SWAN'S PLAN WILL HAVE LITTLE EFFECT

Manitoba's new justice minister Andrew Swan is obviously anxious to
put his stamp on the province's justice system.

So he's introduced legislation he's hoping will close a loophole in
the punishment handed out to those Manitobans convicted of drug
trafficking while using a vehicle.

That being said it's clear Swan's proposed changes to the Highway
Traffic Act will have little effect on the drug business.

Under Swan's plan introduced Tuesday, those convicted of a
drug-trafficking offence involving driving would have their driver's
licence suspended for a year for a first conviction, five years for a
second, 10 years for a third and for life for a fourth or subsequent
conviction. Not all of the previous convictions would need to be for
drug trafficking.

Under existing licence suspension provisions, certain other offences
like impaired driving or driving while disqualified count in
determining who is a repeat offender.

"The police tell us the use of motor vehicles has become an integral
part of drug trafficking, especially in what is known as the
dial-a-dealer operations," Swan said in a press release.

Does he think Manitoba's drug dealers are now shaking in their boots
because they may soon be suspended drivers? Swan's fooling himself if
he thinks this will put a serious dent in the province's drug trade.

Not worth the paper it's written on?

That indeed might be the case.

Let's face it. Drug dealers aren't thinking twice about growing,
selling or using drugs so they aren't going to think twice about a
measly licence suspension.

Swan argues one of the benefits of the plan is not only will it keep
offenders from driving but without licences they will be unable to
rent a vehicle as well -- something currently done so they can keep
their anonymity.

But they can get another drug dealer to drive them. Also it can't
prevent them from using a taxi to carry out this "dial-a-dealer" work.

The bigger question critics are asking is why aren't the vehicles
seized upon conviction?

Manitoba Justice says it's because vehicle forfeiture provisions
currently exist under other provincial and federal statutes. Adding a
vehicle forfeiture provision here would "clutter the landscape
legally" a Manitoba justice spokesman told the Sun.

Perhaps. But drug dealers are far more crippled without wheels than
licences. If Swan's purpose is putting them out of business and
grounding them, it will take more than seizing licences to do it.

Nice try but Swan's plan is incredibly flawed.