How VISE works

The Highway Traffic Amendment Act, 2001, provides police with the authority to seize and impound vehicles that they have reasonable grounds to believe have been used in committing certain offences related to procuring sexual services and prostitution.

If any person in the vehicle at the time of seizure is convicted of one of these offences, a vehicle remaining on impound at the time of trial will automatically be forfeited to the Crown. If the owner of the vehicle has been charged with one of these offences, he will get it back only if no one in the vehicle is convicted, or if everyone in the vehicle attends an approved program, otherwise known as "john school." Because preying on children for sexual services is considered child abuse, those offenders who solicit children and youth are not eligible to obtain return of the vehicle by completing the "john school" program.

These "john school" programs educate offenders about their impact on prostitutes and their families, and the community. Offenders must accept responsibility for their offence before they are allowed into the programs. The offender will be responsible for all program fees, as well as the towing and impound costs associated with the seizure of the vehicle. Those who enroll in, but do not complete the approved "john school" program will have their driver's license suspended for one year. Those convicted of a prostitution-related offence involving a vehicle will face a license suspension of one year for a first offence, and two years for a subsequent offence.