The Ontario government is planning new legislation that would give police officers the authority to search for and seize electronic devices that are intended to be used in auto theft.
During a Tuesday press conference in Brampton, ON, Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said the province will soon table a bill to amend the Highway Traffic Act to allow police to crack down on items like key fob programming devices, fob scanners and mobile apps. The legislation will exclude “lawful” use of these devices, which includes auto dealers, repair services and roadside assistance personnel.
The government says that while vehicle theft in Ontario decreased by 16 percent in 2024, criminals are still “increasingly using keyless entry technology to steal cars from unsuspecting victims.” This also comes after Ontario’s Peel Region — which includes Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon — was named “the auto theft capital of Canada” at a national auto summit last year.
Alongside the planned electronic device legislation, Ontario is permanently establishing a dedicated “Major Auto Theft Prosecution Response Team” that will focus on crime hotspots across Ontario, including Toronto, Brampton, Ottawa, London and Newmarket. This team will provide legal advice andĀ prosecutorial support to police services in an effort to dismantle organized crime networks and hold offenders accountable.
These auto theft initiatives are part of the province’s larger announcement about proposed changes to “improve public safety by getting tough on crime and putting violent, repeat offenders behind bars.” This includes focusing on “specialized prosecution teams and “stronger and more efficient courts.”
Image credit: Shutterstock
Source: Government of Ontario
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