Topic: Ontario to suspend driving licences of convicted auto thieves

[quadzilla]

Won't make a bit of difference because criminals don't care.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-auto-theft-drivers-licence-suspension-1.7203397

And some interesting stats...

Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw said in March that 12,000 vehicles were stolen in the city in 2023, which amounts to one theft roughly every 40 minutes. The city has also seen a 78 per cent rise in violent carjackings over the last three years, according to provincial data.

Meanwhile, York Regional Police reported an 82 per cent increase in auto theft the first six months of 2023 compared with the same time period the previous year.

[WP v3.32]

They are soft like usual.   I just google what is the maximum penalty for car theft is Canada, it's 10 years.  So if you're in prison for 10 years you can't drive  .  So just use the initial law properly.

[TheHire]

Oh, this is great. Now, the thieves won't be able to steal anything because they're not legally allowed to drive! This will definitely stop them! Thank god Dougie's so helpful!

[Gurgie]

They can't catch them stealing cars & now they're gonna catch them driving without a licence?



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[Shorlaw]

One of the guys interested in my Vette had his Z06 stolen out of driveway a couple weeks ago.  Police found it stripped down to nothing.  $100k vehicle stripped for parts, can’t imagine they got much, but I guess easier to move that way

[Jaeger]

They can't catch them stealing cars & now they're gonna catch them driving without a licence?



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Oh, you expected this to make some kind of sense... I see the problem now. 

[Woodrow]

Honest question. Does car theft not fall under federal jurisdiction?

Obviously this from the province will do little if anything and is probably for political points but at least they’re trying.

If this falls under the feds would a very easy step not be to increase the punishment for car theft, enforce the law, and put these people away?

Clearly there is not enough deterrent for the people committing these crimes.

[OliverD]

Honest question. Does car theft not fall under federal jurisdiction?

Obviously this from the province will do little if anything and is probably for political points but at least they’re trying.

If this falls under the feds would a very easy step not be to increase the punishment for car theft, enforce the law, and put these people away?

Clearly there is not enough deterrent for the people committing these crimes.

Yes, stealing cars falls under the criminal code of Canada. The provinces can't change what the penalty is for that crime, hence this license suspension scheme.

Sort of like how some provinces have administrative penalties for drunk driving offences. E.g., suspending your license for 10 days if you blow between 0.05 and 0.08.

I'm not sure that increasing the punishment for the crime will do much. The real issue seems to be enforcement.

[WP v3.32]

It would be nice to know what is the average prison time for convicted offenders and repeat offenders.

[sailor723]

It would be nice to know what is the average prison time for convicted offenders and repeat offenders.

For most the answer is very likely to be zero.

[Fobroader]

Much like gun laws, this doesn't affect criminals. You think if they are willing to violently take a car from someone, having a valid licence makes a lick of difference??? Unless you are really willing to throw the book at these degens, stop with these stupid stop gap measures.

[2JDM]

I saw this today and immediately thought what a fackin' joke. It seems like Dougie is trolling us.

[Jaeger]

Honest question. Does car theft not fall under federal jurisdiction?

Obviously this from the province will do little if anything and is probably for political points but at least they’re trying.

If this falls under the feds would a very easy step not be to increase the punishment for car theft, enforce the law, and put these people away?

Clearly there is not enough deterrent for the people committing these crimes.

Feds write the law. Provinces prosecute and enforce.

[rrocket]

It would be nice to know what is the average prison time for convicted offenders and repeat offenders.

For most the answer is very likely to be zero.

Because it's not their fault they had to steal cars! The system let them down no doubt!   

Along the same lines, convicted drunk drivers, the repeat offenders, continue to drive on suspended licenses. These types of laws just don't work.

When will politicians, both federal and provincial, learn that these soft approaches don't work on repeat offenders. That's part of the reason they repeat...inconsequential sentences. No fear of getting caught.

I'm all for mandatory LONG minimum sentences for these type of repeat offenders. On your 3rd offense, minimum 5-10 years. MINIMUM.

[ktm525]

A simple knotted rope would solve this problem. KISS principle.

[WP v3.32]

Maybe we should turn prisons into private companies and force them to do "free" labor for infrastructure.  Then give majority shares to lobbyist.....