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Grandmother Loses 'BELLA' Plate Amid NYC Ghost Ticket Scandal

1/31/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Sharon Ritmo, upstate New York grandmother, surrendered her vanity plate 'BELLA' after ten speeding tickets targeted at a NYC motorcyclist with a fraudulent copy.
Ritmo, who never rode a motorcycle, received two tickets on her birthday while abroad.
City Councilmember Oswald Feliz says ghost plates rose after the DMV closed locations during the pandemic.
She is saddened by the loss and is considering a new vanity plate.

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Story summary

Sharon Ritmo, upstate New York grandmother, surrendered her vanity plate 'BELLA' after ten speeding tickets targeted at a NYC motorcyclist with a fraudulent copy.
Ritmo, who never rode a motorcycle, received two tickets on her birthday while abroad.
City Councilmember Oswald Feliz says ghost plates rose after the DMV closed locations during the pandemic.
She is saddened by the loss and is considering a new vanity plate.