Vettoretti first noticed the problem in 2012 with licence plates beginning with the letters ‘BC’ and onwards.

“The ones that they’re issuing right now, they may still have the problem,” he said.

Since 2006, all Ontario licence plates have been made by inmates at the Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay through Trilcor Correctional Industries. Before then, they were made at Millbrook Correctional Centre.

They produce 1.4 million Ontario licence plates annually.

The process hasn’t changed, but the materials have, Flanagan said.

“Part of that is to meet retroreflective requirements for visibility and also to address environmental issues related to solvent-based paint,” she said.

In 1994, the province switched from galvanized metal plates to aluminum. But there wasn’t a problem with the aluminum until 2012, Vettoretti said.

So, he believes the adhesive, or the sheeting (painted portion) have caused the issue.

“There’s obviously something going wrong there,” he said.

Brent Ross, spokesperson for the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, said the ministry and its supplier are working to determine the cause.

In the meantime, Flanagan said the onus is on you to replace your damaged plates. Faulty plates less than five years old will be replaced for free, she said.

Asked how someone could legally protect their plate from the elements, she said, “I’m not sure that they can do anything.”

While a Barrie Service Ontario location sells clear plastic licence plate covers, Flanagan said the ministry does not recommend using them.