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Behind-the-Wheel

Dear Cop - License Plates

Why do drivers in BC have to have a license plate on the front of their
vehicles, while some other provinces do not. I have asked other police officers and they simply said it is the law in BC, nothing more. I also asked my insurance agent, if the law says we have to have a plate on the front, why do we only receive stickers for the back plate and not the front. They did not know and said we are only required to have them on the back. Can you explain to me why the plate on the front is important, but not.

License Plates
I cannot give you an answer as to why other Provinces have only one license plate issued to the owner of a vehicle. I also cannot answer why there is only one insurance sticker for the rear license plate on vehicles in B.C. I know as a police officer that having a front plate on a vehicle is easier for identification of the vehicle to all road-users, police officers included. If a vehicle is fleeing the scene of a crash, sometimes the front plate may be the only plate observed by witnesses.

I can answer what the law in B.C. is for mounting license plates on vehicles in B.C. Most vehicles owners are issued two license plates for motor vehicles in B.C. The exception to this rule is motorcycles and trailers which are issued only one license plate. You are required to mount both license plates on your vehicle in a highly visible manner, one on the front of your vehicle and one on the rear of your vehicle. The rear license plate is suppose to have the proper insurance decal attached. Some vehicle such as a dump truck can have the insurance decal on the front plate.

The laws are as follows for license plates in B.C.
Section 13 (1) of the Motor Vehicle Act indicates that a person commits an offence if the person drives, operates, parks or is in charge of a motor vehicle or trailer on a highway
(a) without the license required by this Act for the operation of that motor vehicle or trailer having been first obtained and being then in force,
(b) without displaying on it, in the manner prescribed, the number plates issued or designated by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia or otherwise prescribed to be displayed on that motor vehicle or trailer for the current license year of that motor vehicle or trailer, or
(c) that has displayed on it a number plate other than those issued or designated by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia or otherwise prescribed to be displayed on that motor vehicle or trailer for the current license year of that motor vehicle or trailer.

Display and Use of Number Plates
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.

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.

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.

Number plates in horizontal position
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.

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 speed monitoring device or traffic light safety device prescribed under section 83.1 of the Act.

Constable R.A.(Richard) ASELTON
Central Okanagan Traffic Services - Media Liaison

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



More Behind the Wheel articles

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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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