18-Year-Old Racks Up 43 Tickets Traveling 148 MPH: NYSP

GOSHEN, NY — An 18-year-old was issued 43 tickets and is facing multiple charges, including a felony, after being accused of switching license plates on a car and taking authorities on two high-speed chases.

The New York State Police said, shortly after 10 a.m. Sunday, a trooper on Route 17 in the town of Goshen said he saw a 2003 Infiniti G35 traveling east at a high rate of speed and in violation of other state traffic laws.

The trooper said the speed the car was going was clocked at 117 mph in a 65 mph zone.

Attempts to catch up with the Infiniti were not successful.

The driver was weaving in and out of traffic without signaling and was cutting off other drivers.

After getting off the highway at Exit 129, the driver tried to hide in the park-and-ride lot.

As the trooper began to walk up to the car to speak with the driver, the vehicle took off, but not before the trooper was able to obtain the license plate number and a visual of the 18-year-old driver.

The Infiniti got back onto Route 17 going east and proceeded to Interstate 87 south.

The trooper continued pursuing the car but stopped for safety reasons when the Infiniti reached a speed of 148 mph in a 65 mph zone, police said.

An investigation found that the license plate on the Infiniti belonged to another car out of New York City.

The owner of that car was located, after which it was discovered the owner was a relative of the 18-year-old.

Social media had photographs, police said, showing the 18-year-old standing next to the Infiniti with the switched plate.

With the help of the New York Police Department, the Infiniti was found in Queens along with the 18-year-old.

He was detained by the NYPD and then turned over to the state police in New York City.

The 18-year-old was taken to the Monroe barracks where he was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, a felony, and reckless driving and third-degree fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle, misdemeanors.

He was released on an appearance ticket returnable to the Town of Goshen Court April 12 and was also issued 43 tickets, including going 117 mph in a 65 mph zone and 148 mph in a 65 mph zone.

Police said all tickets were issued to the corresponding jurisdictions in which the violations occurred.