Police issue warning about fake license plates
Posted Mar 2, 2020 11:44 am.
Last Updated Mar 2, 2020 11:45 am.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – An increase in fake licence plates has police out with a public plea.
Police said on Monday that they have seen a growing number of vehicles bearing fake license plates.
Officers said that while these plates can be easy to see, many drivers have been covering them up making them difficult for officers to spot.
Sgt. Darcy Williams said using these covers or a damaged plate is illegal.
“It can distort the license plate from officers being able to read the license plate clearly. If a person’s vehicle is stolen and a cover is on there, it can also make it difficult for us to confirm a license plate if we ever need to stop that vehicle.”
“They’re either using some sort of company or a laser printer and generating a look alike. What we’re finding is that by making those and making some modifications to it and then adding the component of a license plate cover on there, it makes it difficult for us to be able to tell the difference between a real one and a fake one.”
Officers advised people to remove any cover they have to help them find the fake license plates.
The news came less than two weeks after RCMP issued a warrant for two people driving a vehicle with a photocopied Alberta plate in Coquitlam, B.C.
RELATED: Couple wanted after ‘terribly funny’ forged license plate found in B.C.
Coquitlam RCMP said the forgery was one of the worst they’ve ever seen.
While Sgt. Williams said he has seen photocopied plates in the past, many criminals were getting more creative in making them.
“A number of these license plates, when we check them through our system, it will show it coming back as legitimately registered to a vehicle of similar make and model and year. It’s not until we have to stop the vehicle, check the VIN number, that we’re able to determine whether or not it’s legitimately registered to the vehicle or not.”
Williams added that fines for covering a license plate could be up to $155 on top of penalties for driving with a false plate.
