TORONTO, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- The provincial government of Ontario assumed the right Wednesday to permanently confiscate vehicles from repeat drunken driving offenders.
Amendments to the Civil Remedies Act, 2001 were merged into the Safer Roads for a Safer Ontario Act, 2007, and target drunken drivers of cars, motorcycles, snowmobiles and motor-assisted bicycles, a release said.
Drivers who have two or more alcohol-related convictions in 10 years will be subject to losing the vehicle, although the government said protections were in place for the owners of vehicles driven in offenses by other people.
The province now has the right to seize and auction off vehicles, with proceeds going to a fund for victims, the release said.
Ontario Attorney General Chris Bentley said he hoped the measure would sink in.
"Repeat drinking drivers who aren't getting the message now run the risk of having the courts take their vehicles away forever," he said.
