Hoon Cars Seized
Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 1:16 pm
Hoon cars seized
July 22, 2006 12:00am
THE first round of a new battle for control of the roads has produced a clear winner:
police 33, hoons 0.
Police have seized 33 cars and two motorbikes under tough new laws that allow them
to confiscate cars driven by hoons. More than 10 cars a week have been seized since the
laws came into effect on July 1.
Stonnington traffic management unit Sgt Mick Free said the early results revealed messages
both good and bad.
"We would prefer the result was nil, nil," Sgt Free said.
"But these people are desperate to hang on to their cars, so it is possible some are no
longer driving illegally on the road."
Cars have been confiscated for 48 hours for either excessive speed or because the driver
was caught performing hoon-type driving stunts.
These include burning rubber, performing doughnuts, and illegal street racing.
Sgt Free said some drivers were prepared to risk their licences but not their cars.
"Some people will buy a 1980 Gemini and then spend $40,000 on them," Sgt Free said.
"One of our officers said he thought one driver whose car was confiscated needed a blood
transfusion because he went so white.
"One motorist was doing 121km/h in a 70km/h zone on Dandenong Rd at 8.30am on
Thursday," he said. "That's a high speed at any time, let alone peak hour.
"He was totally unaware that his motorbike could be seized, and was very shocked when
it was."
Most cars were confiscated because their drivers were caught at speeds 45km/h above
the limit.
Confiscated cars had been caught doing 180km/h in a 100km/h zone, 140km/h in a 60km/h
zone, and 138km/h in an 80km/h zone.
Three drivers were given 10 days to surrender their vehicles; the rest were confiscated by
police on the spot.
Sgt Free expected the hoon laws to act as a general deterrent.
"I believe they will start to look for alternative activities," he said. "The overriding thing these
type of drivers want to keep is not necessarily their licences but certainly their cars."
Under the legislation, cars driven by first-time offenders will be held for 48 hours through
impoundment or on-site immobilisation.
Drivers caught a second time within three years face losing their cars for three months.
And a third hoon-type offence within three years could mean a permanent loss of an offender's
wheels.
July 22, 2006 12:00am
THE first round of a new battle for control of the roads has produced a clear winner:
police 33, hoons 0.
Police have seized 33 cars and two motorbikes under tough new laws that allow them
to confiscate cars driven by hoons. More than 10 cars a week have been seized since the
laws came into effect on July 1.
Stonnington traffic management unit Sgt Mick Free said the early results revealed messages
both good and bad.
"We would prefer the result was nil, nil," Sgt Free said.
"But these people are desperate to hang on to their cars, so it is possible some are no
longer driving illegally on the road."
Cars have been confiscated for 48 hours for either excessive speed or because the driver
was caught performing hoon-type driving stunts.
These include burning rubber, performing doughnuts, and illegal street racing.
Sgt Free said some drivers were prepared to risk their licences but not their cars.
"Some people will buy a 1980 Gemini and then spend $40,000 on them," Sgt Free said.
"One of our officers said he thought one driver whose car was confiscated needed a blood
transfusion because he went so white.
"One motorist was doing 121km/h in a 70km/h zone on Dandenong Rd at 8.30am on
Thursday," he said. "That's a high speed at any time, let alone peak hour.
"He was totally unaware that his motorbike could be seized, and was very shocked when
it was."
Most cars were confiscated because their drivers were caught at speeds 45km/h above
the limit.
Confiscated cars had been caught doing 180km/h in a 100km/h zone, 140km/h in a 60km/h
zone, and 138km/h in an 80km/h zone.
Three drivers were given 10 days to surrender their vehicles; the rest were confiscated by
police on the spot.
Sgt Free expected the hoon laws to act as a general deterrent.
"I believe they will start to look for alternative activities," he said. "The overriding thing these
type of drivers want to keep is not necessarily their licences but certainly their cars."
Under the legislation, cars driven by first-time offenders will be held for 48 hours through
impoundment or on-site immobilisation.
Drivers caught a second time within three years face losing their cars for three months.
And a third hoon-type offence within three years could mean a permanent loss of an offender's
wheels.
