I have been asked two questions about personal security that are vehicle related lately. One concerns blocking your vehicle identification number or VIN plate so that it cannot be read by anyone and the other is carrying a photocopy of your vehicle licence and insurance document with the address on it removed.
Both are attempts to thwart the potential actions of thieves.
Creating Keys From VIN Plate Information
The VIN plate issue arose out of newspaper stories that car thieves have been reading the number off the dash mounted plate and taking it to a car dealer or locksmith to have a key cut. This would allow the theft of the vehicle using that key.
Keys can be cut using only that information, but we would hope that inquiries would be made to verify vehicle ownership and the identity of the person requesting the key before it is made.
Covering Up the VIN Plate
Covering a VIN plate is not illegal, but make sure that you can remove the cover easily in the event that police wish to verify the VIN with the vehicle licence documents.
Don't ever consider changing or removing the VIN plate on your vehicle. This is an offence and the Criminal Code allows police to consider it as stolen when found in this condition unless there is proof to the contrary.
Your Address on Vehicle Registration Documents
The second issue arises out of the possibility that a thief going through your glove box would locate the licence document and use the address to go to your home and cause difficulty there as well. This is probably not likely, but neither is it impossible.
Blocking the address on the photocopy left in the vehicle would prevent this from happening. This suggestion is not completely legal. The Motor Vehicle Act requires that the licence or a photocopy of it be carried in the vehicle at all times when it is on a highway.
Blocking information means that the document is no longer a photocopy of the original. A better solution would be to photocopy the original, and then carry the photocopy on your person instead of leaving it in the vehicle.
Share This Article
- Log in to post comments
Comments
Or if you are the only operator, copy the original at like, 70%, and carry the copy in your wallet.
- Log in to post comments
Surprised to see a photocopy of the original license/insurance docs in your glovebox are acceptable. What about keeping complete photos of all those documents on your phone? Acceptable, or do you get a ticket for not producing...? (probably asked/answered, but thought I'd check anyway.)
- Log in to post comments
The photocopy only applies to vehicle licence documents, not a driver's licence. The original is the only acceptable article in that case.
Since photocopy is not defined in the legislation, the dictionary definition is accepted by the courts:
a copy of printed or other graphic material made by a device which photographically reproduces the original
With that in mind, a photo on a phone or tablet would appear to be acceptable.
- Log in to post comments
Reduce the Size