Jamestown Mayor Addresses Serious License Plate Fraud Allegations
Residents of Jamestown, New York, are raising alarms over serious allegations of license plate fraud that have emerged following an investigation by Call 4 Action. According to the Mayor of Jamestown, Kimberly Ecklund, individuals who legally surrendered their license plates have found themselves victims of fraudulent activities involving those same plates.
In her statement, Mayor Ecklund acknowledged the troubling reports, emphasizing that these allegations involve the potential misuse of plates surrendered at the Jamestown DMV. She noted, “These reports raise significant concerns for affected residents, and while DMV operations are administered by Chautauqua County under the authority of New York State, our office is here to assist residents in connecting with the appropriate agencies for guidance and resolution.”
The Mayor’s Office urged residents who suspect they may have been impacted by this issue to take immediate action. This includes contacting the Chautauqua County Clerk’s Office and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles for further direction. Residents are also encouraged to file reports with the Jamestown Police Department to ensure proper documentation and to submit formal complaints to the New York State Inspector General’s Office, which investigates misconduct within state agencies.
Despite the City of Jamestown’s limited jurisdiction over DMV operations, Mayor Ecklund assured residents that their concerns would be communicated to the proper authorities. “Although this matter falls outside the City’s direct authority, we take these allegations seriously and will continue to assist residents,” she stated.
Multiple individuals have reported similar experiences at the Jamestown DMV located at 512 West 3rd Street. Drivers have surrendered their plates for various reasons, only to face unexpected toll charges amounting to hundreds or even thousands of dollars. One notable case is that of Debbie Bonovitch, who surrendered her old license plates on June 5, 2023. Following this, she became inundated with toll violations in Delaware and Pennsylvania, leading to nearly $6,000 in fraudulent charges.
Bonovitch described her ordeal, stating, “I purchased a new van in Pennsylvania and had to destroy my old van license plate. Then, I was hit with toll violations for a car I do not own.” Her old plate number had allegedly been used on a Nissan Altima, resulting in her receiving bills for tolls she did not incur.
Toll fees in Delaware, for example, can quickly escalate. A mere $3 toll turned into a $53 bill due to additional fees, while another toll of 50 cents ended up costing her $88. In total, the charges amounted to $5,853, including a collection notice for $810 and a speeding ticket associated with her surrendered plate number.
State Police suggested that the fraud might be a result of individuals replicating license plate numbers, complicating the situation for victims like Bonovitch. “It’s aggravating to deal with this bureaucracy,” she expressed, highlighting the frustration of navigating phone calls and documentation in an attempt to resolve the issue.
Eddie Sundquist, Bonovitch’s attorney, emphasized the challenges that victims face when dealing with law enforcement and state agencies. “People really need a lot of help navigating through the bureaucracy,” he stated, indicating that understanding the process is often overwhelming.
In response to these complaints, the Delaware Department of Transportation confirmed that they reviewed Bonovitch’s case and found the plate linked to the violations was fraudulent, leading to the dismissal of all toll charges. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Turnpike acknowledged the situation but noted that privacy laws prevent them from discussing specifics regarding individual cases.
Moving forward, Bonovitch expressed a desire for further action to prevent such fraud from occurring again. “Something needs to be done to ensure that the plate number isn’t used anymore,” she urged.
As of now, Bonovitch has not received any new toll bills since January. Both the Chautauqua County Clerk’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office have reiterated that their procedures in handling surrendered plates are being properly followed. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles has also announced that they are actively investigating the concerns surrounding license plate fraud in Jamestown and the surrounding areas.
As the situation develops, the Mayor’s Office remains committed to helping residents navigate these troubling allegations.
