Burnouts Bring Big Penalty For Hoons

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday December 29, 2007

By MICHELLE HOCTOR

IT'S gotta hurt. Sitting in the compound out the back of Albion Park Police Station are four vehicles covered in green sheets and tagged with P-plates.

The last time their young drivers were behind the wheel, they were caught for burnout offences and the cars were permanently confiscated.

The vehicles, all impounded in the past month, will now be sold at government auction.

It's part of a tough police line on repeat offenders of hoonish behaviour, imposed by Lake Illawarra Police over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Sergeant Kevin Hood said burnouts traditionally increased along the command's foreshores and residential streets during the warmer weather.

First-time offenders face a $478 fine and three points off their licence.

For those convicted of aggravated burnouts, where oil or other flammable liquid is added to the road to reduce traction and produce smoke, the penalty increases to $609 and four points.

In addition, they face a three-month confiscation of their car, during which they will incur a storage fee of around $1350 ($15 a day).

Sgt Hood said the number of cars confiscated by Lake police had more than tripled in the past three years, from 15 in 2005, to 34 in 2006 and 51 this year.

He said the prevalence of second-time offenders, especially among provisional drivers, was alarming.

"One would think that they would learn from their first experience, but if they want to go out and do it again, we are happy to accommodate them."

Sgt Hood said it did not matter who owned the car in which the second offence was committed - the vehicle would still be confiscated. "The driver could own it, it could be mum and dad's car, the neighbours', it could even be a hire car," he said.

EDITORIAL MOTORISED MENACE - P46