Holly Amber Smith pleads guilty to doing burnouts and police chase

The 18-year-old started doing burnouts next to where plain clothes police in an unmarked car were parked.

A Tweed Heads teenager found herself in a police chase after performing burnouts in front of plain clothes cops.

Holly Amber Smith, 18, pleaded guilty in Tweed Heads Local Court on Monday to prolonged loss of traction, police pursuit, speeding over 30km/h and custody of a knife.

Police said Smith was seen driving on Lakes Drive and Sunset Boulevard on May 7 about 11pm until she reached a dead end at the boat ramp.

In front of plain clothes police in an unmarked vehicle, Smith began to rev the Ford Falcon’s engine and sustain a loss of traction performing a 180 degree turn burnout.

Police activated warning lights on Gollan Drive where Smith sped up and onto Kennedy Drive, reaching speeds of 110 km in a 50 zone, before driving through a red light on Limosa Road.

She eventually stopped after turning onto Recreation St then reached a dead end at Philips Lane where she was arrested.

At the time, another woman was in the passenger seat.

Police found two 20cm knives in the car which checks showed were unregistered.

Smith told police she was just going for a drive with her friend and when the police tried to stop her she got scared.

Defence lawyer Geoff Gallagher said his client had made a “stupid decision” to run from the police, but asked the court to consider the pursuit was not a long distance.

He said Smith was still very young and was remorseful for her actions.

Smith was convicted and sentenced to a 12 month community corrections order.

She was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.