Ontario government wants to give police authority to search for, seize electronic tools used by car thieves [Video]

In its fight against auto theft, the Ontario government is proposing new legislation that would allow police to search for and seize keyless electronic devices used to steal cars.

At a news conference in Brampton Tuesday, Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria told reporters the province would soon table a bill to amend the Highway Traffic Act so police can crack down on items like key fob programming devices, fob scanners and smartphone apps.

“This will give police the strong tools they need to keep these devices off the streets,” Sarkaria said. “Let me be clear, anyone using these devices to steal a vehicle will face the full consequences of their actions.”

Lawful use of these devices by auto dealers, repair services and roadside assistance would be exempt, he said.

Auto thefts in Ontario have been trending down over the past year, Sarkaria said, with a 16 per cent drop in 2024 …