(MUNICIPALITY OF WEST PERTH, ON) – On Friday December 04, 2015 shortly before 8 p.m., a Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer on patrol along Hwy 8 east of Mitchell in one of the OPP’s 31 Automatic Licence Plate Recognition cruisers, was alerted by the cruisers ALPR system, that the licence plate of a passing vehicle was registered to a stolen Volkswagen Jetta.
The officer, while following the Jetta into Mitchell, confirmed the accuracy of the ALPR system. The Jetta driver parked the vehicle on St. Andrew St. in Mitchell where the officer spoke to her and arrested her for being in possession of a stolen car.
30-year-old Crystal Gale YOUNG of Kitchener has been charged with the following Criminal Code of Canada offences; “possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 in Canada”, and “fail to comply with probation order”.
She also faces the following additional charges, “drive while under suspension”, and “fail to surrender permit for motor vehicle”, contrary to the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario. In addition she was charged with “fail to surrender insurance card”, contrary to the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act of Ontario.
She was held in custody until Saturday December 05, 2015 when she was released at a bail hearing. She was ordered to appear for a court appearance on January 11, 2016 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford, where she will have to answer to her charges. The owner of the Jetta is making arrangements for its return.
The OPP ALPR vehicles are making it more difficult for suspended drivers, drivers of stolen vehicles and other vehicles with plates in poor standing to drive undetected on Ontario roads and highways.