Tougher laws have impact on hoons

Police Minister Jim Cox said yesterday more than 800 Tasmanian drivers had had their cars impounded since hooning laws were introduced in September 2004.

Of the drivers who have lost their cars, 97 per cent are male and 90 per cent are aged under 30.

But the number of drivers caught hooning is on a downward trend, new statistics from Mr Cox show.

Last November the Government increased the confiscation period for a first hooning offence from 48 hours to one week.

Since then just 2.5 per cent of drivers caught hooning have reoffended, a drop from nearly 8 per cent for the period between September 2004 and November 2007.

The rate that hoons' cars are confiscated by police has also fallen since November, down to 16 cars a month compared to 20 a month previously.

Mr Cox said the increased confiscation period for a first offence had caused drivers to think twice before engaging in dangerous driving.

“This shows the message is getting through to hoons and the threat of losing their vehicle for hooning is deterring them from driving in a disorderly manner,” Mr Cox said.

“The word on the street is that if you hoon, you'll lose your car, and the declining re-offending rate is evidence that confiscation is sending a powerful message to would-be repeat hoons.”

The southern police district, which covers Hobart, Glenorchy, Kingborough and the Huon Valley has recorded the highest number of vehicle confiscations since 2004 — a total of 291.

The western district, covering Devonport, Burnie and the West Coast, is the second highest with 237 confiscations.

Road Safety Task Force chairman Paul Hogan said he was glad to see the message was starting to get through to hoons.

He said the vehicle confiscation laws were saving lives.

“By taking cars off these offenders for a period of time we are preventing them from having the chance to kill, or seriously injure other Tasmanians,” Mr Hogan said.

Offences, which attract vehicle confiscation include; driving a motor vehicle in a manner that makes or emits unnecessary and unreasonable noise, driving a motor vehicle in an exhibition of speed, and competing or taking part in car races.

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