Attorney General destroys street racing cars forfeited as instruments of unlawful activity
MARKHAM, ON, June 15 /CNW/ - Two cars seized and forfeited under the Remedies for Organized Crime and Other Unlawful Activities Act (Civil Remedies Act) as a result of street racing incidents were destroyed today by Attorney General Michael Bryant and York Regional Police Chief Armand La Barge. "Two cars modified and used as street racing cars are now permanently out of action," said Bryant. "It was proven before the court that these cars were instruments of unlawful activity. The court ordered the cars forfeited to the Crown under Ontario's Civil Remedies Act. Today, we destroyed them to ensure that they could never again be used for street racing." This is the first time street racing cars have been destroyed under civil asset forfeiture legislation. The cars were impounded by York Regional Police after being stopped for speeding and dangerous driving, in separate incidents involving street racing in 2003 and 2004. Police say both cars had been modified for the purpose of racing, with features added to the engine and exhaust to increase power, the vehicle's road clearance lowered to increase speed and the backseats and interior panels removed to reduce the cars' weight. On December 2, 2004 and on May 19, 2005, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ordered the forfeiture of the cars to the Crown, under the Civil Remedies Act. The court found that the cars were instruments of unlawful activity. "Street racing is a dangerous, unlawful activity that puts innocent people at risk," said La Barge. "York Regional Police is committed to using every available legal tool to deal with unlawful activity. I am pleased to work with the Attorney General today on the destruction of this property that was forfeited under the Civil Remedies Act." The Civil Remedies Act authorizes the Attorney General to ask civil courts to freeze, seize and forfeit the proceeds and instruments of unlawful activity to the Crown. Civil asset forfeiture focuses solely on the connection between property and unlawful activity and is not dependant on any criminal charges or convictions. The legislation acts to prevent people from keeping assets acquired through unlawful activity and to prevent assets and property from being used to engage in unlawful activities. Since October 2003, $2.4 million in property and assets, including a former Hamilton crack house, weapons, marijuana grow operation equipment and cash, has been seized and forfeited under the Civil Remedies Act. The province currently has $8.4 million in net assets preserved under this act.
