Following Christmas, a historic bell was stolen from a church in Fredericton, with a nearby security camera capturing an image of a pickup truck. Unfortunately, the photo only showed the front of the truck, lacking the license plate crucial for identification, according to Ross Hebb, the former minister of the church. Despite the recovery of a portion of the bell, the perpetrators remain unidentified.
This incident has reignited discussions on the wisdom of eliminating front license plates, a policy change implemented in 2019 by the previous Progressive Conservative government. The decision to remove front plates was made under the leadership of Carl Urquhart, who indicated a willingness to reconsider if a surge in criminal activities occurred as a result.
While the current provincial government maintains that New Brunswick has not experienced a notable increase in crime due to the absence of front plates, a local business in Hanwell begs to differ. Classic Stoves and Fireplaces, located near the church, has been a repeated target of thefts over the past five years. Jodi Harrington, a member of the family-owned business, highlighted instances of stolen catalytic converters, vehicles, and even a large ladder, expressing frustration over the lack of front license plates hindering their ability to capture clear evidence on security footage.
The prevalence of thefts prompted local businesses in the vicinity to form an email group to share surveillance images of suspects. Harrington lamented the financial toll these thefts have taken on their business, with losses amounting to $1,000 for each stolen catalytic converter. Despite the installation of security cameras and additional measures, the absence of front license plates continues to impede the business’s efforts to combat theft effectively.
The decision to do away with front license plates in New Brunswick left only Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia in Canada requiring them, while roughly half of the states in the U.S. still mandate both front and rear plates. The Department of Justice and Public Safety declined to provide insights on the challenges posed by the absence of front plates, redirecting inquiries to Service New Brunswick.
Minister Robert Gauvin defended the government’s stance, emphasizing the absence of concrete data linking the removal of front plates to diminished police effectiveness or road safety concerns. Despite calls from law enforcement agencies to reinstate front plates as a valuable tool, the government has been hesitant to reverse the decision.
Saint John police Chief Robert Bruce, the current president of the New Brunswick Associations of Chiefs of Police, acknowledged the difficulties posed by the lack of front plates in identifying vehicles and potential safety risks, particularly for school bus drivers. While concerns persist within law enforcement circles, governments have shown reluctance to backtrack on established policies. The association has urged for stricter penalties, such as vehicle seizure, to deter individuals evading police.
In summary, the theft of the historic bell in Fredericton and subsequent discussions surrounding the removal of front license plates underscore the ongoing debate on the effectiveness and implications of this policy change in New Brunswick.