Impounded vehicles to be crushed or sold if drivers fail to pay release fee within 38 days

A crackdown on hoons will go even further on July 1, leaving dangerous drivers with only one option if they want back their wheels.

Dangerous and irresponsible drivers will have their impounded vehicles crushed or sold for scrap metal if they fail to pay a release fee in full within 38 days of confiscation.

The state government’s new measure – to be introduced on July 1 in a bid to deter reckless behaviour – will ban motorists from entering payment plans to retrieve their vehicles.

Police Minister Vincent Tarzia warns there will be no sympathy for hoons who risk the lives of innocent and responsible South Australian road users. There are 475 impounded vehicles.

A driver whose vehicle is clamped and impounded must pay a $1135.50 release fee after the 28-day confiscation period ends. This increases up to $1395.50 for an additional 10 days.

Payments must be made in full by cash or credit card at police stations or impound yards before the 38-day period expires, after which SA Police can dispose of the vehicle.

Vehicles can be impounded or clamped if a driver has been charged, arrested or reported for up to 23 offences including dangerous driving, drink and drug driving and excessive speeding.

It can also apply to driving an unregistered or uninsured vehicle, driving unlicensed, leaving the scene of a crash, failing to obey police or misuse of a motor vehicle.

A hoon driver’s car is crushed at Wingfield. Picture: Tom Huntley

Mr Tarzia said driving was a privilege that should be reserved for those who followed road rules and warned motorists needed to consider the cost of their actions.

“We’re clamping down on hoons, dangerous drivers and reckless idiots who gamble with their lives and the lives of other motorists,” Mr Tarzia said.

“It’s frustrating that a severe financial penalty, or the loss of a vehicle, is what it takes for the road safety message to sink in for some. A life lost is the ultimate price and it’s tragic.”

Among the vehicles impounded in the past fortnight include a Ford and Holden, whose drivers were filmed doing burnouts and producing pink smoke for a baby gender reveal at Lonsdale.

A Reynella man, 49, and a Morphettville man, 35, were each charged with numerous driving offences over the May 25 incident described by senior police as “stupid and irresponsible”.

Other drivers whose vehicles were locked up for 28 days include:

A 60-YEAR-OLD woman who was swerving across Kangarilla Rd, McLaren Flat, on May 31. She returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.295 and lost her licence for 12 months.

A 21-YEAR-OLD man caught travelling at 126km/h in a 60km/h zone on South Rd, Angle Park, on May 30. He was reported for driving at a dangerous speed.

A 28-YEAR-OLD man who performed burnouts near police on Peachey Rd, Davoren Park, on May 29. He recorded a blood-alcohol level of 0.153 and had never held a licence.

Money collected from the sale and scrapping of vehicles must be used to cover related costs and drivers can ask to have their vehicle destroyed for $320 instead of paying impound fees.

A court order may be issued to pay a credit provider before remaining money is returned to general revenue.

SA Police assistant commissioner Ian Parrott said motorists caught driving dangerously would be held to account.

“A car can turn into a weapon when used inappropriately and SA Police is committed to ensuring all South Australians can use our roads safely,” Mr Parrott said.

“We hope this will be an added deterrent for people doing the wrong thing on the roads as you will have to pay immediately to get your vehicle back.”

The new measure follows proposed laws introduced to state parliament last month that would result in hoon drivers facing jail sentences and increased licence disqualifications.

The anti-hoon Bill creates a new offence of extreme speeding that targets motorists who travel significantly above the limit.

Extreme speed will be defined as driving at 55km/h or more above the limit in a zone marked 60km/h or less, or 80km/h or more in a zone marked above 60km/h.

Mr Tarzia urged the public to take a tough stance against dangerous drivers by using the Traffic Watch app to dob in hoons or by calling the police assistance line on 131 444.

The Advertiser in January revealed police had received at least 40,000 complaints over the past five years, culminating in dozens of unsafe “idiots” being taken off the state’s roads.