Manitoba moves to revoke licenses from convicted auto thieves

Auto thieves convicted under the new federal criminal offence for auto theft would immediately lose their driving licences under proposed changes to Manitoba’s Highway Traffic Act, attorney general Andrew Swan announced on Apr. 15.
“The federal government responded to Manitoba’s call to make auto theft a Criminal Code offence and we are responding here at home by ensuring those convicted of this serious crime are not allowed behind the steering wheel of any vehicle,” Swan said.
The change in law would ensure the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) is consistent with current Manitoba practice, which is to revoke licenses from individuals convicted of a variety of Criminal Code offences.
Four new Criminal Code offences, which come into effect on Apr. 29, would result in an individual losing his or her licence:
•motor vehicle theft;
•tampering with a vehicle identification number;
•trafficking in property obtained by crime; and
•possession of property obtained by crime for the purpose of trafficking.
Under the HTA, those convicted of these offences would receive an automatic driver’s licence suspension ranging from one year to up to a lifetime suspension, depending upon the seriousness of the offence and the driving record of the offender.
Swan said that these changes in the Highway Traffic Act would provide another tool to combat auto theft. Since 2004, auto theft has been reduced by nearly 80% and is at the lowest level in nearly two decades, the government says in a press release.