This Holden Commodore is now sitting in a police holding yard … the owner can’t get it back until February

November 4, 2013

The State Government’s tough new anti-hooning legislation came into operation on Friday … and by Sunday, a 24-year-old Kingaroy man had managed to fall foul of it.

His car, a Holden Commodore, has been seized by police for 90 days.

The man was driving along Somerset Street, Kingaroy, about 4:00pm on Sunday when he was stopped by a traffic patrol.

Senior Sergeant Duane Frank said checks revealed the man was a disqualified driver and the vehicle was unregistered, uninsured and had cancelled registration plates.

He said these were Type 2 offences under the new laws, and as the man was a repeat offender his car had been impounded.

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In April this year, the State Government approved amendments to the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 in regards to impoundment with the aim of improving road safety.

The new laws, which came into effect on November 1, create two categories of offences:

Type 1 – offences connected to road racing, a speed trial or burn outs (dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, careless driving or organising, promoting or taking part in racing or speed trials, starting or driving a motor vehicle in a way that makes unnecessary noise or smoke); evading police

Type 2 – driving a vehicle while it is uninsured and unregistered; unlicensed driving; high-range drink driving; exceeding the speed limit by more than 40km/h, driving an illegally modified vehicle, failure to supply a breath specimen, driving while under 24-hour suspension

The consequences of breaking the law depends on the traffic history of the driver over the past five years.

For Type 1 offences, impoundment is for 90 days; the vehicle will be seized permanently for subsequent offences.

For Type 2 offences, a second offence will result in 7 days impoundment; a third offence is 90 days impoundment; the vehicle will be seized permanently for subsequent offences.

The driver of the vehicle is liable to pay all fees for towing and storage of the vehicle during the impoundment period.

Police will impound the vehicle even if the owner of the vehicle is not the offending driver.