Ontario is planning to create a new provincial offence for fraudulent vehicle registrations as a way to tackle auto theft.
Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria made the announcement Friday, saying it is aimed at cases of vehicle identification number fraud, in which someone steals a VIN from a car and uses that number to register a stolen vehicle.
“It’s these types of activities that, despite seeming like almost victimless crimes, are driving carjackings, late-night robberies and chaos in communities throughout the province,” he said.
Proposed legislation would create a new Highway Traffic Act offence of knowingly providing a false vehicle identification number when applying for a vehicle permit.
It would come with penalties of up to $100,000 in fines, up to six months in jail, and driver’s licence or vehicle permit suspensions.
The bill would also expand careless driving laws to parking lots in order to help police respond to unsanctioned …