Published Friday, 29 February, 2008 at 03:58 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Deadly drivers lose wheels under tough confiscation laws
Queensland Police have confiscated vehicles from almost 600 reckless drivers since tough new laws came into force last July, Premier Anna Bligh announced in Parliament yesterday.
Ms Bligh said the laws - currently effective in three south-east Queensland regions* - were hitting irresponsible drivers where it hurt them most.
“There is no room on our roads for drivers who continue to flout the law, and these laws give police the power to confiscate vehicles for a period of 48 hours, three months or permanently,” Ms Bligh said.
“Reckless drivers who put the lives of other Queenslanders at risk by repeatedly drink driving, driving unlicensed, unregistered or disqualified, or driving illegally modified vehicles are learning the hard way their behaviour will not be tolerated.
“So far, 593 cars have been impounded for 48 hours - of those 20 were confiscated on the Gold Coast where the laws have only been in effect since December 1.
“The courts have also ordered the confiscation of 16 cars for 3 months after drivers were caught re-offending a second time. Applications are pending for the three-month confiscation of a further 31 vehicles.
“And one driver has paid the ultimate price with an Ipswich court ordering the permanent confiscation of a vehicle after the driver was caught driving unlicensed four times.”
Ms Bligh said more permanent confiscations were likely, with a further 12 applications for forfeiture currently progressing through the court system.
“The message here is clear – if you continue to break the law and put the lives of other road users in danger, we will take away your wheels,” she said.
Police Minister Judy Spence said the new laws, being rolled out statewide from July, were an additional weapon for police targeting dangerous drivers.
“In 2002 we introduced statewide vehicle confiscation laws for repeat hooning offences such as burnouts, excessive noise and street racing,” Ms Spence said.
“To date, 4 cars have been permanently forfeited under these anti-hooning laws.
“4,204 cars have been confiscated for 48 hours for a first repeat hooning offence. 88 drivers have then been caught repeat offending a second time and only 6 drivers have been caught committing a third repeat offence.
“This shows, most offenders learn their lesson the first time around – and for those who don’t, the consequences just get tougher.
“We do not want these reckless, dangerous drivers on our roads, and by taking away their cars we can reduce the chance they will put the lives of others in danger.”
Ms Spence said all repeat offenders face the additional punishment of paying the cost of towing and storage, which can be up to $2000 for 3 months.
“This is on top of any penalties imposed by the courts,” she said.
“Cars permanently forfeited to the state will be sold off and the money made from the sale of these vehicles will go towards paying creditors. Any remaining profits will go in to consolidated revenue for funding road safety initiatives.
“There is no excuse for dangerous and illegal behaviour behind the wheel and this government is determined to stamp it out.”
*North Coast Region includes: Bundaberg, Caboolture, Gympie, Maryborough, Redcliffe, Sunshine Coast. Southern Region includes: Charleville, Dalby, Ipswich, Roma, Toowoomba and Warwick. South Eastern Region includes: Gold Coast and Logan
Media: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office) or 3239 6172 (Minister Spence’s office)
Friday, 29 February 2008
Ms Bligh said the laws - currently effective in three south-east Queensland regions* - were hitting irresponsible drivers where it hurt them most.
“There is no room on our roads for drivers who continue to flout the law, and these laws give police the power to confiscate vehicles for a period of 48 hours, three months or permanently,” Ms Bligh said.
“Reckless drivers who put the lives of other Queenslanders at risk by repeatedly drink driving, driving unlicensed, unregistered or disqualified, or driving illegally modified vehicles are learning the hard way their behaviour will not be tolerated.
“So far, 593 cars have been impounded for 48 hours - of those 20 were confiscated on the Gold Coast where the laws have only been in effect since December 1.
“The courts have also ordered the confiscation of 16 cars for 3 months after drivers were caught re-offending a second time. Applications are pending for the three-month confiscation of a further 31 vehicles.
“And one driver has paid the ultimate price with an Ipswich court ordering the permanent confiscation of a vehicle after the driver was caught driving unlicensed four times.”
Ms Bligh said more permanent confiscations were likely, with a further 12 applications for forfeiture currently progressing through the court system.
“The message here is clear – if you continue to break the law and put the lives of other road users in danger, we will take away your wheels,” she said.
Police Minister Judy Spence said the new laws, being rolled out statewide from July, were an additional weapon for police targeting dangerous drivers.
“In 2002 we introduced statewide vehicle confiscation laws for repeat hooning offences such as burnouts, excessive noise and street racing,” Ms Spence said.
“To date, 4 cars have been permanently forfeited under these anti-hooning laws.
“4,204 cars have been confiscated for 48 hours for a first repeat hooning offence. 88 drivers have then been caught repeat offending a second time and only 6 drivers have been caught committing a third repeat offence.
“This shows, most offenders learn their lesson the first time around – and for those who don’t, the consequences just get tougher.
“We do not want these reckless, dangerous drivers on our roads, and by taking away their cars we can reduce the chance they will put the lives of others in danger.”
Ms Spence said all repeat offenders face the additional punishment of paying the cost of towing and storage, which can be up to $2000 for 3 months.
“This is on top of any penalties imposed by the courts,” she said.
“Cars permanently forfeited to the state will be sold off and the money made from the sale of these vehicles will go towards paying creditors. Any remaining profits will go in to consolidated revenue for funding road safety initiatives.
“There is no excuse for dangerous and illegal behaviour behind the wheel and this government is determined to stamp it out.”
*North Coast Region includes: Bundaberg, Caboolture, Gympie, Maryborough, Redcliffe, Sunshine Coast. Southern Region includes: Charleville, Dalby, Ipswich, Roma, Toowoomba and Warwick. South Eastern Region includes: Gold Coast and Logan
Media: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office) or 3239 6172 (Minister Spence’s office)
Friday, 29 February 2008