St. Thomas, ON – April 17th, 2025
The St. Thomas Police Service is launching a targeted enforcement campaign to address dirty, damaged, and obstructed license plates. Our traffic management unit will be focusing on these violations to ensure all motorists comply with provincial regulations and help maintain road safety and vehicle identification integrity.
Under the Highway Traffic Act (HTA), driving with an obstructed license plate is an offense that carries a fine of $110. An obstructed plate is defined as any plate that is not entirely legible. This includes plates obscured by dirt, snow, plastic covers, or physical damage that prevents the plate’s numbers or letters from being clearly seen.
We want to remind the public that it is their responsibility to ensure plates are clearly visible, clean, and securely fastened in the proper locations.
Motorists are reminded:
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Do not attempt to paint or repair a damaged plate—replacement must be done through Service Ontario.
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Two plates must be displayed properly on all vehicles that require them: one on the front and one on the rear.
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Plates must not be obstructed by frames, covers, hitches, or other foreign materials.
Drivers are encouraged to inspect their license plates regularly and take action if they are dirty, damaged, peeling, or otherwise obscured.
The photos below illustrate several common violations.
The St. Thomas Police Service thanks all motorists for their cooperation.
