Commonwealth _ Toronto recently discovered multiple vendors selling custom license plates online, marketed for novelty purposes. To assess their authenticity, a reporter ordered a replica of a CBC vehicle’s license plate. The imitation plate, made of plastic, was swiftly shipped and delivered within a week, closely resembling a genuine license plate. Other vendors offer more realistic options, including metal plates and high-quality adhesive sticker replicas, depending on the buyer’s budget. Sergeant Kerry Schmidt from the Ontario Provincial Police’s highway safety division emphasized the challenge for law enforcement, stating, “We have seen some very well-disguised fake license plates out there that wouldn’t catch the eye of an officer. You wouldn’t know until the driver of the vehicle was stopped for some sort of violation.” Addressing the issue, a spokesperson for Highway 407 ETR acknowledged instances where individuals’ license plate numbers were stolen or illicitly duplicated. In such cases, the company collaborates with customers to identify unauthorized trips and rectify charges. The spokesperson, Christina Basil, highlighted the increasing sophistication of “bad actors” who use cloned plates on vehicles resembling the originals in make, model, and even color.
In Ontario, the purchase, sale, and ownership of novelty license plates are legally permitted. However, the legality changes when these plates are used on the road, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). Under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act, it is considered an offense to use a license plate not authorized for a specific vehicle. If caught, the associated fine is $140. To put this in perspective, the cost of driving one way on the 407 Express Toll Route (ETR) during morning rush hour from the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) in Burlington to the end of the 407 ETR portion at Brock Road in Pickering is approximately $60, according to the highway’s toll calculator.
In case a driver’s license plate is duplicated, 407 ETR, the Ministry of Transportation, and the OPP all recommend reporting the incident to the police. Subsequently, the driver should visit a Service Ontario location and pay $59 for new plates to prevent further bills or tickets. Daniel Tsai, a consumer rights expert and adjunct professor of law, technology, and business at the University of Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University, acknowledges the challenge of arguing for the Ministry of Transportation to bear the cost of replacement plates. However, he asserts that the government should take responsibility for addressing the issue, emphasizing the ministry’s role in ensuring the legitimacy and authenticity of license plates.
Despite questions about what actions the Ministry of Transportation is taking to discourage plate duplication and why the burden falls on legitimate license plate holders to obtain new plates, the ministry provided a response without directly addressing these concerns. According to spokesperson Tanya Blazina, the province does not regulate the sale of novelty license plates. In cases of duplication, drivers are required to acquire a new license plate, and the ministry charges a $59 fee for the replacement of vehicle permits and plates. This fee ostensibly covers the processing, production, and shipping costs associated with replacements. Sgt. Schmidt of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) underscored the challenges drivers face in preventing license plate duplication. According to Sgt. Schmidt, once a driver receives a bill or ticket, it is likely that their license plate has already been cloned, leaving them with limited preemptive options. In light of this, Sgt. Schmidt advises individuals to take swift action to clear their name and address the issue promptly.
