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Rules around collector licence plates

Safety upgrades such as disc brakes, stainless steel brake lines, seat-belts and a theft alarm system are allowed

It's show and shine season and the carefully maintained and restored older vehicles are out for our appreciation. I watched one vehicle from the early 50's pass by me the other day and I noticed that it was equipped with a centre brake light and angel eyes in the headlights. It also sported a collector licence plate and that got me to thinking, were either of the two 'enhancements' that I noticed allowed on a collector plated vehicle?

My understanding of vehicles that displayed collector licence plates was not extensive, but I knew that they were for the pleasure use of motorcycles, cars and light trucks and very few modifications from stock were allowed. To satisfy my curiosity, I visited ICBC's website. I found that I was right about the use restrictions, but the list of allowable updates was a lot longer than I would have thought.

Safety upgrades such as disc brakes, stainless steel brake lines, seat-belts and a theft alarm system are allowed. Obvious ride height changes, non-era correct paint, sound system and colour anodized engine dress up kits are not. For more extensive information on what is and isn't allowed on a collector plated vehicle, contact ICBC's specialty licensing department.

Making non-approved modifications after obtaining collector licence plates or mis-using them for business or to and from work may result in loss of collector status and the privileges that these licence plates bring. This gentleman will have to remove the angel eyes for more reasons than one. They are not era correct and are not in compliance with the lighting regulations for that vehicle.

For more information on this topic, visit www.drivesmartbc.ca. Questions or comments are welcome by e-mail to comments@drivesmartbc.ca. Tim Schewe is a retired RCMP constable with many years of traffic law enforcement experience. His column appears Thursdays.