Stiff Penalty for Drunk Driving

Orillia Packet and Times (ON)
Fri 22 Aug 2008
Page: A6
Section: Editorial/Opinion
Column: Editorial

Monday marked a significant law day in Ontario as Attorney General Chris Bentley announced repeat drunk drivers will have their vehicles taken away -forever.

Bentley travelled to the South Porcupine detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police to hand over the keys to one of the first three vehicles forfeited under the new civil law to the Ontario Community Council on Impaired Driving.

The vehicle was seized from a driver in the Cochrane district who decided to drive under the influence -not once, but twice -and got caught while doing so.

It's a fitting punishment for the crime.

But the reality is, if you take away their vehicle, then they can't drive it, regardless of whether they are sober or intoxicated.

A person has to be devoid of conscience and wit to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol in the first place. Not only are they risking their own lives, but they are also placing the lives of countless others in their hands -hands that might not be able to steer properly or react the way they should in an emergency situation.

This is the first time in Canada that vehicles owned by repeat drunk drivers have been forfeited.

In all three cases, Bentley said, 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 vehicle had been suspended from driving for a previous drinking and driving offence two or more times in the past 10 years. Those owners got what they deserved.

And, even more satisfying is the fact these vehicles are being given to community organizations whose goal is to stamp out drinking and driving. What better cause could there be than that?

The new law has been well received by law officials, including OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino, who, in a media release, said: "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. The new civil law gives the OPP an effective new tool to remove the vehicles of repeat impaired driving offenders from our roads and highways."

For anyone who has any bit of sympathy for those who have their vehicle forfeited, picture this: The blue GMC truck that was the visual effect for Monday's announcement in South Porcupine was dropped off at the detachment with the back loaded with garbage bags.

The inside of the vehicle was absolutely filthy and reeked of numerous offensive smells.

It's easy to understand that the owner of the truck would be angry having to forfeit the vehicle, but the simple fact is it was all his or her own fault in the first place and it was something that could have been avoided.

Their actions are a sign they have not learned their lesson -so don't lend them your vehicle. You could end up losing it.