Kingston Police seize vehicles of chronic suspended drivers

Occ #21-12066, #21-12095

A pair of Kingston Police uniform patrol officers came upon two habitual suspended drivers in the same day, resulting in charges and the seizure of the vehicles being operated by these chronic offenders.

On Friday, April 9 at approximately 1:00 p.m., while patrolling on Princess St the officers recognized a 48-year-old local male behind the wheel of his partner’s sedan, with the registered and fully licensed owner sitting in the passenger seat. The officers had already charged this male twice since August 2020 with driving while suspended under the Highway Traffic Act, with another patrol officer charging him a third time since then. The last incident in February 2021 also had the female owner in the passenger seat. At that time officers confirmed her knowledge of the male’s driving suspension and warned her that if it occurred again they had the authority to seize the car if he was caught behind the wheel.     

On April 9 the vehicle was stopped and upon his identity and suspension being verified, the driver was arrested and later released on scene with his fourth driving suspension charge. Knowing his habitual history of disobeying legislation and suspension orders the officers used their authority under Section 217(4) of the Highway Traffic Act to seize the woman’s vehicle to prevent the continuation of the offence and keep it impounded until the final disposition of any prosecution under the Highway Traffic Act or Criminal Code of Canada, additionally knowing her awareness of her partner’s illegal driving behaviour.

Only three hours later, at approximately 4:15 p.m. the same officers observed a 38-year-old local man driving his pickup truck on Brock St in downtown Kingston. Since October 2020 he has been charged by various Kingston Police officers six times for driving while suspended. He too was stopped, properly identified, two different driving suspensions verified, arrested, and later released with a seventh and eighth driving suspension charge. Again, observing his apparent disregard for suspension orders, the man’s truck was subsequently seized and impounded until the case is resolved in court.

Aside from criminally disqualified drivers who automatically have their vehicles towed and impounded for 45 days under the Vehicle Impoundment Program (V.I.P.) if found to be driving following convictions including but not limited to impaired driving and dangerous driving, Kingston Police wish to warn repeat and habitual suspended drivers under the Highway Traffic Act, they too can have a similar process occur with their own vehicles or those of a friend or family member. All costs and charges for the care and storage of a motor vehicle are treated as a lien upon it, which may be enforced in the manner provided by the Repair and Storage Liens Act. This can become quite costly and the onus is on the owner of a vehicle to ensure the person who is being lent the keys is properly licensed to drive.