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06.08.2007
Green plates could brand Ontario drivers in U.S
TORONTO (Reuters) - The Canadian province Ontario is looking to introduce green license plates that would grant drivers of environmentally friendly vehicles benefits like free parking -- but those same green plates could end up branding them as sex offenders in parts of the United States.
Eligible drivers for the green plates would have to meet a set of environmental efficiency standards set by the government, Jamie Rilett of Ontario's Ministry of Transportation said on Friday.
Rilett said the ministry will consult with groups including Sierra Club and Greenpeace, as well as the automotive sector before setting the standards, prior to the launch of the plates in the summer of 2008.
The plan was announced by Ontario Environment Minister Laurel Broten on August 8 as part of a wider initiative to combat greenhouse gas emissions.
Possible benefits for drivers could include preferred parking spots, free parking or unrestricted access to carpool lanes, Rilett said.
Unfortunately for Ontario's plan, however, state legislators in Ohio, Wisconsin and Alabama are also pushing for green license plates as a form of identification for registered sex offenders.
Peter Kormos, an Ontario legislator whose district is in the Niagara region near the Canada-U.S. border, said the provincial government should revisit the idea.
"For Ontarians who innocently get their green plates, this would constitute some real risks when they drive through those jurisdictions (in the United States)," Kormos said.
Rilett said Ontario is open to discussions with U.S. officials in order to avoid any color confusion.
"Our Minister is drafting a letter write now to the states that are considering this and asking how we can work together to make sure both our goals are met and so that we don't harm each other's programs," Rilett said.
