it’s behind us.”

At least two Chautauqua County families have dealt with fraudulent toll charges and fines after turning in their license plates at the DMV only to see them in use after the fact. Erik Anderson and Amanda Griffin of Jamestown had their old plates properly destroyed by the DMV in 2024, only to be buried under more than $9,200 in fraudulent tolls, speeding tickets and parking violations issued in New York City and New Jersey. Clearing their names took months of phone calls and outside intervention before the bogus toll debt was finally erased.

Robert and Lorie Grover of Bemus Point, who were hit with repeated fraudulent toll charges and even had police show up at their home in connection with a $250,000 robbery in New York City tied to their stolen plate number. Borrello said it shouldn’t be that difficult to remove bogus charges and fines for stolen license plates.

“Bottom line, we don’t want people to be revictimized by the red tape system in New York state, and I know you sent out guidance, again, that they need to be more cognizant of the fact that this is happening to people,” Borrello said. “Is that essentially it?”

Schroeder said that was the case.

Borrello has introduced legislation (S.8506) that would elevate a first offense from a misdemeanor to a Class E felony, with up to one year in jail and a mandatory minimum fine of $500; elevate a second offense within ten years to a Class D felony, with 1-3 years in prison, a fine of no less than $1,000, and a mandatory one-year license suspension; create a new Class D felony for those with suspended or revoked licenses who use fraudulent plates, punishable by 1-3 years in prison, a fine of at least $1,500, and an extended suspension; and crack down on repeat offenders who obscure their plates with covers; a second violation would mean a $500 minimum fine and a six-month license suspension.

“Let me just, on behalf of the DMV, thank you for your bill,” Schroeder said. “Your bill is something that is important in terms of trying to reduce or eliminate fraud. And so, this has been a situation where we are really working hard.”