A woman in Ontario said she was fined nearly $ 500 by police in western Quebec for not renewing her license plate, despite Ontario granting an extension because of COVID-19. But according to Quebec police, this measure does not apply on the other side of the Ottawa River.
The Ontario government has introduced extensions for its residents because of the pandemic. Under that deadline, drivers have until March 31 to renew their license plates. What is not clear to Barbara Francis is that this extension did not reach other provinces.
Ms. said. Francis that he skied in Gatineau Park with a friend on March 5. A few weeks later, he received a letter from police MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais, accompanied by a fine of $ 494, by mail.
A police spokesman MRC Des Collines-de-l’Ouaouais explained that, although the Ontario government granted an extension, it only applied to Ontario.
Police also instructed the Ontario government in not specifying that license plates must still be renewed, free of charge, even if residents no longer have to pay for sticker renewals.
” I will probably have to go to court to challenge it. “
The police representative MRC Des Collines-de-l’Ouaouais also explained that Quebec police use computers to determine if a license plate is up to date, and do not rely on the sticker on the plate.
Ms Francis said she returned the police letter by placing the post in the box innocent. He then went to a Service Ontario office to get a letter saying he had not violated any law.
Even after I send it, I’ll probably have to go to court to challenge it.he thinks. Because they definitely won’t tell me they’re going to cancel the ticket.
Renewal of license plates is always mandatory
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation points out that the renewal of license plates allows it to verify that drivers ’vehicle insurance is up to date and that they have no outstanding fines, fees or tolls.
The public relations officer at the Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau (SPVG), Andrée East Gatineau police say they have heard of Ontario’s extension for personal vehicles, but they have started handing out tickets to people with expired license plates since early April.
Since 1eh In April, Gatineau police issued just over 320 tickets.
The agent East Ontario drivers are invited to take a few minutes to make sure their registration is timely to avoid fines in Quebec, but also in Ontario, since drivers there are also liable to fines, the extended period has been completed.
With information from Joe Tunney, CBC
Source: Radio-Canada