Tough new hoon laws pass Queensland Parliament

• It will be an offence to participate in or be a spectator at a group hooning activity
• It will be an offence to organise, promote or encourage others to participate or be a spectator at a group hooning activity
• It will be an offence to possess items such as false number plates

Queensland already had the toughest anti-hoon laws in the nation and now they are even tougher.

It will now be an offence to be a spectator at a group hooning event.

It will also be an offence to organise or promote a group hooning event.

This will include the filming or photographing of hooning for the above purposes.

And it will be an offence to possess certain items used to facilitate group hooning events, for example, false number plates.

The government makes no excuses for these tough measures.

The cost of road trauma in Queensland is significant. 

The Queensland Road Safety Strategy estimates that the economic cost of road trauma in 2020 was $6 billion dollars and accounts for almost 15% of hospital admissions. 

That is, to say nothing of personal costs to Queenslanders who are directly affected by the tragedy of a death or by life changing disability caused by injuries on our roads.

The emotional and psychological costs of such events, are of course, immeasurable.

Queensland now has a comprehensive suite of laws targeting hoon drivers, including impoundment or forfeiture of motor vehicles and deeming legislation, which puts the onus on the owner of a vehicle caught hooning to prove they weren’t the driver.

With the additional laws now passed by Parliament, Queensland has the most stringent anti-hooning framework in the nation.

Quotes attributable to Police Minister Mark Ryan:

“If you want to tear up our roads, we’ll tear up your car.

“If you want to be a spectator at a hooning event, you will be breaking the law.

“If you promote a hooning event it will be an offence.

“If you behave in an anti-social manner and put the lives of others and yourself at risk you will be targeted relentlessly by police.

“Life is precious.

“Too many lives are lost on our roads.

“Hooning will not be tolerated.”

Quotes attributable to Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll:

“Dangerous driving and hooning-related behaviour not only endangers the lives of those behind the wheel, but they also put innocent members of the public at risk.

“Queensland Police employ a range of covert and overt strategies, including the use of unmarked motorbikes, to patrol known hotspots and take enforcement action. 

“Our message to anyone taking part in high-risk activities on our roads is that we will continue to target you, investigate your dangerous antics and take action against you.

“The majority of Queenslanders understand the importance of road safety, they observe the rules and are sick and tired of this kind of behaviour on our roads.”

Media contacts 

Minister Ryan’s Office: Ph: (07) 3035 8300

Police media: Ph: (07) 3015 2444