Repeat offender Cliff Tang challenges the legal system
The story of Cliff Tang is a remarkable one.
He is a scofflaw and a repeat offender, having been in and out of jail for various offenses, but mostly for street racing and other serious vehicle crimes.
Including criminal negligence causing death.
And yet despite this history, he continues to drive while under suspension, and was picked up again.
No doubt his driving suspension will be extended now.
I think that is entirely the wrong approach.
Cliff Tang, aka Kwok Kei Tang, aka Victor Tang, aka Kwok Kei Victor Tang, aka Cliff "What do you mean the sidewalk is for pedestrians?" Tang, aka Cliff "What do you mean 'pedestrian'?" Tang, has a story that goes back almost ten years.
In 1998, Cliff Tang was arrested with a large quantity of counterfeit money:
Tang was also convicted in 1999 for possession of stolen property under $5,000. In September 2001, he was convicted of possessing counterfeit money in Revelstoke; he was fined $12,000 and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service work.
Counterfeit money is by and large associated with organized crime activity.
Cliff Tang was still on parole for the possession conviction when he killed a man in July 2000:
The 25-year-old Burnaby man charged with last week's fatal hit-and-run on Knight Street made his first court appearance Friday. Cliff Tang is charged with criminal negligence causing death. It's an indictable offence, punishable by life imprsionment.
Thirty-five-year-old Jerry Kithithee was run down by a yellow Porsche Boxster as he crossed the intersection at 57th and Knight early last Thursday morning.
The high-performance sports car was drag racing with two other vehicles at speeds exceeding 200 kilometres an hour. The driver never stopped.
Tang turned himself in when he heard police were closing in. His first court appearance was a brief one. He entered no plea. He'll be back in court at the end of August.
Life imprisonment? Turn that into four years when Cliff Tang was convicted of criminal negligence causing death in March 2001:
A 25-year-old Burnaby man has been sentenced to four years in jail, for killing a pedestrian during a late night street race in East Vancouver last June.
Cliff Tang had pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death, and failure to remain at the scene of an accident.
He was driving a Porsche Boxster at nearly 200 kilometres an hour when he hit 35-year-old Jerry Kithithee, who was crossing Knight Street.
Tang has also been banned from driving for 10 years.
To the judge's credit, he refused the defense request for a conditional sentence with no jail time:
[Defense attorney Peter Leask] had argued that Tang was not a danger to society and should be allowed to serve a conditional sentence of two years less a day under house arrest at home in order to look after his elderly parents, who have health problems and can only speak Cantonese.
Still, given that this crime occurred while he was on parole for another crime makes you wonder why Cliff Tang faced more serious time. In the year between the counterfeiting conviction and the death of Kithithee, Cliff Tang had done virtually nothing with regards to his fine or community service:
Tang was on probation for the offence when the fatal accident occurred last summer, noted Crown prosecutor Dan Mulligan, who added Tang has not paid the fine and has only done five hours of his community-service work because he said he didn't know how to take the bus.
He couldn't figure out how to use the bus in a year? He ought to learn, because he's a lousy driver:
The Crown argued that Tang had a history of flagrant disregard for the law and would likely breach a conditional sentence. Tang had 16 traffic tickets, including two for excessive speeding, several for driving without a licence and one for failing to stop for police.
Tang, unable to pay his traffic fines, chose to drive without a licence. He borrowed the Porsche Boxster, which belonged to a Hong Kong friend of his live-in girlfriend, and had driven it for more than a month before the fatal accident.
In jail for four years, Cliff Tang gets out in three. Does he fly straight? Does he learn to use the bus given that he has 6 years left in his driving suspension? Heck no. Cliff Tang is driving again, and gets caught driving away from a massage parlour during a gang unit investigation:
Tang was granted parole in late 2003, but was arrested six months later, in April 2004, when the Vancouver police gang unit saw him driving away from a Richmond massage parlour.
His parole was revoked and he was sent back to jail. According to Vancouver Provincial Court records, he was fined $700 in 2006 for driving while disqualified in connection with that incident.
I wonder how his sick parents are doing.
Whatever their health, it isn't keeping Cliff Tang away from fast cars. Out of jail again, and still under a driving suspension, Cliff Tang was caught this week driving a Lamborghini:
A Lamborghini-driving Burnaby, B.C., man has been arrested for the second time since killing a pedestrian while street racing in a Porsche.
Richmond RCMP Cpl. Nycki Basra said Kwok Kei Victor Tang, 32, was pulled over last Saturday because his Lamborghini did not have a front licence plate.
"[He] proceeded to provide police with false information about his identity and his address," Basra said.
Police investigated further and determined the driver was Tang.
No mention is ever made of what Cliff Tang does for a living. As far as I can tell, he borrows fast cars from friends and family, so maybe he mooches the necessities of life off of them too. Or maybe the family has money.
So what do we do with him? Though he immigrated from Hong Kong, he is now a Canadian citizen and can't be sent back. Assuming he is found guilty, we can hope that a prison term is in his immediate future. But given that he hasn't actually hurt anyone or cause any property damage related to the charges he is likely to face, I doubt that is going to happen. He completed his prison term for the death of Kithithee.
Another fine? Certainly. Just add it to rest of the fines he hasn't paid.
A driving suspension? Well, he can't be suspended even more. He could have more years added to the suspension he is currently under, but clearly that is not having an effect on his driving.
The evil part of me says let him drive, but only in the parking lot of the courthouse, in the section reserved for the judges' cars. Two or three smashed Beemers and Lexuses later, and maybe we can revisit the question of a jail term.
Seriously, though, a driving ban isn't doing the trick, nor are financial penalties.
Charges on the people who give him cars? It might deter others from lending him vehicles, keeping Tang off the road. But I don't know what crime that would be. On the other hand, make sure the insurance company knows that these people are lending their vehicle to the likes of Cliff Tang, and maybe their rates will go through the roof.
That has a certain appeal, and could keep Tang isolated.
But then we'd be handing over the administration of justice to a car insurance company, and that can't be a good idea in the long run.
How about a law that allow vehicles to be impounded and fines to be levied if a person lends the vehicle to someone without confirming that they have a valid driver's license? Might work, and might keep Tang out of a car, but it won't help us today.
We're back to the question of how to deal with Cliff Tang directly in the present.
The only time he wasn't driving was when he was in prison.
There are some people for whom prison is the only way to modify their behaviour. When do you give up trying other means?
A three strikes law sounds like a good idea. Cliff Tang is a habitual offender. We already know that. His latest arrest, assuming he is found guilty of whatever charges are laid, does nothing to change that conclusion. Maybe Canada requires a class of punishments tailored to this class of criminal. Indeed, the Conservative government had tabled such a law, but it was designed to target violent offenders. I'm not sure Cliff Tang would count. The point is moot given that the Liberal-dominated Senate blocked the bill.
Let's hope that the judge who hears Tang's case perceives the threat Tang poses given his history, and if found guilty, gives Tang whatever maximum setence allowed by law.
Photo by Glenn Baglo, Vancouver Sun
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Comments
It always makes me sick to think that the family of the murdered man has to read that this guy is walking around.
I think this is where someone shouts out.... Follow the money! In this case, Tangs.
Congrat's to governments everywhere for banning light bulbs while this menace to our globe keeps driving around.
Global Warming : 0 Tang : 1
Posted by: YYZinDFW at August 2, 2007 01:05 PM
Issues such as violation of driving while suspended or court orders such as restraining orders et al should result in the person going directly to jail. Such actions show a contempt for the judicial system and its efforts to apply laws compassionately and not create undue hardship. Anyone who is a regular to this site is as frustrated as myself in seeing too much leniency and such a low threshold for the definition of public safety applied by the courts. If he can't figure out how to use a bus put him in jail for some time to read a map and a bus schedule.
Posted by: DarrenL at August 2, 2007 01:21 PM
They could revoke his citizenship! It has been done before to an honest, contributing, law abiding citizen named Oberlander.
The question remains--what has the law done lately that any of us should or could respect it? When the likes of whitmore et al are out time and time again no one can respect what is laughingly called justice in Canada.
Tang is a criminal and a murderer. But the law always finds a way around those realities. As long as the judges are safe in their gated communities I guess that translates into 'public safety'?
Posted by: George at August 2, 2007 02:04 PM
So fines and jail time did not work for this seemingly incorrigible criminal. Maybe there is another alternative for this type of chronic offender. A punishment that he would not want to repeat. Perhaps something a work camp in a remote location. Preferably hard labour and the presence of mosquitoes or black flies. Make it such an unpleasant (but not dangerous) experience that it would act as a strong deterrent.
Posted by: LynnH at August 2, 2007 02:14 PM
I wonder if Tang qualifies for "Dangerous Offender" status, allowing the legal system to lock him up indefinitely. If he doesn't, the law should be changed so that the DO remedy is available.
Posted by: Brian in Calgary at August 2, 2007 02:33 PM
I have the perfect p.c. solution. Never mind banning him from driving etc. ?That doesn't work .Just ban him from having accidents. That otta do it. The perfect liberal solution.
Or maybe, in keeping with Millar and McGintys idea, lets ban cars.
Horny toad
Posted by: Horny Toad at August 2, 2007 10:29 PM
The only thing to do is to ban fast cars.
Nobody other than a police officer needs a fast car..right ?
And please don't start telling me about "so-called legitimate" fast car owners and collectors -there's just no place in Canadian society for such dangerous playthings.
Fast cars kill thousands every year. Just look at one of them -they look like they could start by themselves and go off and kill someone...
Does this sound familiar ?
Sorry for the sarcasm folks. Frankly I think we're racing (so to speak) towards the point where if our ruling elite won't do anything useful about the problems we're facing, then the people are going to start taking matters into their own hands. Look at the responses in Winnipeg last year when that car thief was beaten into a coma. The people loved it!
I keep hearing "vigilantism is not the answer".
I guess that depends on the question, doesn't it. And no, I don't think it's a good thing -but I can't honestly say that it's not rapidly becoming a necessary thing.
Just my .02 worth.
Posted by: up north at August 3, 2007 03:14 AM
this is only possible in Trudeaupia.
So what do we do with him? Though he immigrated from Hong Kong, he is now a Canadian citizen and can't be sent back.
Yes he can, we just don't have the balls to strip a precious diversity type of their papers unless they blow up 5 airplanes.
If he kills my daughter next lefties are ok with that. and if anyone complains they shouldn't be mean spirited and members of the KKK.
Luckily now that harper has increased immigration quotas less can happen to criminals more often.
Posted by: DrWright at August 3, 2007 06:30 AM
Now, let's say, if he was a POTSMOKER...then they could really screw him.
Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at August 3, 2007 11:10 AM
Put this bum in jail. If he gets parole and commits another crime send him back to jail until his first sentence is finished. Then start the clock on his second sentence and so on. Eliminate concurrent sentences from Canadian law. All sentences should be consecutive.
Posted by: Ian at August 4, 2007 10:18 AM
Revoke his citizenship, it can and has been done, then send him back to mainland China. The government there does not recognise other citizenship of Chinese. Once Chinese always Chinese and they will deal with the bastard that Canada does not have the guts for.
Posted by: Pissedoff at August 4, 2007 02:38 PM
yeah I agree with up north and his point there. If the government is not going to enforce the law then screw them; vilgilantism will take over.
As for Cliff this man is a black mark on the Chinese community, feel free to lynch him. The kid is probably a member of the Triads and he will probably get chopped to pieces for bringing down so much heat on himself and his criminal associates.
Posted by: J.M. at August 5, 2007 02:48 AM
I know this man for over 10 years. I had been reporting him to the police over a year ago driving his bmw x5 which is still his regular weekday car. The one that his gang member show up with at the richmond court house that day. Do you all really belives his money come from the family?? wrong again! his parent and sisters are very good people. The night that cliff kill that person on knight street, his sister is the one inform the police. I bet non of you know about this!! Last year he has a privite drinking house in richmond on shell rd. and sell "E" on the inside. The police know about it , He been making counterfit credit cards for over 2 years. the police also know about it, You ever wonder how come he can pull off and stay alive all this years??? well, he also inform police as a trade off. He have alot of people to feed, Driving offence is not even come close to what he do for living..
Posted by: cliff tang at August 5, 2007 03:33 PM
I really feel bad for this guy. He's already been punished for killing someone. I think the court should just make him pay for all the fines that he's owed as well as perform all of his community service hours. That will teach him.
For this third arrest, There are four questions we should take into consideration. First, Was he driving over the speeding limit? NO. The police only stopped him because he has no licence plate. Come on, its a fast car. ALL car lovers wouldn't bare to put screw holes in their car. you know how many fast cars I see driving without a license plate. PLENTY. Second, Did he hurt somebody? NO. Third, did he damage any property? NO! Finally, Was he drinking under the influence of drugs or alcohol? NO! There are more people out there are pose a serious threat to others (Panhandlers, Rapers, Thieves...) Cliff isn't one of them. Yes he's done a hideous thing by killing the poor guy but he's already paid the time in prison. Let me remind you, he's got elderly parents that needs his care.
I think police should just ban Night Racing. You know how many innocent lives are taken from these. Especially if someone is sitting in the passenger side of the car. I know for a fact that are more teenagers that are drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs, why doesn't the police catch them. I think this is a serious issue. Why doesn't the police catch those people.
One thing I have to say that I disagree is that he was driving when he's not suppose to. But there are more underage kids driving without a license and actually killing someone. This guy is just driving when he's not suppose to and he hasn't hurt anyone. SO Just leave this poor guy alone. GIVE HIM A BREAK!
Posted by: Sympathizing girl at August 7, 2007 02:29 AM
California has the same problem with youthful scofflaws, and they've come up with an interesting remedy: crush their cars. These guys are in love with their exotic cars, so they get a ring-side seat at the car-crusher. The car is brought in and placed in the crusher. The perp bawls and wails as his half-million dollar dream buggy is crushed with a tremendous crunching and popping. Spectacular! The aftermath is even more exciting if the perp had previously borrowed the car from a friend.
Posted by: JJJoseph at August 8, 2007 03:36 AM
Sympathizing girl,
Now I realize it's nice to be compassionate, and people posting at 2:30 in the morning probably aren't at the top of their game, but ...wow. Just WOW. That was mind-boggling.
I'll restrict myself to asking just 2 questions:
1) OK, we don't know if the guy he killed had elderly parents that need his care, and he's dead anyway so we frankly don't care about him anymore. But what if the next person he kills has people that need his care? This person is obviously going to continue driving and probably racing (which is already illegal, by the way).
2) Would you still have all this compassion if it was one of your loved ones that got killed by a repeat scofflaw? Your child? Your husband? Your parent?
That's the problem with the sympathetic give-him-a-break crowd: they always gamble with other people's lives.
Posted by: up north at August 8, 2007 11:44 AM
He was also race with the police on June, 30 2007 with his black lambo in richmond. The police was watching him and attemp to pull him over on alexander rd. This guy is crazy enough to go over a 100km on a 30 km zone just to get away. He doesn't care he kill someone as long as can get away. The law doesn't stop him from driving. He still drove his bmw x5 on the weekday, and very lucky during that month he didn't kill anyone. He got cocky and drive the yellow lambo on a sunday afternoon, on the 29th of july this year. Thinking i am the king of the road, not worry about the law or the people he will crash on if the police trying to pull him over. Very lucky that day, Too many cars on the road at 5:15 pm . no where to run.
Posted by: funny at August 9, 2007 03:12 PM
Hi "Cliff Tang" poster,. i read your post on here on www.stevejanke.com/archives/236943.php . I have some information in regards to Cliff Tangs deceitful ways and criminal activities . I wish to share them with you in hopes to gain a better understanding of this person. The information i have is correct and undisputable. I would also like to be informed of any that you would know of also.Cliff and his gang are ruing peoples lives.I agree with you in the fact that the police know everything that Mr. Tang does and looks the other way as long as he throws them the bones of other people.I can and will respect you're concerns of anonymity if you were to have any.
CLiff Tang knows better to put things in his own name for exanple he operated a borthell in richmond which he used his girl friends name " Jenny chang " to aquire the place.
pls reply back to
Posted by: Gill Gris at August 16, 2007 06:00 PM
 
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