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Ontario's new license plates have a problem: you can't read them

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Re: Ontario's new license plates have a problem: you can't read them

#41

Post by reaperducer »

loceng wrote: post #21
pletsch wrote: post #3

Saw a few of these this weekend, I'm curious to see if the 407 (Ontario's toll road)cameras can read them at night. I imagine this gets changed quite quickly if they can only read the old plates.

On CBC radio call in portion of a show a police officer agreed they're not good to read, definitely not easier, and I believe he was the caller that theorized that the blue background colour is reflective but they didn't reflect the letting itself: he theorized that made it easier for toll cameras to read the plates (better contrast) but not for human eyes. Also an ex-firefighter called in too and said that the flat…

Burned vehicles are identified by their VIN numbers, not their plates.

Your be surprised how often cars have the wrong/stolen/fake license plates.

Re: Ontario's new license plates have a problem: you can't read them

#43

Post by TallGuyShort »

julianlam wrote: post #28

I suppose this means there might be a secondary market for the old plates given the near-universal disdain for the new ones.

I would expect disdain from engineers (and tax payers in general) for a poor design. There's another interesting market that might really like an invisible license plate...

Re: Ontario's new license plates have a problem: you can't read them

#45

Post by ojbyrne »

Dumblydorr wrote: post #32

Side note: why did Ontario voters go from one Ford to another? Did they think, I loved the previous Ford except for the drugs and debauchery? Why does name count for so much in elections? Sigh

Rob Ford was mayor of Toronto, Doug Ford is premier of Ontario.

Re: Ontario's new license plates have a problem: you can't read them

#47

Post by bryanlarsen »

Dumblydorr wrote: post #32

Side note: why did Ontario voters go from one Ford to another? Did they think, I loved the previous Ford except for the drugs and debauchery? Why does name count for so much in elections? Sigh

I wouldn't be too harsh on the Ontario voters; if the Conservatives had any bit of competence they would have been able to win the 2011 and 2014 elections easily. By 2018 the Liberals were about 10 years past their sell-by date. Few were particularly thrilled voting for Doug Ford but they felt their alternatives were worse. I didn't vote for Ford but at least understood the people that did.

Re: Ontario's new license plates have a problem: you can't read them

#49

Post by Phillips126 »

reaperducer wrote: post #40
Phillips126 wrote: post #20

Wow that is an awful design for visibility. As a New York resident I noticed when the plates changed in 2010 I personally found them harder to read [0]. The white background with dark letters/numbers used from 2001-2010 seemed like the better option... I wonder what law enforcement thought of the change. Seems they are about to change again to something with better contrast starting April 2020 [1]. Also an interestin…

I don't think that the police had a problem with the black-on-orange color scheme. It worked fine for New York for what seemed like forever back in the 70's. As for peeling paint, that's a problem that West Virginia has in the early 90's, too. The urban legend was that it was caused by the prisoners who made the plates peeing in the paint.

That is likely true and perhaps it is just my vision. I just find the contrast to be worse leading to me personally having a harder time reading it in moving-vehicle conditions.

All NY license plates are made in the Auburn Correctional Facility. Had they been made in multiple locations it would be interesting to see if all of the problems were stemming from a single source or if it is an issue with materials. That is an interesting urban legend.

Re: Ontario's new license plates have a problem: you can't read them

#50

Post by loceng »

yjftsjthsd-h wrote: post #29
loceng wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On CBC radio call in portion of a show a police officer agreed they're not good to read, definitely not easier, and I believe he was the caller that theorized that the blue background colour is reflective but they didn't reflect the letting itself: he theorized that made it easier for toll cameras to read the plates (better contrast) but not for human eyes. Also an ex-firefighter called in too and said that the flat…

> easier for troll cameras to read ...typo? or...?

Freudian slip typo perhaps. Fixed, thanks.
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