9 lifetime driving bans for Mississauga man who was just jailed for another 2 years

A Mississauga man with nine lifetime driving bans and a “history of criminal driving behaviour” has been jailed an additional two years after being caught behind the wheel of a vehicle in Toronto.

Describing the man as a “prolific offender,” Peel Regional Police said in a news release today that Rafael Maia, 36, of Mississauga, was sentenced to two more years in jail at the conclusion of his most recent trial on Nov. 7.

He had been in custody for the last 19 months since being arrested in Toronto in early 2022 by officers with the Peel police Safer Roads Team for driving despite his driving prohibition orders, police said.

Peel police brass applauded the additional jail sentence.

“I am pleased with the outcome of this trial, which is a direct result of the thorough and tireless work of our Safer Roads Team,” said Deputy Chief Marc Andrews. “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.”

In March of 2022, according to police, Peel SRT officers began investigating Maia, the subject of nine lifetime driving prohibitions who was also facing 21 Criminal Code charges laid by various police agencies.

Those charges included:

• 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

“SRT investigators conducted compliance checks and learned that the individual was not complying with release orders,” police said, adding that the man was subsequently located in Toronto.

Upon his arrest at that time, Maia was charged with an additional 10 offences, police said.

Investigators say they’re constantly on the lookout for repeat driving offenders and urge the public to help them get those people off the road.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Safer Roads Team at 905-453–3311, ext. 3750, or Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.