Police issue 1,000 tickets, warnings for obstructed, dirty licence plates on Ottawa roads

Ontario Provincial Police say 25 tickets were issued to drivers for obstructed plates on Ottawa roads Wednesday. (OPP/X)

More than 1,000 tickets and warnings were handed out to drivers for obstructed and dirty licence plates on Ottawa roads in a 10-month period last year, but police say a lack of resources and drivers “deliberately” obscuring plates makes enforcement difficult.

City of Ottawa data shows 50,796 possible tickets for photo radar and red-light camera violations were rejected between January and October 2024 due to damaged, obstructed or missing plates on vehicles.

Coun. Marty Carr asked the Ottawa Police Services Board how many tickets were issued by Ottawa police for damaged or obstructed licence plates, noting the cameras generate millions of dollars in revenue.

A report for Monday’s Ottawa Police Services Board shows officers issued 239 tickets and 796 warnings for violations related to obstructed, dirty of obscured license plates in the first 10 months of 2024.

According to the data, officers issued 166 tickets, 26 Part III Summons and 453 warnings for an Obstructed Plate. Three tickets and 43 warnings were issued for a vehicle having a dirty plate, and 300 warnings, 69 tickets and 10 Part III Summons were issued because the entire plate was not plainly visible. A Part III Summons is a court date.

Under Section 13 of the Highway Traffic Act, drivers are required to ensure their licence plates are unobstructed, properly mounted, and clearly visible to officers and enforcement technology.

“The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) recognizes the significant impact that unreadable license plates have on the effectiveness of Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras, red light cameras, and other traffic enforcement measures,” said the report. “Ensuring that license plates are clearly visible is essential for maintaining accountability on the roads and supporting broader traffic safety initiatives. It should be noted that the traffic safety priorities for enforcement are stunt driving, impaired driving, speeding, and distracted driving.”

The report notes Ottawa police officers face challenges in enforcing the Highway Traffic Act for licence plates, stating some drivers “deliberately obscure or alter their plates to evade (automated speed enforcement) or red light cameras,” and weather-related visibility issues.

Obstructed licence plate blitz results in 25 tickets to drivers on Ottawa roads

Another challenge for police is resources.

“While enforcing plate visibility is important, officers must balance this with other pressing traffic enforcement priorities, including impaired, speeding and aggressive driving enforcement,” police say.

Ontario Provincial Police issued 25 tickets for having an obstructed plate on Feb. 5.

Drivers could face a $110 fine for an obstructed licence plate. According to the Ministry of Transportation’s website, it costs $59 to replace a lost, stolen or damaged licence plate.

“While significant progress has been made, the high number of unreadable plates remains a concern, particularly in relation to the effectiveness of ASE cameras and broader road safety objectives,” police said. “OPS will continue to support the City of Ottawa’s initiatives by enforcing license plate regulations and exploring opportunities for enhanced collaboration in addressing this issue.”