Gold Coast 'the hoon capital'

[HOON69]

Gold Coast 'the hoon capital'
January 24, 2007 08:11pm

THE Gold Coast has been declared the hoon capital of Queensland with more than 20 per cent of the state's hooning offences.

Police Minister Judy Spence today said police had impounded 3221 vehicles across Queensland since anti-hooning laws were introduced in November 2002.

Of these, 714 cars have been impounded on the Gold Coast, Ms Spence said.

"This accounts for more than 22 per cent of all hooning offences in Queensland," she said.

Ms Spence said despite the high figures, there was solid evidence the laws were working with just 76 repeat offenders.

"This is because confiscations hit hoons where it hurts the most – by taking away their wheels," she said.

"Once a motorist goes through the embarrassment and inconvenience of having their car impounded, they are unlikely to do it again."

Ms Spence said the anti-hooning laws gave police the power to impound vehicles used for hooning for 48 hours.

Repeat offenders can have their car taken off the road for three months or even forfeited to the state after a third or subsequent offence.