News Release

Repeat Drunk Driver Vehicles Taken Away Forever

Attorney General Hands Over Vehicle To Anti-Drinking-And-Driving Group

August 18, 2008

News

Three vehicles owned by two repeat drunk drivers have been taken away permanently under Ontario’s new drinking and driving civil vehicle forfeiture law.

This is the first time in Canada that vehicles owned by repeat drunk drivers have been forfeited under a civil vehicle forfeiture law.  In both cases, government lawyers satisfied the Ontario Superior Court of Justice that the vehicles were used, or were likely to be used, in a drinking and driving offence and that the owners of the vehicles had been suspended from driving for a drinking and driving offence two or more times in the past 10 years. 

Today, in South Porcupine near Timmins, Attorney General Chris Bentley handed over a vehicle to the Ontario Community Council on Impaired Driving and its member group Action Sudbury to use as they raise awareness about the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving.  Another vehicle will be shared by Ontario Community Council on Impaired Driving member groups in the Northwest Region for the same purpose.

The McGuinty government introduced amendments to Ontario’s civil forfeiture law in the Safer Roads for a Safer Ontario Act, 2007.  The new provisions took effect in February 2008.

Quotes

“We’re keeping Ontario’s roads and families safe from vehicles used by people who repeatedly choose to drink and drive,” said Attorney General Chris Bentley.  "This new law is a message to drunk drivers:  Stop your irresponsible behaviour or you could lose your wheels."

“This new law is very important in fighting impaired driving,” said Anne Leonard, Executive Director of the Ontario Community Council on Impaired Driving.  “Ensuring the public becomes aware of the consequences of repeatedly drinking and driving is also vital.  This forfeited vehicle will be used in our community activities to serve as a powerful example of those consequences.” 

“No one poses more of a threat to the safety of everyone who uses our roads, than the driver who continues to drive despite having one or more convictions for impaired driving,” Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino said. “The new civil vehicle forfeiture law gives the OPP an effective new tool to remove the vehicles of repeat impaired driving offenders from our roads and highways.” 

"The repercussions of impaired driving are felt by many innocent victims,” said Ron Roy, Chair of Action Sudbury.  “We will use this vehicle in Northern Ontario for our ongoing community work to help prevent the tragedies drinking and driving can cause.”

“Taking away the vehicles of repeat impaired drivers helps make our roads safer for everyone,” said Joanne Peacock, Health Promoter, Sioux Lookout Committee for the Prevention of Substance Abuse.  “We are pleased to use this vehicle to help get the message across: drive sober.”

Quick Facts

• Drinking is a factor in about a quarter of all fatal crashes in Ontario with twice as many people killed in drinking and driving related crashes in the summer, compared to winter.
• Drunk driving offences include impaired driving, impaired driving causing bodily harm or death, driving with a blood/alcohol concentration over 80 milligrams, failure to provide a breath sample and driving while disqualified for one of these offences.
• Ontario leads the way in combating drinking and driving through some of the toughest laws and programs in North America, including:
  • Immediate licence suspension
  • Stiff fines
  • Longer suspension periods
  • Mandatory alcohol education and treatment
  • Vehicle impoundment.

Learn More

Read the Civil Remedies Act. 

Learn more about the Ontario Community Council on Impaired Driving.

Learn more about drinking and driving laws in Ontario.

Contacts

Sheamus Murphy
Minister's Office, 416-326-1785

Brendan Crawley
Communications Branch, 416-326-2210

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