Car theft — a brazen crime that happens all too often is happening at extremely high rates in the province of Ontario, Canada. In the metropolitan area around Toronto — the most populated in the country — car theft has jumped at a staggering rate of 150% over the past six years, according to a Feburary 2024 feature in The New York Times.
Though local law enforcement have encouraged creative solutions and local residents have become more vigilant, new legislation by local officials present a clever solution that they think will discourage thieves from getting behind the wheel again.
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As per a report by CBC News, the provincial government of Ontario is proposing penalties for car thieves that will take away their right to drive. Once passed, those convicted of car theft in Ontario will have their licenses suspended for 10 years. If caught and convicted a second time, thieves will have their licenses suspended for 15 years, and on the third conviction, thieves will be banned from driving for life.
Going along with the trends of auto theft cases, these penalties will be applied when courts find that "aggravating factors" such as violence, threats or the use of a weapon are involved in a car theft, or if a car is stolen "for financial gain."
"Driving is a privilege, not a right. If you're shameful enough to prey on other members of the community for your own reckless gain, you'll lose that privilege," Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said during a news conference on May 14. "It is unacceptable that people are being forced out of their vehicles at gunpoint and forced to look over their shoulders while pumping gas or pulling into driveways."
"Our government is sending a clear message to those who commit these crimes and using every tool in our toolbox to keep them off our streets."
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However, Canadian legal experts argue that the threat of extended license suspensions or driving bans may be ineffective in reducing the rate of auto theft.
In a segment for Toronto's CityNews, crime expert Shawn Sparling argues that license suspensions might not help deter the brazen crimes.
"At the end of the day, these people are committing criminal offenses," Sparling said. "Some are involved in very violent offenses with these vehicles, or stealing 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."
"[Canadian] courts still look at [auto theft] as 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 in with an increase of auto theft. According to the Ontario Provincial Police, organized crime groups targeting luxury vehicles for export is driving the 'unprecedented' rate of auto theft in the province. In March, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said that 12,000 cars were stolen within the Toronto city limits in 2023, roughly a car stolen every 40 minutes.
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