Hoon twice and your car is gone for good under new laws

HOON once and your car may be taken off you for 90 days. Hoon twice and it is gone for good.

HOON once and your car may be taken off you for 90 days.

Hoon twice and it is gone for good.

The LNP's new laws could be the toughest in the country after new legislation was passed overnight, allowing authorities to confiscate cars once a person commits two serious hooning offences.

These serious, or Type 1, offences include the dangerous operation of a vehicle, road racing, making too much noise, creating smoke and evading police.

Police Minister Jack Dempsey said Queenslanders were sick of racing and reckless driving in their neighbourhoods.

"In the past we have even seen hoons lose control of their vehicles before ploughing into yards and houses injuring and, in some cases, taking the lives of innocent people," he said.

The new penalties mean for the first offence, the car is confiscated for 90 days then crushed or sold if they are caught hooning again within five years.

These changes will not come into law for six months to ensure the government and police are properly prepared to act on the legislation.
 
 

HOON HOTSPOTS

The Queensland Government has released a 12-month regional breakdown for hooning offences including number of cars impounded last year.

CENTRAL REGION (Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton)
Offences: 88
Impounded: 65

NORTH COAST (Sunshine Coast, Caboolture, Gympie, Bundaberg)
Offences: 157
Impounded: 129

GOLD COAST (plus Logan)
Offences: 158
Impounded: 124

SOUTHERN (Toowoomba, Ipswich, Dalby, Warwick, Roma)
Offences: 101
Impounded: 83

BRISBANE
Offences: 134
Impounded: 99

QUEENSLAND TOTAL:
Offences: 716