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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

#51

Post by yohannparis »

reaperducer wrote: post #41
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…

Burned vehicles are identified by their VIN numbers, not their plates. Your be surprised how often cars have the wrong/stolen/fake license plates.

True, but they said "more difficult", with plates it takes minutes for a Police officer over the radio to give you information on the Make/Model of a vehicle. Then for more details, you can fetch the VIN, but that is a more difficult task.

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

#53

Post by rezgi »

stanski wrote: post #16

Had the good fortune today to drive behind two cars, side by side, one sporting the old license plate and the other the old one. I could only read the old, white background plate but not the new blue one. And that was in broad daylight. Anyone claiming that the blue plates are perfectly readable has either never seen them in action or is downright lying. Incredible that vehicle plates are a political issue but there…

It is apparently not illegal in Ontario to put these very, very dark plastic covers over your plates either, making them so dark that they're barely legible unless you have your nose on that car. Including the (now) old design.

Really, all you can see is a dark, smoked, grey rectangle where the plate is. I'm amazed this is legal.

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

#54

Post by a9h74j »

allenu wrote: post #46

I’m curious just what process was in place to let this happen. Yes, I know it’s government, but I’m really curious what organizational process is in place to allow such an obvious thing to slip through.

Good question. "Consulting stakeholders" -- as is claimed -- is not the same as having quantifiable standards.

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

#55

Post by theluketaylor »

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.

The previous ones were at least legible, but for several years had manufacturing issues. The paint peeled and flaked off of many, many plates. I'm not sure how long the supply of old plates will last.

At least the plate belongs to the owner and not the car. I plan to keep my two sets of (now old) plates as long as possible.

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

#56

Post by Shivetya »

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…

it all went down hill when license plates became a money making proposition to the states. from all the special interest plates and college plates it is just too much.

then comes the fun in my state where EV plates come with a penalty, even higher fees on top of what I pay for yearly renewals hence I keep my Veterans plate.

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

#57

Post by rezgi »

metalliqaz wrote: post #34
mfoy_ wrote: post #30

Ridiculous situation: MPP Lisa Thompson defends new Ontario licence plates. Video clip from Question Period, she calls previous license plates "Liberal plates". https://www.reddit.com/r/ontario/comments/f5xbtt/mpp_lisa_th...

What the hell is wrong with people? I thought Canadians were better than this. Don't believe what your own eyes are telling you. Orwell turning over in his grave.

Ontario is a disaster, don't be fooled. Ford is a mini-Trump.

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

#58

Post by 99052882514569 »

chongli wrote: post #44

Recall that this is the same provincial government that used public money to put stickers on gas pumps in what amounts to a protest on federal carbon taxes. Taxpayer money spent on a brazenly partisan political campaign.

Stickers that didn't even stick right (very poor adhesive). This from a premier who ran a sticker and decal company.

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

#60

Post by dsfyu404ed »

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.

As someone who spent a long time in proximity to government processes similar to what decided upon these plates I assure you that the government will not shoot its ability to collect revenue in the foot. I think it's very safe to assume that these plates are wonderfully legible in the spectrum that ALPRs use.
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