City of Gatineau receives 370 tips in first two weeks of crackdown on out-of-province plates

The City of Gatineau has received hundreds of tips about drivers with out-of-province licence plates in the first two weeks of a crackdown on residents with non-Quebec plates.

On Feb. 19, the Gatineau Police Department announced it will be launching an operation targeting Quebec residents with out-of-province plates. Police asked residents to call 3-1-1 about their neighbours or other residents who have a non-Quebec licence plate while living in the province for more than three months.

• Gatineau, Que., police asking residents to report neighbours with out-of-province plates

A city spokesperson tells CTV News Ottawa that as of 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, the city has received 370 reports related to non-Quebec vehicle registrations since Feb. 19.

Provincial law requires new residents to register their vehicles with the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) within three months to receive a Quebec plate.

The fine for having an out-of-provincial licence plate is $200.

“The situation of Gatineau residents with licence plates from another province is a problem known to the SPVG,” police said in a statement. “In fact, it is working with the City of Gatineau, Revenu Québec and the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec to identify possible actions to reduce this problem.”

Gatineau police tell CTV News Ottawa no tickets have been issued since Feb. 19 for out-of-province licence plates.

The crackdown on out-of-province licence plates comes after the city implemented a new vehicle registration tax to help fund Gatineau’s STO. Under the plan approved by council, each registered vehicle is subject to a $60 tax in 2025, and a $90 vehicle tax starting in 2026.

The vehicle registration tax is collected by the SAAQ, and applies to automobiles, motor homes, SUVs and minivans, but not motorcycles, mopeds, and vehicles for institutional, professional and commercial use, according to the city.

The new $60 vehicle registration tax imposed by the City of Gatineau is in addition to a $30 fee that has been charged by the province since 1992.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Ted Raymond