New SA hoon laws which send extreme speeders to jail to come into effect on Monday

“Menace” drivers have been put on notice, as new laws which see extreme speedsters face three years jail time are now effective in SA.

New hoon laws which could see motorists found guilty of extreme speeding offences face three years behind bars are now effective in South Australia.

The laws which passed state parliament last year were active from Monday, August 29, and give powers to immediately suspend or disqualify drivers suspected of dangerous driving offences.

Tougher penalties under the new extreme speed offence will impact motorists caught driving either 55km/h over the limit in a zone marked 60km/h or less, or 80km/h above the limit in a zone marked above 60km/h.

The maximum penalty for the new extreme speeding offence is three years’ imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum two year licence disqualification for the first offence.

If the offending is secondary, the motorists will lose their licence for five years.

Superintendent Bob Gray, the officer in charge of the Traffic Services Branch said the penalties are consistent with the criminal nature of the offence.

“These penalties send a strong message to people who choose to threaten the safety of other innocent members of the community by driving at extreme speed,” Supt Gray said.

“Driving in a way that endangers lives is a criminal act and will be treated as such by police.”

New hoon laws which could see motorists found guilty of extreme speeding offences face three years behind bars come into effect from next week. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“Hoons are a menace on the roads and their presence can pose a very real threat to all road users,” Attorney-General Kyam Maher said.

“Through these tough new measures, people suspected of serious driving offences can be punished through an immediate licence suspension or disqualification.

“We are committed to doing everything in our power to make our roads safer, and punish those who endanger road users through their reckless actions.”

It comes days after Premier Peter Malinauskas proposed a new licensing scheme for motorists driving “elite high powered super sport cars” in response to the death of teenager Sophia Naismith.

Public outrage erupted after the District Court last week cleared Alexander Damian Campbell, 37, of causing the death of the popular schoolgirl, and serious harm to her best friend, Jordyn Callea, both 15, in June, 2019, by dangerous driving.

It is expected they could be approved and in place by early next year, Mr Malinauskas has said.