[Myrddin]

I believe in WA (the state) it is called Physcal Control. It is my understanding that you can be sleeping in the back seat and as long as you have access to the key you are capable of operating the vehicle and considered in P C.

This reminds me of the female TV talk show host interview of a male gun owner. She said possession of a gun "equipped him" to commit murder. His retort was, "you're equipped to be a prostitute. Are you?". Until you actually use an object to commit an illegal act, it is pure conjecture about what you "could" do. Punishing people for acts they have not done amounts to prior restraint.

[Notwithstanding]

Of course.

If “Punishing people for acts they have not done amounts to prior restraint”, then we should not arrest a skinhead found in the dark carrying a can of gas and a pack of matches outside a black church because he got caught before he could commit the arson.

People are convicted all day for crimes of intent:
Attempted X
Possession of Y with intent to commit Z
Conspiracy to commit Q