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Ottawa councillor calling for new ‘solutions’ to address rising vehicle crimes | CTV News
- Ward 3 Office
- Mar 26
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 31
An Ottawa councillor is calling on the Ontario government to explore solutions to address “rising vehicle crimes,” saying he wants people and businesses to feel safe in their community.
David Hill will introduce a motion at Ottawa City Council today, calling on Mayor Mark Sutcliffe to write a letter to the Ontario government to request strengthening penalties for stunt driving and vehicle thefts. The motion notes stunt driving is a “reckless crime” that puts road users in danger, and vehicle thefts “remain active concerns” for residents.
“New technologies are available to police stunt racing, including identifying noise violations from exhaust modifications,” Hill said.
The motion calls on Sutcliffe to propose several proposals to the Ontario government to address vehicle crimes, including:
New legislation to allow police to use “sound detection technology” that can “accurately and effectively target illegal exhaust modifications.”
Strengthen legislation for vehicle theft crimes, “especially for individuals with multiple offences.”
Strengthen the Highway Traffic Act penalties for stunt racing.
Introduce an assigned vehicle identification number program to crack down on the sale of stolen vehicles within Ontario.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe told reporters he is prepared to work Coun. Hill and the Ontario to government “to find solutions” to address “a real significant program.”
“It is important to deal with that issue and find solutions,” Sutcliffe said in French, adding other levels of government must present “solutions” to the issue.
Hill is introducing the motion two days after calling for an increased police presence in Barrhaven and other suburban neighbourhoods.
“Recently, we witnessed yet another brazen theft at the Shoppers Drug Mart in Barrhaven and this incident is not isolated, but part of a troubling trend that threatens the safety and security of our community,” Hill said.
“A strong police presence is not just about responding to crimes; it’s about preventing them. It’s about creating an environment where residents feel safe to live, work and play. It’s about ensuring that businesses can thrive without the constant fear of thefts and vandalism.”
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The chief says with the arrival of the warmer weather, traffic enforcement officers will be deployed to hot spots for speeding and street racing in the south end.
“We do have our eye on the south and trying to build our team better in that area,” Stubbs said.
Hill says now is a “great time to have more resources in place.”
“Perhaps some of these retail thieves, car thieves would think twice,” Hill said. “I do think there is a further discussion to be had about sentencing, about judicial reform, about a lot of things in there. In the short term, in terms of city management (and) city leadership, what I’m saying is my small community out in south Ottawa, we’re not feeling great about the number of retail thefts and car thefts that we’re seeing.”
