Quote:
Originally Posted by feifei
Hey! i saw a car wif a "red bc licence plate" white lettering....can someone tell me wut kinda plate is dat??  |
ICBC marks dignitaries with red
Have you seen one yet?
A bright red licence plate shining through the gloom of Vancouver's winter streets.
Did you scratch your head? No, they're not specialty Santa plates. Nor are they for red-carpet celebrities.
The candy-apple-coloured plates are for B.C.'s many foreign representatives. At least 150 of them have already been assigned.
"They're quite a striking plate," said Insurance Corp. of B.C. spokeswoman Kate Best. Especially compared to their predecessor, which looked much like every other plate on the road, except for the word "consul."
On June 10, the insurance corporation introduced the new version to correspond with a federal standard set by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Martin Cronin, consul-general for the U.K., said he has mixed feelings about his new red plate, which has raised plenty of interest since he got it a few months ago.
"To some extent, it's helpful not having the word consul written on the plate," Cronin said. "On the other hand, they're bright red so they kind of just stick out anyways."
Diplomatic plates are a double-edged sword, Cronin said. They get you free parking at city parking spaces and make you easy for police to spot in an emergency, but their visibility could also be a security threat, he said.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, there are approximately 780 accredited foreign representatives and members of their families living in B.C.
Not all will sport the red signage: foreign representatives can choose whether they want a consular plate, Best said.
The flashy plates, which cost $12, are the latest update in 18 different categories of licence plates on B.C. roads.
Specialty 2010 Winter Games plates, which declare B.C. as "The Best Place on Earth," were introduced this year as a way to raise money for the Games.
B.C. veterans were distinguished from the rest of the public when ICBC introduced a poppy-emblazoned plate in 2004.
But you may not have noticed one of the more quirky specialty plates out there.
HAM radio licence plates are available to all certified amateur radio operators.
And now, come fog, or rain or gale, it will be even easier to find your local diplomat.
crolfsen@png.canwest.com
Specialty licence plates on B.C.'s roads
- Plate: Prorate Cost: Varies
Who has it: Commercial vehicle carriers, to be exempted from buying permits when crossing jurisdictions.
- Plate: 2010 Winter Games
Cost: $35 and an annual fee of $25
Who has it: Anyone can buy these plates for their vehicle.
- Plate: Veterans Cost: $5
Who has it: Optional for veterans who served in wartime, a post-war capacity, or during a NATO or UN mission.
- Plate: Personalized Cost: $100, annual fee of $40
Who has it: Anyone can make a customized "slogan" of up to seven characters, as long as it isn't offensive.
- Plate: HAM Radio Cost: $18
Who has it: Certified amateur radio operators, in order to help communicate in the event of a natural disaster.
- Plate: Vintage vehicles Cost: Undisclosed
Who has it: Available for vehicles at least 30 years old, in near-original condition, only driven on special occasions.
Source: ICBC
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