CALGARY — Alberta’s police chiefs want to see the province bring back front licence plates.
But Service Alberta Minister Heather Klimchuk says it won’t happen.
The chiefs, including Calgary’s Rick Hanson, passed a resolution this week at the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police meeting calling on the province to have licence plates made with more reflective paint and to return to using front licence plates.
For Calgary police, doubling up on plates is a no-brainer, although they know it would come with a cost.
Spokesman Kevin Brookwell said current reflective coating needs to be enhanced and having two plates would increase chances of police or potential witnesses identifying vehicles possibly involved in crimes.
Brookwell says if officers are not perfectly behind the vehicle, it limits their ability to identify the vehicle.
Calgary Police Association president John Dooks agrees the extra plate has its crime-fighting merits.
“We believe putting a front plate on Alberta motor vehicles would assist our officers in the identification of stolen vehicles and other vehicles that are wanted,” he said.
But Klimchuk said the double-plate system will not happen.
“It’s a done deal,” she said. “The consultation with Albertans just show they wanted just a rear plate a 80 per cent of the public did not support front plates.”