On October 1, 2023, uniform officers from the 1 District (St. Catharines / Thorold) office of the Niagara Regional Police Service began a six-month traffic campaign directed at obstructed and obscured licence plates.
Licence plates are meant to be able to provide unique letters and numbers to be able to identify a specific vehicle. The ability to clearly see a licence plate can be of critical importance in the event of a collision, medical emergency, investigating crime, or ensuring accountability related to the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario.
On September 5th, 2023, the Niagara Region launched its Automated Speed Enforcement program to coincide with the return to school for Niagara’s youth. The focus of the program is to improve road safety by reducing vehicular speeds and encouraging compliance with speed limits in community safety zones. The effectiveness of this program is dependent on road users having a clear, unobstructed license plate that can be photographed by the cameras.
Some motorists affix clear or tinted covers over their licence plates. This is done for various reasons such as style or ascetics. It is also sometimes done to purposely obscure and obstruct the plate to avoid enforcement or tolls.
S. 13(2) of the Highway Traffic Act states:
“Every number plate shall be kept free from dirt and obstruction and shall be affixed so that the entire number plate, including the numbers, is plainly visible at all times, and the view of the number plate shall not be obscured or obstructed by spare tires, bumper bars, any part of the vehicle, any attachments to the vehicle or the load carried.”
Phase one will begin on October 1, 2023, and will continue until December 31, 2023. This phase will focus on the educational aspect of the initiative. Phase two will commence on January 1, 2024, and will continue until March 31, 2024. This phase will focus on the enforcement aspect of the initiative.