Latest anti-hoon laws deliver crushing blow
QUEENSLAND Police Minister Jack Dempsey hopes tougher anti-hooning laws passed through cabinet will deliver the crushing blow needed to make roads safer.
Mr Dempsey was at a Wacol steel factory yesterday to issue a stern and very clear warning to those who regularly break the rules.
The new laws will result in offenders having their cars impounded for three months for their first serious hooning offence, with cars to be forfeited for sale or to be crushed for a second serious hooning offence within five years.
"Queenslanders have had enough of hoons receiving a slap on the wrists for their dangerous and irresponsible behaviour," Mr Dempsey said.
"Hooning is not only annoying for decent people out there, it also puts the lives of innocent people who share the road with these troublemakers at risk."
Under the previous hooning legislation, offenders' vehicles were only forfeited after the fourth serious offence.
Mr Dempsey said a drastic tightening of the laws was justified because the previous Labor State Government had admitted the old laws were too week.
"Over the past 10 years, 92 per cent of the 320,000 vehicles previously impounded ended up back on Queensland roads," he said.
Meanwhile, Queensland police will continue to operate the Hoon Hotline.
Hoon Hotline
People should try to obtain a description of the offending vehicle, a description of the manner of driving, the vehicle registration, as well as the time and place of the offence
The Hoon Hotline is 13 HOON, or 13 4666.
