Toronto, Ontario - Three vehicles owned by two repeat drunk drivers have been taken away permanently under Ontario’s new drinking and driving civil vehicle forfeiture law. It is the first time in Canada that vehicles owned by repeat drunk drivers have been forfeited under such a law.

In both cases, government lawyers satisfied the Ontario Superior Court of Justice that the vehicles were used, or were likely to be used, in a drinking and driving offence, and that the owners of the vehicles had been suspended from driving for a drinking and driving offence two or more times in the past 10 years.

Yesterday, in South Porcupine, Attorney General Chris Bentley handed over one of the vehicles to the Ontario Community Council on Impaired Driving, and its member group Action Sudbury, to use as they raise awareness about the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving. Another vehicle will be shared by Ontario Community Council on Impaired Driving member groups in the Northwest Region for the same purpose.

The provincial government introduced amendments to Ontario’s civil forfeiture law in the Safer Roads for a Safer Ontario Act of 2007. The new provisions took effect in February 2008.

“We’re keeping Ontario’s roads and families safe from vehicles used by people who repeatedly choose to drink and drive,” Bentley said. “This new law is a message to drunk drivers: stop your irresponsible behaviour or you could lose your wheels.”