Star Trek License Plate Nightmare: New Yorker Battles Phantom Fines

In a tale straight out of science fiction, 76-year-old Beda Koorey from New York finds herself entangled in a web of traffic violations despite having retired from driving four years ago. The culprit? A set of personalized license plates paying tribute to "Star Trek" that she once proudly displayed on her vehicle, featuring the iconic designation "NCC-1701," the name of the USS Enterprise starship.

Phantom Violations Persist

Even though Koorey stopped driving four years ago and surrendered her plates and car, she's been getting tickets for running red lights, speeding, parking violations, and E-Z Pass tolls from various states across the country.

The Fake Plate Predicament

The issue stems from fake "Star Trek" plates with her old plate number being sold online. These fake plates are fooling the traffic cameras and parking enforcement systems, resulting in tickets being sent to Beda.

CBS News reports that the New York Department of Motor Vehicles claims it's not their problem, as they have no records connecting Beda to her former plate. They've placed the responsibility on individual states and billing companies to ensure accurate data and detect fake plates.

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Financial Stress and Legal Aid

Beda is stressed about the mounting fines, which could cause financial hardship as she is on a fixed income. However, with the story gaining attention, several lawmakers and a pro-bono lawyer have offered to help her.