Car hoons warned

THE Illawarra is an area known for its hotted up cars. Our region regularly attracts people from as far as Sydney and the Southern Highlands who take great pleasure in cruising our beaches in their vehicles.

These vehicles are the pride and joy of many, and owners would not do anything to jeopardise their cars or compromise the hours of time and effort and thousands of dollars spent on their vehicle.

These people are car enthusiasts and viewed by many within the community as a great asset to the region, however there are some people who do not take their license, their vehicle or our road rules seriously.

These car hoons received warning last week when Parliamentary Secretary for Police and Member for Kiama Matt Brown said the state government makes no apologies for being tough on street racers and other hoons on our roads.

Tough laws give police the power to confiscate any vehicle involved in illegal road activity, whether it is doing burnouts, racing off the lights or other behaviour.

Once your car is confiscated you are liable for a $300 initial towing fee plus a fee of $9 per day for the duration your car is confiscated plus the fine for what you did in the first place to result in your car being confiscated.

With the general term of confiscation three months those caught misbehaving will be up for in excess of $1000 before their car is returned to them.

"If you muck around on our roads your car is going to get taken and it will cost you a pretty penny to get it back," Mr Brown said.

Over the 12 months to January this year Lake Illawarra Local Area Command police officers seized 32 vehicles from dangerous drivers across the region.

Mr Brown paid a visit to the holding yard at Albion Park Police Station last week and commended officers for their hard work.

"This is a great result for the people of the Illawarra who are fed up with rev heads making our streets dangerous and putting the lives of other motorists at risk.

"The hardworking families of this region deserve to be safe from idiots who get behind the wheel and drive like maniacs.

"A car in the wrong hands is a deadly weapon and it's good to see the police using their powers to disarm dangerous drivers," Mr Brown said.

Chief Inspector Wayne O'Keefe said most cars are confiscated for burnouts or street racing offences.

"To a lot of people, especially younger people, their car is their pride and joy. For it to be taken away from them sends a real message," he said.

While a first offence can see your car confiscated for three months those who are caught twice within a 12 month period can see their vehicles sold by police.

Chief Inspector O'Keefe said vehicles could be seized whether they are registered in the drivers name or not.

He said it has happened that vehicles owned by young people's parents have been seized and it can even be the case that if you lend your car to someone and that person is caught breaking the law the car can be seized.

Mr Brown said it is important to recognise the work of police taking cars away from dangerous drivers and taking defective and potentially deadly vehicles off the roads.

"Countless road tragedies can be linked to street racing, and it's not only those involved that get hurt and killed, innocent people end up victims.

He said the state government is backing the NSW Police Force with the tough powers, equipment, resources and support they need to keep the community safe.

An extra 799 police have joined the force this year with another 741 police currently in training.

New police powers aimed at keeping our roads safe from car hoons, in addition to previous powers:

A wheel clamping trial to impound vehicles at the owner's premises.

On the spot licence suspension and confiscation for any L or P plate driver caught speeding more than 30 km/h over the limit.

Doubling the penalties for "burnout" offences to $1100.

Investment of $450 000 to improve NSW Police intelligence gathering.