Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Drug traffickers may face licence suspension

NEW provincial legislation to suspend a convicted drug trafficker's driver's licence is to be introduced today as part of the government's ongoing attack on gangs and drug trafficking.

Attorney-General Andrew Swan said Monday details of the proposed law will be released when the bill is tabled, but already the Progressive Conservative opposition say it won't go far enough.

Tory justice critic Kelvin Goertzen said the bill, to amend the province's Highway Traffic Act, should also include seizing a drug trafficker's vehicle.

"I think there's more of a point to be made when you can take assets away from individuals," he said.

Last session, Goertzen introduced a bill that would suspend the driver's license and seize the vehicles of drug dealers. It was rejected.

"At the end of the day I'm disappointed that the government continues to stall and to steal bills for simple, petty political reasons," Goertzen told reporters.

The proposed legislation would give police another tool to go after known drug dealers--if they're caught driving while suspended they can be charged, plus it could give police a reason to search their vehicle.

bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 8, 2009 A7

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