Published Thursday, 15 May, 2008 at 06:02 PM
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport
The Honourable Judy Spence
First vehicle permanently forfeited in South Eastern Police Region: Spence
A Beenleigh Magistrate has today ordered the first permanent vehicle forfeiture in the South Eastern Police Region, under the Government’s tough new Type 2 Vehicle Confiscation laws.
Police Minister Judy Spence said a 19 year old man has had his Nissan Terrano four wheel drive permanently seized, after he pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified five times since the end of January.
The man has also been sentenced to 8 months jail, disqualified from driving for a further 5 years, and fined $1000 for selling another vehicle (Holden Commodore sedan) before a forfeiture application was finalised.
Police are now searching for the Holden Commodore sedan and have six weeks to pursue a forfeiture application.
Ms Spence said: “This man was clearly a menace, and Queensland roads will be safer with him behind bars.
“Not only was he repeatedly caught disqualified driving, he was also driving a defective vehicle, with false registration plates.
“His vehicle will now be sold, with profits to be used to pay off creditors, lenders and the tow truck company. Any remaining profits will then go into consolidated revenue to be used for road safety initiatives.
“Anyone who shows such shocking disregard for the law and the safety of others deserves to have their vehicle taken away.
“I am pleased to see that five months after we introduced these laws in the Gold Coast and Logan areas, we are seeing them put to good use.
“These confiscations are sending a strong message that people who are caught repeatedly high-end drink driving, driving unlicenced, unregistered or disqualified, or driving illegally modified vehicles, will end up losing their wheels.”
Ms Spence said today’s permanent vehicle forfeiture is the fourth to occur, since the laws were first introduced in the North Coast and Southern Police Regions last July.
“I expect to see more dangerous and reckless drivers lose their wheels in the future, as we roll out these laws statewide from July 1,” Ms Spence said.
“Drivers right across Queensland beware – from July 1, if you repeatedly flout the law and put the lives of other road users in danger, we will take away your vehicle.”
Media Contact: 3239 6218
Police Minister Judy Spence said a 19 year old man has had his Nissan Terrano four wheel drive permanently seized, after he pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified five times since the end of January.
The man has also been sentenced to 8 months jail, disqualified from driving for a further 5 years, and fined $1000 for selling another vehicle (Holden Commodore sedan) before a forfeiture application was finalised.
Police are now searching for the Holden Commodore sedan and have six weeks to pursue a forfeiture application.
Ms Spence said: “This man was clearly a menace, and Queensland roads will be safer with him behind bars.
“Not only was he repeatedly caught disqualified driving, he was also driving a defective vehicle, with false registration plates.
“His vehicle will now be sold, with profits to be used to pay off creditors, lenders and the tow truck company. Any remaining profits will then go into consolidated revenue to be used for road safety initiatives.
“Anyone who shows such shocking disregard for the law and the safety of others deserves to have their vehicle taken away.
“I am pleased to see that five months after we introduced these laws in the Gold Coast and Logan areas, we are seeing them put to good use.
“These confiscations are sending a strong message that people who are caught repeatedly high-end drink driving, driving unlicenced, unregistered or disqualified, or driving illegally modified vehicles, will end up losing their wheels.”
Ms Spence said today’s permanent vehicle forfeiture is the fourth to occur, since the laws were first introduced in the North Coast and Southern Police Regions last July.
“I expect to see more dangerous and reckless drivers lose their wheels in the future, as we roll out these laws statewide from July 1,” Ms Spence said.
“Drivers right across Queensland beware – from July 1, if you repeatedly flout the law and put the lives of other road users in danger, we will take away your vehicle.”
Media Contact: 3239 6218