Vehicle licence plates are by law required to be clear and visible, but Medicine Hat police say there is room for a judgement call when it comes to something like a bicycle rack.--NEWS PHOTO GILLIAN SLADE
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
Motorists could be fined if vehicle licence plates aren’t visible but there are also some grey areas where a judgment call is in order, police say.
Your vehicle number plate is supposed to be “visible, clear and legible at all times,” said Const. Robert Angstadt of the Medicine Hat Police Service. “A tinted and even a clear plastic cover is illegal.”
In Alberta the offence falls under the Alberta Traffic Safety Act under the Operator Licensing of Vehicle Control Regulations under section 71-1.
In some cases people deliberately try to conceal their number plate with a marker or by mounting something on the back bumper making it hard to read the plate, said Angstadt.
Bicycle racks, particularly with bicycles attached, could also conceal the number plate.
“Technically they are obscuring their plate but then it’s also taken into account that they’re using it (the bike rack),” said Angstadt.
People driving around with a bike rack without bikes attached could be pulled over by police, said Angstadt. If the bike rack is not in use it should be removed so the plate is visible.
“You need to make every effort to have your plate be clear and legible at all times,” he said.
Angstadt points out that the government allows those bike racks to be sold and mounted on vehicles.
“Technically someone driving around with bikes on a bike rack – it is somewhat against the legislation but that is where common sense comes in – you know there is not intent there,” said Angstadt, noting that officers have discretion and have to judge each situation.
If someone were to call in and report a neighbour for always having bikes on a bike rack and obscuring the number plate, it would be looked into, he said.
People should be making an effort to have their number plate mounted where it can be seen, he said.
Angstadt says there is also a grey area for people towing a travel trailer or utility trailer on their vehicle. Legally they are supposed to remove the trailer hitch when not hauling a trailer around.
During winter and a heavy snowfall there is a small grace period allowing people enough time to clear their bumpers.
“If it is still covered in snow three, four days later and the rest of the vehicle is clear, you know there is a little bit of intent to not (do it),” he said.
