this post was submitted on 30 Jan 2024
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When it comes to preventing your plate from being duplicated, Sgt. Schmidt said "there's really nothing you can do," because by the time a driver gets a bill or ticket, their plate has already been cloned.

"You have to clear your name and prevent this from continuing," he said.

A clear and concise "get bent" from the OPP when asked how they intend to address crime.

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[–] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 10 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Well, unless the 407 can prove that your vehicle was being driven, it really should be tough luck for them.

It's not up to someone to prove they did not drive on the 407.

[–] Son_of_dad@lemmy.world 12 points 8 months ago (3 children)

You'd think so, but this has happened to my dad twice and they wouldn't renew his sticker until he pays up or settles it. Which brings up, why is the government acting as a collection agency for a private entity?

[–] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 5 points 8 months ago

Smells like a class action lawsuit in the making.

If enough people are being erroneously charged, and if the 407 can't prove 100% that they are sending the bill to the actual owner of the vehicle being driven, then they would likely lose.

It's ridiculous that they come up with a system that appears to be easily fooled, and everyone but the 407 is being held accountable.

This makes me wonder how many people were sent bills that they simply paid automatically out of habit, but they shouldn't have been billed for in the first place.

[–] Cobrachickenwing@lemmy.ca 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Right in the ~~sale~~lease of the 407. The owners of the 407 can tell the government to suspend ownership renewal until all 407 dues are paid.

[–] Son_of_dad@lemmy.world 7 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Can you imagine if the government refused to renew your documents cause you owe money to Rogers, or home Depot, or Walmart or some shit? It's dystopian and I'm ashamed of my country for allowing it

[–] CodieneC@mstdn.ca 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

@Son_of_dad @Cobrachickenwing That is under your provincial gov't, not the feds.

[–] Son_of_dad@lemmy.world 2 points 8 months ago

My province is within this country.

[–] Fenrisulfir@lemmy.ca 1 points 8 months ago

Have you been to Canada before? The government is run by private entities

[–] Pyr_Pressure@lemmy.ca 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Aren't VIN numbers visible from outside the vehicle?

Maybe they should start recording VIN numbers instead of licence plates, or in addition to.

[–] OutlierBlue@lemmy.ca 7 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Vehicle identification number numbers?

They're visible through the windshield but small. There's no way the standard speed camera could pick that up.

[–] Pyr_Pressure@lemmy.ca 1 points 8 months ago

I was thinking more for parking tickets

[–] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 8 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

I just saw this on CBC. I was shocked that it's not illegal to create or buy number plates resembling government issued ones.

[–] nik282000@lemmy.ca 9 points 8 months ago (2 children)

I can't believe that the fine for having fake plates is less than a week of commuting on the 407. It's stupid not to do it, even if you get caught every week.

[–] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

This among other cases of ridiculously low penalties for traffic infractions. 🤦

[–] AnotherDirtyAnglo@lemmy.ca 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

We all just need to agree to use Dalton McGuinty's license plate.

[–] nik282000@lemmy.ca 2 points 7 months ago

...I love it.

In Japan there was a toll road that nobody wanted. The system required that the drivers face could be seen for accurate billing (or something) so lots of people started to hold up masks of the politician who approved the project. I like that kind of collective fuck you.

[–] ininewcrow@lemmy.ca 5 points 8 months ago

Capitalism will solve this ... it actually is the root cause too

The government will sit on their hands until the problem starts angering enough people and enough organized people take the government to court to pay for damages and lost money and funds for having to fix a problem the government caused by not doing anything about it.

Until then, nothing will happen

[–] nyan@lemmy.cafe 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

"Likely from duplicated license plates"—well, a duplicate might be sufficient for this, but it's far from necessary. I know someone who was sent a 407 bill some years ago for a set of plates that had been lying in a shed for 20 years, not renewed or attached to a vehicle in that timeframe. That one was likely a misread, as a duplicate of a plate that old would have risked drawing attention. Most people just don't keep 'em that long.