The Ontario government is proposing new legislation that would amend the Highway Traffic Act so that police can search and seize electronic devices used to steal cars.
The announcement was made by the province’s Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria at a news conference in Brampton on Tuesday. “By cracking down on these illegal devices, we’re disrupting criminal activity and giving police the tools they need to stop thefts before they happen, helping keep our communities safe for everyone,” said Sarkaria in a statement.
The government said car thieves are increasingly using keyless entry technology to steal vehicles. They said the changes they are proposing would mean police can both search for and seize items they suspect are being used to access and steal a vehicle. Things like key fob programming devices, fob scanners, and some smartphone applications.
“A major part of protecting Ontario is keeping our families and communities safe from the threat of crime,” said Zee Hamid, Associate Solicitor General for Auto Theft and Bail Reform, in a statement. She added that “passing this measure “will support law enforcement in safeguarding our streets, and make it easier to stop car thieves in their tracks.”
Nishan Duraiappah, Chief of Police of the Peel Regional Police, also weighed in. He said that through targeted enforcement and strong partnerships they have been able to make significant progress in Peel. He said they recovered nearly half of all stolen vehicles in 2025 alone, “laying hundreds of charges, and seeing a 45 per cent reduction in auto theft compared to the same time last year.”
“However, our work is not done. We are committed to continuing this momentum through collaboration with all levels of government, the industry, our board, and communities,” he added in a statement.
