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Having a U.S. license plate is not a crime, police say

Residents called Oak Bay Police about U.S. visitors
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Traffic on the Pat Bay Highway (Black Press Media File)

Having a U.S. licence plate on your car is not a crime.

As summer brought U.S. visitors to the Island, Oak Bay Police fielded many reports from locals that people are driving around in Oak Bay with American plates.

“We will investigate any allegations of someone breaching quarantine; however, we have no intention of stopping every vehicle that has a U.S. plate,” said Deputy Chief Ray Bernoties.

“Some people have completed their quarantine and are driving legally with their U.S. plates and they should not be repeatedly stopped and interrogated by police simply due to their plates.”

After a brief social media campaign, the calls have stopped coming in.

There was one allegation where someone believed their neighbour was failing to quarantine.

“However, we learned that he had quarantined elsewhere in B.C. before returning home and this was supported with documentation,” Bernoties said.

READ ALSO: B.C. man with Alberta plates gets car keyed and aggressive note

reporter@oakbaynews.com