STAR TREK Fan Blames Her Enterprise-Themed License Plate for Thousands of Dollars Worth of Tickets

A Long Island retiree says she's getting traffic tickets from all over the country, and her love of Star Trek may be to blame.

76-year old Beda Koorey stopped driving four years ago, when she turned in her old custom Star Trek plates, which had the same number as the Starship Enterprise - NCC-1701, then sold her car and stopped driving.

But she has continued to receive tickets for her license plates, and they pour in regularly. Koorey explained to CBS News, "These came yesterday from Chicago, speeding tickets. They are $100 each.” She went on, "I don't have a car. I don't drive. Those plates were turned in. They are persistent and they keep sending me tickets.”

As it turns out, for $15 on Amazon and eBay, some Trekkies have been easily replacing their real plates with the same novelty plates, and getting away with it. Their accrued tickets from all over the country are being mailed to Koorey.

"Red light, speeding, parking, school zone," she said, describing the types of tickets she receives. She also gets hit with E-ZPass tolls.

"I got a phone call from Ohio, a police chief looking for plates because they were involved in a robbery," Koorey said, “The whole country has my name and address for tickets I don’t even owe.”

The New York Department of Motor Vehicles says novelty plates being used illegally on the roads is a matter for law enforcement, and nothing in its system connects Koorey to her former plate.

The DMV also said that it's up to each state and billing entity to make sure it is utilizing the most up-to-date New York DMV data.

For instance, she doesn't drive a motorcycle, yet has received a ticket. "I've run out of ink. I've run out of stamps," Koorey said of trying to answer every summons. Koorey has hearing and sight issues. She said the reason for her tears of frustration is because she has been billed tens of thousands of dollars. "Yes, because I can't afford it. I'm on a fixed income," Koorey said.

In the days since CBS News New York's story aired, several lawmakers have pledged to help Koorey, and a pro bono attorney met with her Friday to help resolve the complicated issue.

I hope this issue is taken off this poor lady’s back, and she can go back to receiving her normal allotment of mail. This isn’t her fault, and it shouldn’t be her problem. It shouldn’t have to be such a pain to be a Star Trek fan.