Kaylee Ann Howard’s blames powerful V6 Holden Commodore for repeated burnouts

A South East teen busted for hoon driving, repeatedly spinning her tyres on a quiet cul-de-sac, blamed her car’s powerful engine and faulty brakes.

A teen who was caught hoon driving in a quiet cul-de-sac has blamed faulty brakes and an inability to control her V6 Holden Commodore, a court has heard.

A resident on a quiet Mount Gambier street called police in June last year, after spotting Kaylee Ann Howard, 19, spinning her tyres on Tallarook Court twice in just over the space of a week.

On Friday, Howard’s defence lawyer Katherine Davies said there was a fault in the car’s ABS brakes and the 19-year-old was unable “to appropriately control the car.”

“She has since gotten rid of that car,” Ms Davies said.

ABS brakes are designed to prevent tyres from locking up when they are applied too suddenly, such as panick braking during an emergency.

Kaylee Ann Howard, 19, pleaded guilty to two counts of misuse motor vehicle. Picture: Facebook

Howard previously pleaded guilty to two counts of misuse motor vehicle — sustained wheel spin which occurred on June 22 and June 30, 2021 in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court.

A police prosecutor said that on two occasions the defendant maintained a wheel spin in the Tallarook Court cul-de-sac — resulting in “tyre smoke” and leaving “black marks on the road”.

Hoon driving has been a persistent problem in Mount Gambier with residents complaining their streets have been turned into raceway drift tracks by “idiots of the road”. 

A hoon driver filmed driving erratically in Mount Gambier. Picture: File.

Officer in Charge of the Limestone Coast Superintendent, Campbell Hill, previously said 2021 saw a fluctuation of hoon driving.

“There seems to be an element of our community that just want to engage in really poor road use, reckless driving and what effectively is criminal behaviour on the road,” Supt Hill said.

Given her age and lack of full-time employment, Ms Davies asked the court to show leniency and not record a conviction.

“Ms Howard is 19 years old and she is currently living with a friend’s mother,” Ms Davies said.

“She recently started working here and just across the border, which is casual work — she does not get Centrelink payments to bump up any income.”

Magistrate Paul Foley described Howard’s action as a “nuisance” to the community and drove residents “crazy”.

“The potential damage to the road surface — creates a nuisance in the streets,” Mr Foley said.

No conviction was recorded. However, Howard was ordered to serve 40 hours of community service.