Crime & Safety

Old Bridge Man Blacked Out Plate From Holland Tunnel Tolls: Cops

Port Authority Police say the Parlin man used an electronic "curtain" that blacked out his plate so he didn't have to pay NYC tolls.

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — Port Authority Police say a man from the Parlin section of Old Bridge used some sort of electronic "curtain" that blacked out his rear license plate so he didn't have to pay tolls in and out of New York City.

Mark Aponte 28, of Old Bridge, was arrested last Friday and charged with theft of services, tampering with public records or information and possession of burglars' tools.

Police say he drove a Dodge Challenger and would activate an electronic curtain to “black out” its rear license plate as it passed the cash-less toll entry at the Holland Tunnel. He had no front plate.

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Port Authority Police had been tipped off by NJ State Police to be on alert for the Dodge Challenger. At 8:25 a.m. last Friday, March 25, a Port Authority Police officer located Aponte and the car, which had no front plate.

The police officer said he witnessed the driver utilize a mechanical device to cover the rear license plate as it passed the cashless gantry at the Holland Tunnel on the New Jersey side.

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Aponte was taken into police custody at the Holland Tunnel Command for arrest processing.

NJ.com reported he was from the Parlin section of Old Bridge.

Cash tolls for cars at the Holland if you don't have EZ Pass are $16. EZ Pass is $11.75 off peak, $13.75 peak.

This video, released by the Port Authority Police, shows Aponte's Dodge Charger being stopped:


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