Because it's easy to hide defects in forged documents by laminating over top of them..based on technology we had a decade or so ago to do so. Now that you can scan, photoshop, etc you can make what ever you want for a document (like temporary paper boaters cards), so laminating may not be such a big deal,,,but someone here on OFC was charged for his copied/laminated vessel licence last year and had to go to court with the original to have the charge withdrawn. I have photocopies in nothing but a zip lock bag in our steel work boat. It's just thrown in the bottom of the rubbermaid container that we store our lifejackets, rain coats and safety supplies in. The inks a bit runny after a few years of getting moist from condensation etc...but OPP didn't have an issue with it as late as first week of September this year. I always have a spare photocopy in the cottage and home in file for when/if it can't be read anymore.