Car theft no longer petty crime

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/04/2009 (6387 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PEOPLE have been stealing cars since the first Model T rolled off the Ford assembly line 100 years ago. In fact, it used to be a rite of passage for young men to test drive dad’s old jalopy when no one was looking. If a crime was detected, it usually wasn’t considered more serious than petty theft, and treated accordingly.

But the times, as they say, have changed. Joy riding in someone else’s car may still be a cheap thrill for some teenagers, but it has also evolved into a dangerous and expensive burden for society. Between 2000 and 2007, at least 21 people were killed and more than 200 injured in collisions involving stolen vehicles. Some car thieves have even targeted joggers and pedestrians in alarming displays of anti-social behaviour.

It was long past time, therefore, for the tough new measures unveiled this week by the Harper government. Assuming an unexpected election doesn’t get in the way, the Tories plan to make "theft of a motor vehicle" a new offence under the Criminal Code, replacing the more generic offence of simple theft. As well, a third conviction for auto theft would carry a mandatory six-month jail sentence.

Critics might argue that the measures are both late and unnecessary, particularly since statistics show auto theft is on the decline in the face of effective counter-measures. The Criminal Code is already amply stocked with sections to reflect the more serious crimes of dangerous driving, and driving under the influence or causing death through criminal negligence, so why a new law at this late date?

The creation of a separate offence for auto theft sends an important message, namely that stealing a car is not a petty crime, but a serious offence with its own pride of place in the Criminal Code. It’s a bit like deciding that homicide does not fully describe the offence of murder. The effect may be only psychological, but it is worth it to drive home to both offenders and the courts that auto theft is a major offence against society.

An automobile can be a lethal weapon, even in the hands of a skilled driver. But the potential for serious damage is even greater when a car thief is behind the wheel. A separate law, combined with tougher penalties, will hopefully get that message out to whom it may concern.