Three strikes and you lose your vehicle

Hoon drivers convicted of a third offence will automatically lose their vehicle under new laws which came into effect at midnight.

Police and Road Safety Minister Rob Johnson said the anti-hoon legislation was the toughest in Australia and fulfilled a major State Government election promise.

"I pledged at the election to toughen the State's hoon laws to make our roads safer and that promise has now become a reality," Mr Johnson said.

"People are sick and tired of seeing hoons being caught putting their own and other people's lives at risk and then getting in their vehicles and doing it all over again.

"These new laws will ensure that on a third and subsequent conviction, a hoon will lose their vehicle for good."

Vehicles which are confiscated will be sold, with proceeds from the sale going to road safety projects.  Vehicles of little value will be crushed.

The Road Traffic Amendment (Hoons) Bill 2009 also increases the period a vehicle is impounded from seven days to 28 days for a first hoon offence and from 28 days to three months for a second offence.

Under the new legislation, reckless driving is considered to be a hoon offence, with police not having to establish a circumstance of aggravation - such as racing, excessive noise or burnouts.

There are also severe penalties for people who deface or devalue a vehicle after being served with a notice of intention to confiscate.  This covers situations where a person strips or damages their vehicle knowing it is about to be impounded or confiscated.