Spence: unmarked ‘Q-Cars’ catching dangerous drivers

Police Minister Judy Spence told Parliament today that two new unmarked police vehicles, known as ‘Q-Cars’, have been a big success catching dangerous drivers.

In 17 days over the Christmas holiday period the Q-Cars detected 264 offenders, including some doing speeds of 170 km/h and 180 km/h.

The cars patrolled in the North Coast, Metropolitan North, Metropolitan South, Southern and South Eastern regions.

Ms Spence said: “Hoons looking out for standard police cars have had quite a shock recently when pulled over by a Q-Car.

“Reckless drivers simply have no idea they are passing a police car.

“The Q-Cars are sending a message to offenders that they could be caught anytime, anywhere,” Ms Spence said.

Of the offenders 214 were male and 50 female.

The most common offences were:

• Speeding (180)
• Using a mobile phone (77)
• Not wearing a seat belt (18)

Ms Spence said: “It is the stories behind these infringements that demonstrate the value of the unmarked police vehicles. The Q-Cars have detected drivers accused of appalling episodes of speeding.

“For instance, in December police booked the driver of a black ute that overtook a Q-Car and reached 170 km/h in a 110 zone on the Pacific Motorway at Pimpama. The offender’s six-year-old son was in the front seat.

“On another day a vehicle on the Pacific Highway was detected by a radar doing 153 km/h in a 110 zone. The driver suddenly slowed down to 110 when he saw a marked police car at the side of the road. Once past the marked car, thinking the coast was clear, the driver sped up to 135 km/h. At that stage he was issued with a second speeding notice.

“Of the 13 motorcyclists pulled over two cases stand out for all the wrong reasons. One was caught doing 160kph in an 80 zone across the Gateway Bridge; another overtook a Q-car on the Pacific Motorway and was clocked at 180 km/h in a 110 zone.

“Police in the Q-Cars have heard their fair share of excuses from drivers. At Robina Parkway a driver was detected doing 160 km/h in an 80 zone. He initially said that a car was chasing him but the in-car video showed no other cars within a kilometer.

“It is also disturbing that people continue to use hand-held mobile phones while driving given that a British study found that reaction times to hazards when driving and using a mobile phone were worse than drink-drivers with a blood alcohol level of 0.08%,” Ms Spence said.

Some other offences detected between 14 December 2007 and 10 January 2008:

·December Motorcycle overtook unmarked police vehicle at speed, followed motorcycle and detected speed of 130kmh in 110kmh speed zone. Pacific Motorway, Loganholme. Motorcycle when changing lanes failing to indicate lane changes in moderate to heavy traffic.

·December Vehicle entered a Southport street sideways with smoke pouring off the rear tyres. Police vehicle was parked on the left of the Street. Offender’s vehicle almost collided with unmarked police vehicle. Intercepted at Parklands on Gold Coast. Vehicle impounded for 48 hours for dangerous operation causing smoke.

·December BMW sedan overtook unmarked police vehicle. Detected speed of 140kmh in 110kmh speed zone. Pacific Motorway, Helensvale.

·December Intercepted on Bruce Hwy, Deception Bay for speed 123/100 zone. Positive roadside breath test. Result BAC .062%.

·January Vehicle radar speed of 154 km/h in 110 km/h zone northbound on Pacific Mwy, Upper Coomera. Immediately after he was following a car at 111 km/h at a distance of about 5 metres. Booked for follow too closely. He was on a P licence.

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