Ontario transport ministry given until Sept. 27 to issue IRP cab cards

TORONTO (Aug. 7, 2001) — The Ontario Ministry of Transportation has been granted a 60-day extension after failing to meet a July 29 deadline for issuing International Registration Plan (IRP) credentials to carriers registering under the plan.

In lieu of credentials (“cab cards”), the MTO said carriers will receive a letter of authorization allowing them to operate until Sept. 27 without credentials, at which time they should have been issued. Enforcement officials are supposed to accept the letter as proof of vehicle registration under IRP.

In a letter to IRP Inc. requesting the 60-day extension, MTO Licensing and Control Branch director of operations James O’Mara blamed the delay on a heavy volume of applications. IRP Inc. coordinates the administration of the plan.

Ontario implemented IRP on April 1, 2001. New jurisdictions receive a 120-day enforcement grace period during which carriers are not expected to have IRP cab cards in their vehicles. That grace period expired July 29.

Ontario announced its intention to join the program in February 1998. The plan provides blanket registration for trucks and buses as an alternative to individual reciprocity agreements, and distributes truck and bus registration fees among member jurisdictions based on the number of kilometres carriers travel in other jurisdictions. Vehicles are given one licence plate and registration document which allow travel in all jurisdictions. All Canadian provinces and U.S. states belong to IRP.