B.C. man's 'FIVE-O' licence plate recalled due to police reference

8 months ago 84

A Kamloops, B.C., man's personalized licence plate is being recalled by ICBC due to its reference to the police. Jimmy Jay, however, says he's had the plates for almost a decade and thinks he should be grandfathered in.

ICBC says it apologizes for any disappointment caused by the recall

Lauren Vanderdeen · CBC News

· Posted: Dec 02, 2025 10:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 13 minutes ago

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A Ford truck features a B.C. vanity licence plate reading "FIVE-0". It has stickers added to the plate reading "Insured by Smith & Wesson."

A British Columbia licence plate that reads "FIVE-0” is getting the 86 from ICBC a decade after it was issued.

Kamloops, B.C., resident Jimmy Jay says he was shocked when he got a letter from ICBC last week telling him his "FIVE-0" personalized licence plate is being recalled.

The insurance company says vanity plates can’t refer to law enforcement.

“Five-0” is a term that generally refers to police.

But Jay says he’s had the plate for almost a decade.

“I was totally caught off-guard there, totally surprised,” he said.

“I should be exempt, you know. If they had wanted to, they could have recalled it earlier,” he added.

“I just don’t want to give it up.”

The back of a Ford truck with the licence plate 'FIVE-0'

Jay said he was a police officer back in the 1990s, and he’s also a fan of the TV series Hawaii Five-0, which popularized the term.

“It just meant something to me.”

Now a forklift operator by trade, Jay said his machine is also numbered 5-0.

ICBC said it apologizes for any disappointment caused by the recall.

“We understand this personalized plate may hold special meaning for the customer,” spokesperson Lindsay Wilkins said in an emailed statement.

Wilkins said the corporation periodically reviews personalized licence plates to ensure they meet program guidelines, which include restrictions to referencing law enforcement, religion, politics, public figures or dignitaries.

The reference to law enforcement wasn't caught when the customer applied for it, Wilkins said.

“We will provide a replacement plate at no cost and will work with the customer on suitable alternatives such as ‘FORK 50.’ Our goal is to make the process as straightforward as possible and ensure the customer feels supported.”

But Jay isn't keen on the change.

“If I can’t have that [FIVE-0] plate, I just don

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