Ontario is planning to create a new provincial offence for fraudulent vehicle registrations, as a way to tackle auto theft.
Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria says 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.
Sarkaria says 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.
He says the bill would also expand careless driving laws to parking lots in order to help police respond to unsanctioned car rallies and street racing.
Sarkaria’s announcement comes on the same day that Toronto police announced 59 arrests and 302 charges in an auto theft investigation that involved the use of fraudulent VINs, alleging that some ServiceOntario employees were involved.