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Behind-the-Wheel

License Plate Covered

Q: I'm wondering if, in BC, is it illegal to have the front license plate of your vehicle covered? That is, do both front and back license plates have to be showing at all times?

A: B.C. issues two licence plates for all vehicle with the only exception of motorcycles. The licence plates are to be mounted properly on the vehicle. There are brackets available for the front bumper on vehicles without holes for mounting a front licence plate.

Prohibition
Section 3.01 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations indicates that no person shall drive or operate a vehicle on a highway unless it bears number plates in compliance with this Division. Failure to comply with any of this section will result in a fine of $ 109.

Attachment of number plates
Section 3.011 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations indicates that number plates for a vehicle shall be attached
(a) where, under the Act, 2 number plates are issued and authorized for display on a vehicle, one plate to the front and one plate to the rear of the vehicle, and
(b) where, under the Act, a single number plate is issued and authorized for display on a vehicle, to the rear of the vehicle. Failure to comply with any of this section will result in a fine of $109.

Attachment of validation decal
Section 3.012 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations indicates that where a validation decal is issued under the Act for attachment to a number plate, it shall be applied to the designated place on the rear number plate in a horizontal position. Failure to comply with any of this section will result in a fine of $196.

Section 3.02 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations indicates that a number plate shall at all times be securely fastened in a horizontal position to the vehicle for which it is issued. Failure to comply with any of this section will result in a fine of $109.

Plates to be unobstructed
Section 3.03 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations indicates that a number plate must be kept entirely unobstructed and free from dirt or foreign material, so that the numbers and letters on it may be plainly seen and read at all times and so that the numbers and letters may be accurately photographed using a traffic light safety device prescribed under section 83.1 of the Act.


Constable R.A.(Richard) ASELTON
Central Okanagan Traffic Services - Media Liaison
Kelowna R.C.M.P. Detachment

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.



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About the Author

Tim Schewe is a retired constable with many years of traffic law enforcement experience. He has been writing his column for most of the 20 years of his service in the RCMP.

The column was 'The Beat Goes On' in Fort St. John, 'Traffic Tips' in the South Okanagan and now 'Behind the Wheel' on Vancouver Island and here on Castanet.net.

Schewe retired from the force in January of 2006, but the column has become a habit, and continues.

To comment, please email

To learn more, visit DriveSmartBC



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The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet does not warrant the contents.

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