Ms SCRYMGOUR - 2009-08-19
Can you update the House on the government’s anti-hooning driving legislation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question and her interest in road safety in the Northern Territory.
As all members will be aware, hooning activities primarily involve illegal car activities: street racing, drag racing and burn outs. You are all familiar with the concept of hooning. This behaviour is totally unacceptable; it is not welcome here. I am sure all members would join me in rejecting it utterly. This dangerous activity places these hoons, their passengers, spectators, and other road users at high risk.
In 2004, the Traffic Act was amended to create offences for hooning-type activities. During 2008, a joint Police and Department of Planning and Infrastructure review was conducted of the hooning legislation. As a result of the review, the Henderson government began a new part of the Traffic Act on 30 June 2009.
New amendments have given police tougher power to impound a vehicle for 48 hours without going to court. Anyone caught hooning twice within two years now faces the prospect of having their vehicle impounded or immobilised for a minimum court-imposed penalty of three months and a maximum of six months. The new amendments provide for a court-ordered forfeiture of the vehicle for a third offence.
Hoons also pay for the removal, transport, and storage of their impounded or immobilised vehicles. It is illegal for hoons to sell or give away a vehicle used in hooning activity while legal matters are pending.
Anyone caught hooning has their vehicle immediately impound or immobilised by police for two days. Police advise that nine infringement notices and seven 48-hour impoundments have occurred up until 31 July 2009. Police are also in the process of seeking a three-month impounding order for one offender who has been caught hooning twice.
Territorians should be able to drive safely on our roads and sleep peacefully at night without having to put up with hoons. The Henderson government is serious about building safer communities and introducing tough new legislation to make hoons think carefully about the activities they engage in before they get behind the wheel.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question and her interest in road safety in the Northern Territory.
As all members will be aware, hooning activities primarily involve illegal car activities: street racing, drag racing and burn outs. You are all familiar with the concept of hooning. This behaviour is totally unacceptable; it is not welcome here. I am sure all members would join me in rejecting it utterly. This dangerous activity places these hoons, their passengers, spectators, and other road users at high risk.
In 2004, the Traffic Act was amended to create offences for hooning-type activities. During 2008, a joint Police and Department of Planning and Infrastructure review was conducted of the hooning legislation. As a result of the review, the Henderson government began a new part of the Traffic Act on 30 June 2009.
New amendments have given police tougher power to impound a vehicle for 48 hours without going to court. Anyone caught hooning twice within two years now faces the prospect of having their vehicle impounded or immobilised for a minimum court-imposed penalty of three months and a maximum of six months. The new amendments provide for a court-ordered forfeiture of the vehicle for a third offence.
Hoons also pay for the removal, transport, and storage of their impounded or immobilised vehicles. It is illegal for hoons to sell or give away a vehicle used in hooning activity while legal matters are pending.
Anyone caught hooning has their vehicle immediately impound or immobilised by police for two days. Police advise that nine infringement notices and seven 48-hour impoundments have occurred up until 31 July 2009. Police are also in the process of seeking a three-month impounding order for one offender who has been caught hooning twice.
Territorians should be able to drive safely on our roads and sleep peacefully at night without having to put up with hoons. The Henderson government is serious about building safer communities and introducing tough new legislation to make hoons think carefully about the activities they engage in before they get behind the wheel.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016