Belleville Police Traffic Safety Unit Constable Jeremy Anderson gives a presentation during a meeting of the Belleville Police Services Board, at Belleville City Hall, on May 22, 2018. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
A member of the Belleville Police Traffic Unit says drivers may want to think twice about putting licence plate covers on their vehicles and about removing them if they’re already on.
Constable Jeremy Anderson says the TSU has been dealing with lots of people whose plates can’t be read by the automated licence plate reader, or by officers, because they are peeling or cracking.
Deputy Chief Mike Callaghan says while some potential criminals purposely mask their plates with covers or sprays, most people using the covers for aesthetic reasons don’t know they’re illegal.
The TSU will also be undertaking a major public education campaign about the issues with unreadable plates and will eventually start cracking down on drivers who have them.
Constable Anderson added that if your plates are bubbling, peeling, or cracking and are less than five years old, you can have them replaced at a Service Ontario Centre free of charge.
There was also a bad run of plates made around 2008 that have a similar issue.
If your plates are older than five years and are damaged, you can replace them at a Service Ontario Centre for $59.
