Impounded cars to be auctioned on Gold Coast

Almost 30 vehicles impounded under Queensland’s anti-hooning laws will be auctioned off on the Gold Coast on Wednesday.

Police Minister Jack Dempsey said the 29 vehicles had been impounded after drivers were caught with multiple type 2 hooning offences, which included driving while unlicensed or disqualified, drink driving over 0.15% and failing to supply a specimen of breath or blood.

“Reckless and illegal driving is simply unacceptable and puts the lives of other Queenslanders at risk,” Mr Dempsey said.

“We will continue to crack down on these illegal activities and hoons are warned that they never know when police will be watching.”

Mr Dempsey said late last year the State Government had introduced the nation’s toughest anti-hooning laws into Parliament, with a decision to be made on that legislation in the coming weeks.

“Under these laws hoons will have their car impounded for three months after their first serious hooning offence and lose their vehicle entirely after their second serious offence in five years,” he said.

Queensland Police Service Acting Assistant Commissioner Stephen Hollands said auction of the vehicles seized under the vehicle impoundment legislation clearly demonstrated the commitment to effectively deal with people who continually disobey the law.

“The impoundment of motor vehicles is a strategy directed at improving road safety and reducing the road toll,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Hollands said.

The Type 2 hoon laws target repeat offenders who are charged with multiple offences in one of five categories:

• Driving an unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle
• Driving whilst unlicensed or disqualified
• Drink driving over 0.15%
• Failing to supply a specimen of breath or blood, or driving under 24 hour suspension, or
• Driving an illegally modified vehicle

Vehicles up for auction have either been ordered by a Magistrate to become property of the State, have failed to be collected by their owners or have voluntarily been handed over to the State.

The auction will be held on Wednesday at 10am at Nationwide Towing and Transport, 12 Industrial Avenue, Molendinar.  Inspection of vehicles is permitted between 8am and 10am.

[ENDS] 9 April 2013

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