In an effort to deter dangerous driving on public roads, the Queensland government in Australia has introduced some of the toughest anti-hoon laws targeting not only drivers but bystanders as well. Under these new laws, it is a crime to participate in any honor event, from illegal street racing to tire blowouts, and that includes encouraging others to watch or participate in such activities.
Queensland Police have defined hooning as a range of dangerous and reckless behavior behind the wheel, including street racing, speeding, burnouts, music and even drinking while driving. If you engage in any of these activities, you could be reported by a fellow Queenslander and face serious legal consequences. And it’s not just drivers who are at risk: anyone who organizes, promotes, watches, photographs or films these activities could also be fined.
• It will be an offense to participate or be a spectator in a group activity
• It will be a crime to organize, promote or encourage other people to participate or be spectators of a group reception activity.
• Possession of objects such as false license plates will be an offence
• This will include filming or photographing hooning for the above purposes.
Read: Indiana police arrest 40, recover more than 80 stolen cars from dangerous ‘spinning events’
New anti-hoon laws in Queensland not only address dangerous driving on public roads, but also ban the possession of items such as fake license plates and spare tires used in group hooning events. The state’s laws were already the toughest in the country, and have now become even stricter with additional legislation passed by parliament.
After the new laws were announced, Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan commented: “If you want to wreck our roads, we’ll wreck your car… If you behave in an anti-social way and put other people’s lives at risk . and you yourself at risk will be the unrelenting target of the police Life is precious. Too many lives are lost on our roads. No complacency will be tolerated.”
Spectators caught engaging in hooning can face fines of up to AUD$6,000 (equivalent to about US$4,000), according to Drive.com.au. However, for hoon drivers, the consequences can be much more serious, including confiscation or confiscation of their motor vehicles, loss of driver’s license and up to a year in jail. Car owners who try to avoid liability by claiming they were not driving at the time of the offense will have to provide evidence to support their claim in court.
The Queensland government’s road safety strategy estimates that “road trauma” costs the state A$6 billion (US$4 billion), enough to buy a small island in the Pacific. Sadly, around 15% of hospital admissions in 2020 were related to traffic accidents, which he says cause “immeasurable” personal suffering. Although the government has defended its anti-hoon policy using these statistics, they have not revealed how many accidents and fatalities were actually caused by hooning.
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