Newman Government gets tough on hoons

Queensland is set to have the toughest anti-hooning legislation in Australia with a new bill passed in Cabinet, Police Minister Jack Dempsey announced today.

Mr Dempsey said the new laws would see offenders have their cars impounded for three months for their first serious hooning offence.

A second serious hooning offence within the next five years would see the offender’s car forfeited to be sold or crushed.

“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.

“The Newman Government is committed to being tough on crime in order to ensure Queensland is a safe place to live, visit and work – and we’re putting the brakes on hoons.”

Mr Dempsey said the proposed laws were a vast improvement on the current laws which do not see vehicle forfeiture until after the fourth serious hooning offence.

“In July 2011, the former Labor Government admitted anti-hooning laws were too weak but failed to do anything about it,” Mr Dempsey said.

“With these new penalties the Newman Government is certainly going to put the brakes on hooning.

“Over the past ten years, 92 per cent of the 320,000 vehicles previously impounded ended up back on Queensland roads.

“The proposed legislation ensures these drivers are immediately off Queensland roads making local communities safer.”

Mr Dempsey said the Queensland Police Service would continue to operate the Hoon Hotline in order to help crack down on these offenders.

“Members of the public can call the Hoon Hotline and report any hooning activity they have seen in their area,” he said.

“A description of the vehicle, what it was doing, the registration plates, the time and where the vehicle was, can go a long way to help police locate these offenders.”

Contact the Hoon Hotline on 134 666.

[ENDS] 12 October 2012

Media Contact: Danny Donald 0439 719 116 or Lea Emery 0417 226 114