IBC applauds feds for auto theft legislation

Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is applauding the federal government for passing Bill S-9, known as the Tackling Auto Theft and Property Crime Act. “IBC has worked tirelessly with our partners in law enforcement and with key members of Parliament to advance this important legislation through the House of Commons and the Senate,” said Rick Dubin, IBC’s vice president of investigative services. “IBC will continue to work with our partners on issues to further reduce insurance crime.” The new law has received Royal Assent and is to be implemented on a date yet to be determined. It amends the Criminal Code to provide tougher penalties for property crime, specifically targeting organized criminals involved in trafficking in stolen vehicles. Specific changes include:

• creating the separate offence of “theft of a motor vehicle” (with a mandatory six-month prison sentence for a third or subsequent conviction);
• establishing a new offence for altering, destroying or removing a vehicle identification number (VIN);
• making it an offence to traffic in property obtained by crime; and
• making it an offence to possess such property for the purpose of trafficking.