Justice Minister squashes resolution that would seize speeding vehicles
Posted Jun 17, 2013 3:18 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Calgary Police and Alberta’s Justice Minister are among the critics of a resolution passed by the province’s police chiefs over the weekend.
The group is pushing for a policy that would allow officers to immediately seize your vehicle if you’re going 50 km/hr over the posted speed limit.
Many naysayers argue it would infringe on personal rights, and punish offenders before they are even convicted.
Jonathan Denis said there’s no hard proof it would work.
“We simply haven’t seen any evidence to suggest that these additional seizure powers that are being advocated would actually have a measured impact on these high-speed drivers,” the justice minister said.
B.C. police have a similar authority, confiscating cars going 40 km/hr over the posted speed limit.
According to the B.C. Ministry of Justice, since their policy went into effect in 2010, the number of fatal and injury-related crashes was cut in half compared to the previous five-year period.
Denis said just because B.C. is doing it, doesn’t mean we have to and in certain situations, Alberta police do have the power to take your vehicle.
“Careless driving, it also talks about if there’s been things like a street race, or a bet or wager, that the officer has that particular power,” he said.
Calgary Police didn’t back the resolution.
Spokesperson Kevin Brookwell said they weren’t comfortable with the immediacy of the consequences.
“We just didn’t feel that it was necessary to bring forward another law, especially a law that has such a significant and immediate penalty in the towing of vehicles, and suspension of a driver’s license.” Brookwell said.
Brookwell added some things need to be up to the courts, and not an officer at the side of the road.
