So I go to court today to fight a $350 fine I received from the MD of Rockeyview cops back in march.
I go thru a "gauntlet" out in a new high-end subdivision with two marked cruisers sitting there.
I'm friendly, "hi officer, whats the problem"
"I'll tell you in a second, can you open your van please"
"Sure, no problem, are you guys checking for theft from the site..awesome, I'm glad to see the cops doing that"
"No..I'll tell you in a bit..."
I open my van doors to show my tools etc, nothing else, and all of a sudden he whips out a camera and FLASH, takes a picture.
"whoa whoa hold on....whats going on here?"
He's now looking at my vehicle reg and says: "here's the problem; you're not registered as a commercial vehicle.."
"Umm...didn't think I had to be, since I don't haul an material and I'm working for an employer, I only carry my personal tools, (important point here) at least thats what 4 different registry agents as well as the one that gave me my class 3 passenger vehicle plates said
"Nope..anyone carrying tools needs a commercial plate"
"Oh wow..i did not know that officer, I"ll go and change that right away. How much more are commercial plates? " (He didn't know...it is $10 more I find out later)
"Good..just wait right here while I write you up a $350 fine"
"WHAT!!???!!!" Thats when I lost it....
So, if you are carrying tools to your place of employment, you need commercial plates. Does a judge need them when he carries his briefcase and files? Does an office worker need them when he brings his laptop to work with him? Does EVERY SINGLE construction worker, driving his car with a tool pouch in it need one???
This cop said Yes. So..I am off to court this morning to fight this. Even the head of Alberta Vehicle Registration agreed with me that it is a grey area.
The definition of class 3 passenger (not commercial) plates:
A vehicle shall be registered in the class 3-pass category when the vehicle is utilized solely for personal transportation including the transportation of the registered owner's own goods ...
I'll let you all know how it goes.