Journalist Gersh Kuntzman Fixes Defaced License Plates

Veteran journalist Gersh Kuntzman roams around New York City fixing illegible license plates, one car at a time. He uses a sharpie, a screwdriver and his uncanny ability to spot a questionable license plate. Kuntzman says he's making the streets safe by ensuring speed cameras capture the plates of dangerous drivers, especially in school zones. According to Kuntzman, he's found 100 defaced license plates, with more than 60 of them allegedly belonging to government employees.

[@PartiallyCooked]

“They’re ripping us off!” In the most New York voice ever is just gold 😂

[@canyonoverland5003]

That's gold, Jerry. Gold!

[@J_NYC]

🤣😄😄🤣

[@ScootsMcPoot]

He was from Jersey

[@treverwayne9298]

Id beat his ass😂

[@larryhullinger4141]

personally I wouldn't live in a state where I had to pay to drive on roads my tax dollars built

[@GlamorousTitanic21]

This is pretty dangerous. All it would take is one driver seeing him do this and pulling a gun to put an end to it.

[@1998mi]

Killed a man because of a plate. Never in a million years would anyone do this.

[@chanceadomeit4909]

@Benedict Mac Manus Junior The Eighty Fourth you serious? People kill people over little things all the time. I for one if I caught someone tampering with my car I'd kick there ass

[@THCHHC]

@@1998mi the year is 2023 and you still think you can't get killed for pretty much anything?

[@Dctctx]

@@1998mi seriously?

[@adamblack6867]

@@1998mi you must not know New Yorkers

[@skullkrusher4078]

Out there fixing other peoples' license plates, but can't fix the brakes on his bicycle.

[@pennybodydovey]

Lol

[@hemilton1982]

all he wants is attention from social media !!!!!

[@seanpittacora9668]

I wonder if he’d like me randomly walking up to his bike on the street and start “fixing it”

[@IVANMONSTER69]

@@seanpittacora9668 he needs random to walk up and knock is ass out.

[@Camp3r]

He almost slammed right into the back of that car.

[@seanmcfadden6576]

Wait a second...new plates in 2 hours?? They must have had them in the car

[@azaelg8658]

Owner is a police officer.may department help him to speed up the process in DMV

[@withlessAsbestos]

Maybe they’ve got a really good dmv… it’s unlikely but it’s nicer to think about.😢

[@msbhicks8358]

@@azaelg8658 yeah DMV's usually have preference for Veterans and other public servants for priority

[@chofyam3466]

@@azaelg8658 not 2 hours bro

[@thejackbox]

They don’t make the plates at the DMV. He already had those

[@Greenliight]

“I backed into a tree” lmfao that guy is hilarious 😂

[@777Skeptic]

Yeah, and I watch porn for the storyline.

[@johnwebster76]

​@@777Skeptic I like the fine acting

[@danteburgess7632]

"Uncanny ability to see questionable license plates" that was blatantly obvious.

[@amandajones661]

I think they were talking about counterfeit tags or tags that were meant for other cars.

[@angelaburress8586]

What if it was an undercover cop

[@RedMage117]

He is probably actually committing a crime. I believe most states have laws against making any "alterations" to a license plate, which oddly includes repainting them. I live in Maryland and discovered this because I wanted to repaint my classy old license plate since the new design sucks IMO.

[@Joesolo13]

Meh. If it gets these people caught what's a little fire with fire

[@erika8214]

I thought that he’s committing a crime. I understand his point.

[@andreasanchez1453]

How about expired plates can you paint them ?

[@RedMage117]

@@andreasanchez1453 I can't speak for every state, but typically license plates belong to the state and you're basically "renting" them by keeping your car registered. If you ever let your registration lapse, they require you to return them and I believe fine you if you don't.

[@DRob-gq3ki]

Its called criminal tampering you cant just get a screwdriver and start messing with someone else’s car the DA needs to give him a cease and desist.

[@hexum9449]

1:51 I was literally laughing out loud because of his squeaky brakes. I'm so glad they chose to include that in the video.

[@hiei5040]

Here In Canada , you get a fine for fixing your licence plate, even if you're just repainting the letters to look the same as they did.

[@Iamrightyouarewrong]

no you don't

[@ralphferley2602]

When government CORRUPTS EVERYTHING , TruDON'T gotta go he is a clown

[@Insomniac_tv]

Not really it’s rare for a cop to pull you over for that only if the whole plate is ripped off then yeah

[@hiei5040]

@@Insomniac_tv I never said cops would pull you over for that did I? Usually it goes unnoticed until you're pulled over for something else and then if the cop is nice they will let you off with a warning or else they will fine you under the Highway Traffic Act for : "Plate Obstructed , or not Clearly Visible".

[@nickc5581]

No it might not have happened to you but it is illegal to alter it in anyway in my province Manitoba

[@fytghggyungf7601]

It’s all fun and games until one day when the wrong person catches him writing on their car.

[@seanmcfadden6576]

He doesn't write on anyone's vehicle

[@himhim3344]

Hopefully soon

[@IVANMONSTER69]

@@himhim3344 hell ya beet down.

[@ppinmouth2649]

@@IVANMONSTER69 for what helping the community. Imagine one of the fools runs over one of your loved ones. Wouldn't you want to find the person who did it? Buy you one if these people hide there plates

[@sunflowerlover5640]

My guess is it won’t be long until he’s in the hospital. Especially after this piece and without the cameras all around. What a piece of work.

[@TonyMontana-mv9ez]

He's a type that when he was in school, he would remind the teacher to pass out homework

[@phillipvelednitskiy6881]

At least he did it…

[@capeofstormz5974]

Until one of these vehicles knocks you, and they can't seem to trace the owner.

[@BigPapiLoc]

bet your tune is gonna change when someone hits and runs your car and is untraceable

[@michaelbarefoot6334]

He's the type to watch his wife with another man and coach him through it...

[@johnpulawski35]

Responsible

[@shaf60]

Sounds like leaf man is going to rack up more tickets .

[@coolio1745]

How so? For a having a leaf on his license plate?

[@shaf60]

@@coolio1745 you went to Harvard you figure it out dummy .

[@cal30m1]

The driver could be arrested for operating that vehicle with numbers “repaired” by a magic marker; it’s considered defacing the plate.

[@seanpittacora9668]

Was looking for this comment. I get what you’re trying to do but you can report them. Don’t break the law as your solution and act like your Jesus.

[@maaanwich]

Clearly nobody is being arrested for defacing their plates.

[@mikehairston9444]

At least now the drivers know who to blame

[@mayavenuemisfit814]

I believe it's a $300 fine in New York.

[@slooper_4102]

This guy was definitely the kid who called timeout right before being tagged 😂😂😂

[@anthony6902]

Prolly got his ass bullied every day too 😂

[@SecretWars98]

Right? What a lil’ snitch! 😂

[@jschulte3]

This should be a TOP COMMENT

[@bronzydog7665]

He made an article claiming that shooting an AR15 gave him a "temporary form of PTSD" there's tons of memes about it

[@stressedpanda5689]

His opp list is historic

[@XTR02]

How does it cost the city $100 million every year if it isn’t money that they’re expecting to collect for a good or service? I thought the purpose of the cameras was to scare people into being safer drivers? So if they don’t meet their quota, regardless that such cameras shouldn’t exist in the first place, it’s still considered a “loss”? With all of the money the city rakes in, they can’t even fix their crime problems.

[@godmadesam]

Right!

[@theunaimedarrow4903]

Really telling us that many areas measure their success by dollars collected, and not crash reduction.

[@shinikeda4302]

Have you heard of cashless tolls?

[@XTR02]

@@shinikeda4302 What about it?

[@RandoHandle]

They run analysis of how much money they can get from things like this. So they just expect it and record it as an income stream that goes into X budget. They don’t care they just want money.

[@saalvosegg8171]

He’s going to mess with the wrong person and it’s going to end very badly.

[@rltw2753]

I hope he does .. nobody will miss him

[@phillipvelednitskiy6881]

@@rltw2753 bro stop commenting everywhere because you’re a criminal and you can’t stand following rules 🤡

[@rltw2753]

@@phillipvelednitskiy6881 I hurt your feelings you’re sensitive lil girl

[@Donner906]

Hasn't happened yet

[@saalvosegg8171]

@@Donner906 But it will happen.

[@Myne1001]

Wait isn't this the guy who said he got PTSD from firing an AR-15 at a firing range?

[@CitrusandWinston]

Thank you inside edition for all these wonderful ideas.

[@shekharmoona544]

Mayor of NYC: Raise the poors taxes and fine wealthy people for leaving the city.

[@kahlilhh1740]

This guy was the kid who did tests hiding his paper with a folder.

[@Redneck_Hero]

A teacher's little snitch

[@unmannedmechanic]

This guy takes the government boot deep.

[@masonloh1411]

Driving commercial in NYC over 45 years - I can attest most, not all / 80% of these defaced plate owners drive like a real D _ _ K. if they hit someone or get into a accident- they're gone w/ no consequences. imagine you the victim / how would you feel if it happens to you or your family members.

[@zachstone8526]

Doesn't matter, it's still illegal. He is illegal defacing a license plate , and another person's property , all because he doesn't agree with what they do.

[@phillipvelednitskiy6881]

@@zachstone8526 shut up and cry. They illegally defaced them first. Maybe one day one of your loved ones get killed by a driver like that and you’ll understand😂

[@zachstone8526]

@@phillipvelednitskiy6881 you don't know if it was illegally defaced or an accident, and dude isn't the police. Don't cry when someone guns him down because he was tampering with their property.

[@koolmazin]

@@zachstone8526It's not illegal to do what he is doing. And its not worth a life imprisonment for murder over something like this.

[@karikling6751]

If that's your attitude, don't cry when you get hit by a driver who flees the scene and police can't track them down.

[@feero9680]

this is surely a dangerous mission for him. he should have stayed anonymous

[@lolya8029]

this man is wanted underground

[@blasterman1r]

This is the same guy who claimed he had "ptsd"from firing a gun. He needs to mind his business.

[@Unit365247]

Imagine simping for the same government that would leave you beaten or shot in the street because they don't like the concept of self defense that you go around harassing people and defacing property for them.

[@Joesolo13]

What do you do that? Cuz this upstanding citizen is just cleaning up government property. You don't own your license plate

[@xtndodama]

@@Joesolo13the government is owned by us so yes we own our license plates

[@bigdapramirez6157]

Ikr. Bro's a "real hero" for stopping people trying to save money every time they go through a toll booth that shouldn't even be there in the first place

[@JamesJiansen]

I live in Utah and folks here regularly drive with dark-tinted license plates and in some instances, no plates whatsoever. It's a shame they're not being pulled over and fined more often as this shady practice is a danger to other drivers.

[@ralphferley2602]

Dangerous driving is a danger to drivers, a license plate is not a danger., get over your indigent self.

[@angelaburress8586]

How do you know that they’re not getting pulled over

[@rachellelouis-jacques6654]

@@ralphferley2602it’s even more dangerous when there’s a hit and run and you can’t read the license plate

[@swishask8875]

How is it dangerous you dweeb

[@Seren_ity22]

@@ralphferley2602 Wait till you get hit by a car with a dubious license plate...grow a pair.

[@punchy77855]

New York does have an issue with peeling liscense plates, and can be seen on several cars across the state.

[@meahdahlgren6537]

Right

[@Andrew-zv4fm]

Bad paint.

[@hellcatredeye-g6582]

Things I don’t miss about New York😂 but doing that down here in Atlanta wouldn’t go over well here everybody carries down here 😏

[@ElMencho.]

Idk about anyone else but if I saw someone doing that to my vehicle elder or young you’ll be catching hands. Mind your own business.

[@seanpittacora9668]

Exactly, I walk to my car and a guy I don’t know is marking it up/has a screw driver in his hand. Just report them and go on with your life dude

[@CanadasHobo]

100% agree, like it’s literally considered damage/vandalism on personal property when you write or tamper on someone’s plate.

[@co9221]

Aint no mf stupid enough to be scribbling on Mencho's plate

[@IVANMONSTER69]

I hope he keeps it up.and someone does taser.mase.or good oll fashioned whoop ass.and then he will need his grill fixed too.

[@sarahfinlay9122]

Same, dude would get beaten

[@Vertex_vortex]

Imagine coming back from work to see your license plate that has been graffiti on by a marker😂😂

[@nathan-ls8yw]

as a cop, that asshat better be prepared for a beatdown and a arrest for vandalism

[@christopherdavid1561]

Kuntzmann - such an appropriate name for this man.

[@KN-cl2tu]

Hmm i wonder if this guy has anyone run up to him and accuse him of defacing or trying to steal plates though i have to say good on him, an unsung hero in a wider world

[@AFloridaSon]

I don't know how they get by with driving around with those messed up plates.

[@ralphferley2602]

WHY ? Why does a license plate matter so long as your driving is safe . Government does not NEED your $ ,

[@angelaburress8586]

Yes he’s a busy body

[@partyguy9]

And this guy should be arrested for touching peoples cars. He is publicly doing it posting it up. I heard about a non famous civilian doing this getting arrested so why is he not getting the same treatment?

[@roberttalbot1658]

"Gersh" is seriously gonna get a severe beatdown by screwing around with the wrong person's car ! 😶😯😲🙀😹

[@randomsthingsandstuff9285]

Don't people get pulled over for this anyway?

[@grimjar2292]

Not in the big apple

[@Yui789esss]

No one gets pulled over in Washington DC over something like this but step into Virginia, and every cop will be after you 😂

[@kamillaparker6953]

Any time someone says "actually it is my business", I would wager that indeed it is 100% not their business at all.

[@truneilson]

If the offender is not paying their share its everybody on the roads business.

[@allouttabubblegum1984]

@@truneilson My local government is corrupt and wastes our money. No sympathy.

[@rcharmel9316]

@@truneilson You're the kind of person who reports someone to HOA if their grass is to high, ain't ya?

[@truneilson]

@@allouttabubblegum1984 Then go correct it, step in and be the change dont sink to the bottom of the barrel and become part of the problem and be the curruption.

[@truneilson]

@@rcharmel9316 I would never buy a home in an HOA, but I do keep my lawn nice and live in a nice area. I have no neighbors who sink that low.

[@shriharinagesh8247]

"Leaf Man"

[@andrewliu2526]

it's simple. If you don't want to get fined, I don't know, don't speed, pay your tolls. Otherwise don't use our roads

[@Philflash]

I like what was stated in another story law enforcement describes what Gersh is doing as "criminal mischief".

[@08_crown_vic]

You failed to mention those that block their license plates with bike racks and tow hitch mount with nothing on them

[@COMMANDERHAWK22]

he needs to be careful doing this.

[@nicolesmith4094]

Leaf man was awesome! He was happy and approachable, even when confronted with backing up into trees!

[@pepsico815]

The lengths people will go to instead of simply being a good driver. Ridiculous.

[@IVANMONSTER69]

My mom allways said i spend more time trying to get out of problems then if i would just avoid them in first place.

[@jaydawg2023]

Leafman. Legend.

[@unitforce4163]

Isn't this the same guy who claimed he got PTSD from shooting an AR-15?

[@volvo09]

It might be... What typical garbage from a major news outlet... Most likely all fake anyways... Like this guy really rides around on his bike with a marker like a fairy... He'd get his azz beaten real quick in NYC...

[@p71owner53]

Wow the guy who has nothing better to do 🤣🤣

[@ppinmouth2649]

What a lot of people don't realize is if one of these drivers hits you and drives off, how will you find them if they're hiding there license plate?

[@fredmontgomery9436]

1:51 please fix the brakes on your bike!

[@Zytron]

I like how even you called him "leaf man"

[@fergustheragamuffin5091]

NOT Surprising who is doing it the most.

[@callumanderson2943]

It's illegal to modify a license plate which includes drawing on it so.

[@elliecsmith2010]

Its just how ridiculous you can't pay a couple pounds or dollars !?!?

[@emmakai2243]

If you're driving over a toll road every day, and not having to pay it...seems like a pretty good incentive to neglect the condition of your plate.

[@smag61306]

Okay, how about I put a camera in your car so that every time you do an infraction, you receive a fine? Is that the world you want to live in?

[@pbs36]

"It's none of your business" is the offenders' favorite phrase.

[@xtndodama]

Because it is none of your business

[@koolmazin]

@@xtndodamaIt is all of our business, just wait until the day you get hit by one of these effers with no insurance probably even the car is stolen

[@TravisDoesKayakFishing]

I wouldn't do it, but those plates were paid for and purchased by that driver, someone is going to hurt this old guy and he has nobody to blame but himself. This is not his fight to fight.

[@JosePerez-zt8si]

Tell him to go a to a precinct you will find alot of plates cover by magnify glass cover

[@melapelan2596]

What a wonderful city full of upstanding citizens

[@cerberus3426]

You're judging a city based off 100 plate defacement? A city of 10's of millions... Yeah your brain is definitely small.

[@mikehalpern384]

really great idea .. with the leaf ! 🙂

[@sarahfinlay9122]

That man's gonna run into the wrong person

[@jacobsalinas2362]

That’s a crime for touching other peoples property

[@jg0445]

It's only the pathic people who can't take accountability for their action.

[@katharinesantana7147]

So working for a bureaucracy is a privilege.

[@david81583]

That man’s breaks sounds like sirens💀

[@Nataliah3r3]

Or just don’t speed and run a lights lol

[@zachmason1102]

I can't lie. I was on here looking for ways to do this to my license plate.😅😅😅😅

[@mrsynapse]

God bless I live in a state without speed Cameras.

[@ghiansudelo2590]

This guy has nothing else to do.... One day, he'll take a vacation to the hospital.

[@3abdangry]

I live in London and here they just leave their cars get really dirty which covers the number plates pitch black.

[@kellypatterson4412]

$6000. in fines, and those were the ones where he couldn't hide his plate #. At some point they just need to have their license revoked because they refuse to obey the rules.

[@bigmac9095]

Thanks for the tips

[@camaro88rds]

Damn, I'll bet he told on a ton of kids growing up.

[@burnthecandleatbothendz]

speed cameras ,tolls,parking meters ? who the hell would live in a city with those

[@eddiemunster8634]

Better not touch my car

[@RidesByRyan]

Tell me you were a hall monitor without telling me you were a hall monitor 🙄

[@JJ-gl3qr]

Imagine your entire career down the drain over some license plate tape

[@MyNathanking]

2:29: Leafman? That's an interesting name for a city street superhero. Ha ha ha, the traffic law violating adventures of Leaf Man.

[@airplanegod]

Same type of dude who would've went straight to the gestapo and told them "Anne Frank is hiding right over there".

[@volvo09]

Well said

[@ButtSolution]

I'm pretty sure this guy would be in the attic with her.

[@TheRManProds]

UH I BACKED INTO A TREE! LEAF MAN WILL PROBABLY KEEP ON DOING IT!

[@joeharris3878]

Government recording people with cameras is an abomination .

[@lindsaygonzalez7787]

What's the male version of a platinum level Karen?

[@MEGIDIOT]

When a driver runs over your kid or commits a DUI, you’ll want to know the license plate.

[@leroy44]

Yeah wait till someone knocks you over and speeds off, then go crying to police to help catch the perpetrator.

[@lindsaygonzalez7787]

@@MEGIDIOT Fair point.

[@DixonYerraz]

@@MEGIDIOT pretty sure they get they from cameras from residents and businesses, now speed or red light cameras which aren't even in every street. A few months ago a woman was hit by a car in my area and there wasn't a speed or red light cameras for another 15 blocks, so that's not really a good point.

[@CityLifeinAmerica]

Leaf Man: “I gotta pay if I run red lights??!”

[@Satchel456]

Isn't it wild how they tax the money you earned at work, tax the remaining money when you spend it, tax you extra to buy gas to get to work, and then say you're COSTING THEM MONEY because you're not paying them taxes to GO TO WORK

[@toastyburrito]

But sir, your still defacing a license plate by using a marker...

[@mikeyslas4557]

Should be charged for damaging plates that don't belong to him

[@roberttalbot1658]

This guy is one or more crayons short of a full box ! 😶🤨😏😂🤣😹

[@patrick44523]

Imagine being the DA Assistant that lost their job because of this guy...

[@shadowblack1987]

What's wrong with that?

[@adamblack6867]

It would be funny if the da guy goes after him for making him lose his livelihood.

[@Life2race]

Tell him too go bronx and outer boroughs. He says he lives in nyc. Not just manhattan where the fake paper plates park pumps or double park their cars over night. We need hero’s their too

[@TheRManProds]

THEY'RE RIPPING US OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@selwynjsilk5379]

I would give them all A+ for ripping the government off 😂😢

[@phlexx]

It's a hundred million the government didn't steal.

[@zoebakker7087]

And how do you feel about hit and run drivers who suffer no consequences because they defaced their plates and were never caught

[@phlexx]

@@zoebakker7087 nice straw man. If hit and run was the main issue and happened so much, why didn't they lead with that stat instead of the fact the state is "loosing" 100 million a year. Sounds like the state doesn't give two rats asses about hit and runs, but more about the lost revenue.

[@selwynjsilk5379]

@@zoebakker7087 hey thanks for highlighting the point! 🤝👏🏼

[@tenzackyogi1742]

Writing Marker Pen on plate is vandalism.

[@phantom6596]

0:32 why don’t you smile for the camera? I know they’re going to love it.😂

[@XTR02]

If the city hates this then provide new plates every 5 to 8 years. I bet it costs the New Yorkers an arm and a leg to renew their plates annually, the very least can be done is receiving new plates before the paint peels.

[@daledickey8400]

Tag renewal in NYS is every two years, $59 was for my car registration this year. Three years ago NYS replaced my damaged plate for free, fill out a form bring in the old ones. But if you're taking the car off the road you have to return the tags and pay $1.

[@FireyCam]

$6k in fines? Sounds like someone needs to fix their driving habits

[@kylebailey6748]

Hell nah you'll get shot doing stupid things like that. He messin with people's cars and that's the wrong thing to be doing. All their gonna do is do it again so all he's really doing is wasting his time.

[@ed199]

You know what they say about snitches

[@henrys3629]

I backed into Leaf Man. Oops.

[@trekuhl3966]

I’ll be doing this to my plates now, great idea! 😉👍🏻😇

[@Bluediamond2023]

He’s gonna meet a crazy person.

[@pavsofficial4284]

Leaf Man🍁 Ticketmania Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You !