Conviction and Lengthy Sentence for Prolific Driving Offender

Region of Peel – A prolific offender with a history of criminal driving behaviour has been sentenced to additional jail time upon conviction of charges laid by the Safer Roads Team (S.R.T.). 

In March 2022, the Peel Regional Police S.R.T. began investigating 36-year-old Rafael Maia, a Mississauga resident who was the subject of nine lifetime driving prohibitions and facing 21 Criminal Code charges from a variety of police agencies which included offences such as:  

• Operation while prohibited 
• Fail to stop at the scene of an accident
• Obstruct peace officer 
• Dangerous operation 
• Flight while being pursued by a peace officer
• Fail to provide breath sample

S.R.T. Investigators conducted compliance checks and learned that the individual was not complying with release orders. 

Through evidence-based and targeted enforcement tactics, Rafael was located in Toronto and found to be operating a motor vehicle despite his driving prohibition orders. He was arrested and charged with ten additional offences. Rafael remained in custody for 19 months before his trial on November 7, 2023. 

Following the conclusion of his trial, Rafael was sentenced to an additional 2 years behind bars. 

“I am pleased with the outcome of this trial, which is a direct result of the thorough and tireless work our S.R.T. Our Road Safety officers will continue to target dangerous and high-risk drivers that show a blatant disregard for the law and recklessly put our community at risk”- Deputy Chief Marc Andrews, Peel Regional Police, Community Policing Operations Command

Anyone with any information on instances like these or which to report prolific driving offenders are encouraged to contact investigators with the Safer Roads Team at 905-453–3311, extension 3750. Anonymous information can be submitted by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca.

For media inquiries, please contact the on-duty Public and Media Relations Officer at 905- 453-2121, extension 4027.

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N/R: 23-338
Inc: PR220117091/PR220099429

 A Safer Community Together
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