Tough new laws for drivers who evade police after serious crashes

Drivers who are found to have evaded police and are involved in a crash that causes death or serious injury will face tougher penalties under new laws advocated for by a woman whose family was wiped out in a horror crash.

Claudine Snow with Queensland Premier Steven Miles at the announcement of new law changes for those who try to avoid police or leave the scene of an accident. Picture: David Clark

Drivers who are found to have evaded police and are involved in a crash that causes death or serious injury will face 20 years’ jail under new laws advocated for by a woman whose family was wiped out in a horror car crash.

The state government will this week introduce legislative changes that would see a person who is found guilty of driving dangerously, evades police and causes death or grievous bodily harm face a maximum penalty of up to a 20 years in prison.

Claudine Snow on Sunday. She lost her mother and sister in an accident on the Gold Coast hinterland. Picture: David Clark

The maximum penalty for someone who drives dangerously and leaves a crash scene after causing death or serious injury will also be raised from 14 to 20 years, while the highest potential penalty for dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death or serious injury will rise from 10 years jail to 14.

Dubbed “Susan’s law”, they will be introduced by the government following advocacy from Claudine Snow, whose mother Susan, sister Steffi and her mother’s former partner Chris Fawcett died in a shocking crash in the Gold Coast hinterland on December 30, 2022.

Uiatu “Joan” Taufua allegedly fled from a police patrol car before ploughing into their vehicle just minutes later.

Taufua, the crash’s only survivor, was charged with manslaughter, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evade police and unlicensed driving.

No pleas have yet been entered and she remains before the courts.

Claudine Snow at the site of the fatal crash in the hinterland.

Ms Snow said the law change was a “positive” to come out of her personal tragedy and the loss of three “completely innocent people”.

“I have been through heartbreak in losing my family ... and I got thinking what would my mum do?

“She absolutely inspired me to be the best person I could be and it was just for me a no-brainer to do this.

“My mum would be standing here right now if it was me, my sister or Chris.”

Police Minister Mark Ryan praised Ms Snow’s advocacy in seeking change following the crash.

“In the face of extreme tragedy and heartache she’s found the courage and the strength to find a legacy for her mum, her sister and her mum’s partner,” he said.

“All of the lives that will be saved because of Susan’s Law is because of Claudine’s advocacy and what an outstanding legacy that is to remember her family by.”

Queensland Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Chris Stream said the new laws would act as a deterrent to motorists.

“People need to now think about, prior to evading police, not only the type of trauma and the horrific consequences which they could cause to the broader community, but the reality is the serious consequences they would face under these proposed legislation – 20 years is indeed a lifetime for a person,” he said.

“We see often people committing these evade offences for lower offences, so they have pulled over engaged with the police and quite often the penalties that they would receive are far less than what they received for committing an evade offence and driving dangerously.”

Originally published as Tough new laws for drivers who evade police after serious crashes