FIRST DRIVER TO LOSE CAR PERMANENTLY UNDER HOON LAWS
A 43 year-old Victorian man from Drummond is the first person to permanently forfeit their vehicle under the Bracks Government’s tough anti-hoon laws. Minister for Police, Bob Cameron, today welcomed a magistrate’s order to forfeit Terrence Lord’s vehicle, a blue 1980 Toyota Corona Fastback, at the Castlemaine Magistrates’ Court.
(Media-Newswire.com) - A 43 year-old Victorian man from Drummond is the first person to permanently forfeit their vehicle under the Bracks Government’s tough anti-hoon laws.
Minister for Police, Bob Cameron, today welcomed a magistrate’s order to forfeit Terrence Lord’s vehicle, a blue 1980 Toyota Corona Fastback, at the Castlemaine Magistrates’ Court.
“These tough new laws hold hoons accountable for their actions and hit them where it hurts most – by taking away their vehicle,’ he said.
Mr Lord pleaded guilty to four counts of driving whilst disqualified, committed between 23 January and 14 February 2007, which are relevant offences for the hoon laws. He has also been charged with other drink-driving and driving an unregistered vehicle offences.
Under the tough new laws - which came into effect in July 2006 - drivers caught drag-racing, performing ‘burnouts’ or other dangerous ‘hoon’ acts face having their cars impounded for 48 hours ( first offence ) or three months ( second offence ) or permanently confiscated ( third offence ). The laws also apply to reckless speeders and repeat ‘drive whilst disqualified’ offenders.
Today’s decision follows a ruling in Bendigo Court last week against Mark Russell who became the first person ordered to relinquish his vehicle for three months.
Mr Cameron today also released statistics on the number of hoon driving offences since the impoundment and immobilisation powers commenced on 1 July 2006.
“As of 14 March 2007, police had caught and punished more than 1,300 hoon drivers, with the most common breaches being excessive speed ( 43 per cent ) and burn-outs ( 51 per cent ),” he said.
“Offenders have been caught right across Victoria, with a high number of detections in Ballarat, Keilor Downs, Werribee, Bendigo, Broadmeadows, Epping and Frankston.
“It’s disturbing to see that many hoon offenders are experienced drivers, and should know better, with 12 per cent of all perpetrators aged 31 and over. A total of 651 offenders were probationary licensed, and 47 motorists were on their learner’s permit at the time of their hoon incidents.”
Mr Cameron said police data showed most hoon offences took place on the weekend but police are ready to pounce on reckless road behaviour day and night, seven days a week.
“The most common periods for hoon driving are Fridays and Saturdays between 6pm and midnight. The Bracks Government strongly support police efforts to address hoon drivers and has given them the powers and resources to tackle this problem,” he said.
Mr Cameron said males aged between 18 - 25 were the most common offenders.
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