75-year-old Beda Koorey returned personalized license plates inspired by the U.S.S. Enterprise tag to New York State in 2020. She is now facing a flood of tickets for others using the same tag.
In April 2020, Beda Koorey, a retired legal secretary, decided to return her license plates with the iconic “NCC 1701” inscription, reminiscent of the U.S.S. Enterprise from the popular “Star Trek” series, to the Department of Motor Vehicles in New York. Little did she know that this simple act would lead to a bizarre and frustrating ordeal involving a series of traffic violations that she did not commit.
Despite having stopped driving in June due to deteriorating eyesight, Ms. Koorey began receiving speeding tickets in August of the same year. These tickets continued to arrive at her Long Island home in Huntington, N.Y., much to her bewilderment. It turned out that some “Star Trek” fans were using replica plates with the U.S.S. Enterprise tag, either for speeding or reckless driving, leading to a case of mistaken identity that implicated Ms. Koorey.
What followed was a four-year saga of bureaucratic entanglement and confusion, as Ms. Koorey found herself inundated with hundreds of violations from various states, all linked back to the Enterprise-themed novelty plates. These plates, easily available online for as little as $14, were intended for display purposes only on bicycles or toys. However, when affixed to vehicles, they could trigger traffic cameras and generate citations, as was the case with Ms. Koorey.
The situation escalated to the point where Ms. Koorey was being falsely implicated in a nationwide spree of traffic violations, with her supposed alter ego driving vehicles with U.S.S. Enterprise plates in over 20 states, including Washington, Ohio, Texas, Florida, and of course, New York.
The ordeal highlights the unintended consequences of using unofficial novelty plates on vehicles and the challenges faced by individuals caught in such scenarios. It serves as a cautionary tale for “Star Trek” enthusiasts and others who may unknowingly invite trouble by displaying unauthorized plates on their vehicles.
In conclusion, the case of Beda Koorey and the phantom traffic violations underscores the importance of ensuring compliance with legal requirements when it comes to vehicle registration and identification. By being aware of the potential pitfalls of using unofficial plates and taking proactive steps to avoid such situations, drivers can prevent unnecessary headaches and legal troubles down the road.
Source: The NY Times
