WRPS say no excuse for drivers with invalid licences

By CityNews Staff

The topic of invalid driver's licences and plates has resurfaced, after a reported surge in charges laid in some parts of Ontario. 

In the matter of the three hours last Wednesday, Ottawa police claim to have laid 40 charges for expired licences and plates, with most pleading ignorance and deflecting blame toward the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) for not sending them a reminder.

Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said OPP have also seen an uptick in drivers forgetting to renew their plates. 

“We are finding right now that many vehicles driving around still have their stickers, but they are not being annually registered,” said Schmidt. “You could be charged for driving with an unvalidated or unregistered vehicle, and we are seeing more and more of that happening across the province on a very regular basis.”

Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) pull over a high number of vehicles each day, and what they've noticed doesn't line up with what's happening elsewhere in the province. 

The notion has been that the MTO have not been sending notices since March 2022, however according to Director of Consumer and Industry Relations at the Insurance Bureau of Canada Anne Marie Thomas, since Ontarians have been able to renew their licences online, a notification system was implemented that requires you to sign up.

WRPS Staff Sergeant Scott Griffiths explained that regardless of whether drivers receive a notice or not, it's no excuse.

“What it boils down to is driving is a privilege,” said Griffiths in an interview with CityNews 570. “Whether it's by intent or by error that they're not notified, it is the responsibility of the driver to make sure that is done.”

The fine for an expired licence in Ontario is a pricy $325, while it's still $110 for expired plates. If there wasn't another licensed driver in the vehicle, another means of transportation would also have to be used.

Those consequences are minor compared to what could happen to your insurance.

“It depends on how long the licence has been lapsed,” said Thomas. “If my licence expired last week and I got caught today, an insurance company wouldn't look down on that too much. If it's a year, you could be looking at anywhere between a 50 to 100 per cent increase on your insurance. Something else for drivers to be reminded of, if your licence is expired for three years, you may have to go through the whole graduated program again.”

Griffiths suggested that Ontarians always check their expiry date on their birthdays, “Blow your candles and check your licence!”

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