First it was ghost guns – now “ghost vehicles” are what Mayor Eric Adams and the NYPD are looking to get off of city streets.

Ghost vehicles all share one common characteristic – temporary paper license plates. These plates are mainly from other states and can be expired or fake.

Lots of these ghost vehicles have been connected to drivers who are unlicensed, uninsured or involved with crime.

The NYPD and sheriff’s office held a news conference at an impound lot in Queens today, where they towed just a few of the ghost vehicles from the 3,500 arrests made over the fake paper plates.

Police say that some of the cars had weapons and narcotics inside, and 25% of the vehicles that were impounded were never claimed.

The NYPD’s transportation bureau says the issue has exploded during the pandemic.

"If you dare obscure your real license plate or if you affix an altered or temporary, we're out there, right there real time, looking for your car and looking for you," said NYPD Chief of Transportation Kim Royster.