Driver using a dealer plate on their personal vehicle stopped on Ottawa highway

As Ontario Provincial Police prepare for a weeklong “plate week” initiative targeting licence plate infractions, a driver was stopped on an Ottawa highway using a dealer plate on their personal vehicle.

Ontario Provincial Police say an officer stopped a vehicle shortly before 4:30 p.m. Thursday after the Automated Licence Plate Recognition camera issued a notification for a “missing licence plate.”

“The driver was using a dealer plate on their personal vehicle, and had put the plate on because they did not have insurance for their car,” Const. Michael Fathi said on X. “The driver was unaware it had been reported missing by the dealership.”

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Police say the driver faces several charges, including operating a vehicle without a licence. The maximum fine for driving a vehicle without a licence is $5,000.

The licence plate was seized and the vehicle was towed.

“The driver had actually purchased proper plates for his vehicle but had them in the trunk,” Fathi said.

Starting Monday, the OPP in Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley will be doing “focused enforcement” on licence plates that are damaged, unreadable, missing or obstructed.

“Front-line patrol officers with the OPP have noted that there has been an increase in the number of plate covers being used on vehicles,” the OPP said. “Drivers that have been stopped by police have admitted to purchasing the illegal plate covers to avoid being detected by the Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras that have been installed in police cruisers.”

“Furthermore, the ALPR camera’s abilities are significantly reduced by licence plates that are damaged or have had their reflective colour fade or peel off over time.”

The fines for licence plate violations range from $110 to $170.