Car theft, a blatant crime that occurs all too frequently, is occurring at extremely high rates in the province of Ontario, Canada. In the metropolitan area around Toronto, the most populous in the country, car theft has increased at a staggering rate of 150% over the past six years, according to a February 2024 study. article in The New York Times.
Although local authorities have encouraged creative solutions and local residents have become more vigilant, local officials' new legislation presents a smart solution that they believe will deter thieves from getting behind the wheel again.
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According to a CBC News report, the Ontario provincial government is proposing penalties for car thieves that will take away their right to drive. Once passed, those convicted of auto theft in Ontario will have their licenses suspended for 10 years. If caught and convicted a second time, thieves will have their license suspended for 15 years, and on a third conviction, they will be banned from driving for life.
Following the trend in car theft cases, these sanctions will be applied when courts determine that “aggravating factors” such as violence, threats or the use of a weapon are involved in the theft of a car, or if a car is stolen “with financial purposes”. gain.”
“Driving is a privilege, not a right. If you are shameful enough to take advantage of other members of the community for your own reckless gain, you will lose that privilege,” said Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria during a press conference. press in May. 14. “It is unacceptable that people are forced to get out of their vehicles at gunpoint and to look over their shoulders while pumping gas or pulling into their driveways.”
“Our government is sending a clear message to those who commit these crimes and is using every tool at our disposal to keep them off our streets.”
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However, Canadian legal experts maintain that the threat of long license suspensions or driving bans may be ineffective in reducing the rate of auto theft.
in a segment for Toronto City NewsCrime expert Shawn Sparling argues that license suspensions may not help deter outright crime.
“At the end of the day, these people are committing criminal offenses,” Sparling said. “Some are involved in very violent crimes with these vehicles, or they steal them for money and all that kind of stuff. The fact that they're going to lose a license, which they probably don't have in the first place, probably isn't going to matter much. “
“The (Canadian) courts still consider (car theft) a simple property crime and it's much more than that. It has much more impact than that.”
The proposed legislation comes as Ontario is reeling from a rise in car theft. According to the Ontario Provincial Police, organized crime groups aiming to export luxury vehicles are causing an “unprecedented” rate of car theft in the province. In March, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said 12,000 cars were stolen within Toronto city limits in 2023, roughly one car stolen every 40 minutes.
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