NY trucker accused of license plate disappear ruse

NEW YORK (AP) - September 4, 2008

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says the driver of a tractor-trailer rigged the front license plate of his vehicle so that it would "disappear" as he drove through a toll plaza, allowing him to avoid paying the $40 fee.

The Port Authority says driver Orlando Payano (Pah-YAH'-no) ran a cable from the license plate to the dashboard cigarette lighter inside the cab of the vehicle.

Pulling on the lighter flipped the plate under the truck.

Cameras are used to capture images of license plates to identify fare beaters.

Police have charged Payano with toll evasion and license plate destruction. He told the Daily News that he didn't have "any cable or anything" and that "it's not true."

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