Published Wednesday, 04 July, 2007 at 02:07 PM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
NEW VEHICLE CONFISCATION LAWS CLAIM FIRST OFFENDER
Queensland’s tough new vehicle confiscation laws have already resulted in the impoundment of a vehicle after a driver was allegedly twice caught driving an uninsured and unregistered car, Minister for Police Judy Spence said today.
“Police have told me a man was allegedly caught twice on Monday 2 July driving an uninsured and unregistered car in the Ipswich Police District and had his vehicle confiscated for 48 hours,” Ms Spence said.
“This man will have to pay the towing company which is storing his car $244.50 to get his vehicle back. This is on top of any fines he may receive in court.
“The Beattie Government is determined to reduce Queensland’s road toll and that’s why we introduced these new vehicle confiscation laws on 1 July, to take drivers who repeatedly break the rules off the road.
“Police can now confiscate the vehicles of drivers who repeatedly drink drive, drive while unlicensed, unregistered or disqualified or repeatedly drive illegally modified vehicles,” Ms Spence said.
“Anyone committing these offences twice in 3 years will have their car impounded for 48 hours. If they commit a third offence, they risk losing their vehicle for three months and serial offenders will permanently lose their car.
“Police detected 42, 985 of these offences in 2005/06 with 30, 621 people caught drink driving and 12 303 caught driving while disqualified.
“The new laws will provide a strong deterrent to drivers who repeatedly break the law.
“Offenders will have to pay for the storage of their car while it is confiscated and this could cost up to $2000 for three months on top of any penalty imposed by the courts,” Ms Spence said.
The tough new laws are being trialed in the North Coast and Southern police regions which historically have the highest number of road fatalities in the state.
“I have also asked police the begin preparing for their introduction in the South Eastern region, which includes the Gold Coast, in the next six months,” Ms Spence said.
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6218, 0439 673 287
“Police have told me a man was allegedly caught twice on Monday 2 July driving an uninsured and unregistered car in the Ipswich Police District and had his vehicle confiscated for 48 hours,” Ms Spence said.
“This man will have to pay the towing company which is storing his car $244.50 to get his vehicle back. This is on top of any fines he may receive in court.
“The Beattie Government is determined to reduce Queensland’s road toll and that’s why we introduced these new vehicle confiscation laws on 1 July, to take drivers who repeatedly break the rules off the road.
“Police can now confiscate the vehicles of drivers who repeatedly drink drive, drive while unlicensed, unregistered or disqualified or repeatedly drive illegally modified vehicles,” Ms Spence said.
“Anyone committing these offences twice in 3 years will have their car impounded for 48 hours. If they commit a third offence, they risk losing their vehicle for three months and serial offenders will permanently lose their car.
“Police detected 42, 985 of these offences in 2005/06 with 30, 621 people caught drink driving and 12 303 caught driving while disqualified.
“The new laws will provide a strong deterrent to drivers who repeatedly break the law.
“Offenders will have to pay for the storage of their car while it is confiscated and this could cost up to $2000 for three months on top of any penalty imposed by the courts,” Ms Spence said.
The tough new laws are being trialed in the North Coast and Southern police regions which historically have the highest number of road fatalities in the state.
“I have also asked police the begin preparing for their introduction in the South Eastern region, which includes the Gold Coast, in the next six months,” Ms Spence said.
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6218, 0439 673 287