Anti-hoon campaign begins

25/8/07
The State Government today launched an advertising blitz urging Western Australians to help take hoons off the roads.
Community Safety Minister John Kobelke said that under new legislation, police would be able to take evidence from people who witnessed hoonish behaviour. That evidence would be used to convict hoons and impound their cars.
"Since our anti-hoon laws were introduced in 2004, more than 1,200 drivers have been removed for acting recklessly on our roads for the safety of the public," Mr Kobelke said.
"The latest statistics I have seen show most of them have been male drivers.
"A worrying trend has been the fact that almost 30 per cent of those caught have been on P-plates.
"We know that the most dangerous time on the road for new drivers is the 17 to 24-year-old age bracket - this group forms two-thirds of the hoons caught on our roads."
The Minister said hoonish behaviour was unacceptable and the public had clearly indicated that it would not put up with hoons.
"Hoons deliberately race and drive recklessly, endangering other road users and, at times, people standing nearby," Mr Kobelke said.
"Not only do young drivers have to understand they are not bullet-proof, they have to realise they could kill someone else from their out of control behaviour."
An advertising campaign costing $145,000 will begin on radio and print tomorrow highlighting how the rest of the community views hoons.
Laws passed in April allow police to impound an alleged hoon's vehicle for two days, in order to put an immediate stop to their anti-social behaviour.
To make it tougher for hoons to return to the road, they now have to pay the impound fees before the vehicle is released. Speeding at 45kmh or more above the speed limit is automatically considered a hooning offence.
Courts can also confiscate a driver's vehicle in cases of road rage.
"Hoons have to realise they are under constant scrutiny from police and now any member of the public who can record their crime on camera, video or mobile phone," the Minister said.
"Be warned - everyone is watching and if they take your picture, we will take your car."
Minister's office - 9222 9211