Great Southern police welcome tough new hoon laws

Great Southern traffic enforcement Sergeant Andrew Norton believes new legislation introduced to State Parliament this week to toughen hoon laws would be beneficial for road safety in the region.

The legislation would allow confiscation of a vehicle on the first offence, police would also have the power to seize unlicensed motorcycles such as trail bikes for certain offences.

Sgt Norton said although hooning was not a major problem in the Great Southern, any measure to improve safety on the roads was welcomed.

“It’s not a significant issue, we still seize cars and there are still hoon incidents for sure, but it’s not a major contributor to fatal road crashes,” he said

“WA police would support any initiative that would promote road safety, so if it achieves that outcome we’ll support it.”

There are currently 21 cars impounded in the Great Southern under hoon confiscation laws and Sgt Norton said Menang Drive was a problem area.

“You go there and there’s rubber everywhere so we do patrol that area,” he said.

Sgt Norton said confiscation of motorcycles could have an effect in the region.

“The consequence before might have been getting charged with driving an unlicensed vehicle on a road, which is a small fine,” he said

“This would make it that they’re going to lose a bike and that could cost them thousands, which would be quite a deterrent I would imagine.”

Deputy Premier and Police Minister Liza Harvey said the new laws would add to the existing legislation.

“These new laws build on our successful existing hoon legislation and initiatives such as covert hoon cameras,” she said