A Richmond store is once again facing criticism for selling lookalike driving stickers.
The stickers — which are sold at Super Garage in Aberdeen Centre — include an L, N and disabled permit, as well as the letter “R,” with the text “Richmond driver” underneath. The disabled permit sticker includes the text, “Facilities for the physically handicapped.”
The stickers are similar in colour, size and shape to those issued by ICBC as part of its graduated licensing program. The L, N and R stickers include text identical to that on ICBC-issued decals, for example, “building trust, driving confidence.” However, none of the stickers includes the ICBC logo or numbered code found on official signs.
Geneva Lee said she spotted the four stickers while shopping at Aberdeen last Thursday, and they immediately raised an alarm — particularly the sticker imitating a disabled parking permit.
“My high school teacher, who a lot of students know and love in Richmond, has a real disability that is not visible to the naked eye,” said Lee. “It pains me that he, as well as many other first-rate Asian individuals, will be unjustly affected by this and would have to fight to prove something that they’re not.”
It’s not the first time the store has sold copycat stickers. In 2015, the Richmond News reported how the store was selling a yellow “C” sticker, with the words “Chinese driver” spelled out underneath, raising alarm about ethnic stereotyping.
When contacted last Friday by the News, a Super Garage employee said they sold the stickers because customers don’t like the magnetic ICBC decals, and prefer to have sticker ones. The employee confirmed the store no longer sells the “C” sticker.
When the News asked the purpose of selling the stickers, the employee replied, “You can ask the customers,” before hanging up the phone, saying they were busy at the store.
Joanna Linsangan, a spokesperson for ICBC, confirmed the agency had not issued the stickers.
“We have sent out cease and desist letters in the past regarding signs bearing the likeness of our decals and we will do so again,” she said.
- With files from Nono Shen
