Apparently going BROOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Is akin to murder.
www.perthnow.com.au
'like murderers' - policeNicole Cox
May 19, 2007 08:00am
SIX hooligans, including a drunken youth caught speeding excessively with four other teenagers in the car, have had their cars impounded in the latest blitz on hoons on WA's roads.
Police likened their behaviour to that of murderers on the roads.
A 17-year-old, who did not have a driver's licence, was stopped on Old Coast Rd, Halls Head, at 10.30pm on Friday, when police clocked him doing 121km/h in a 70km/h zone.
The Furnissdale youth has been charged with reckless driving, failing to have a driver's licence and driving with a blood-alcohol content exceeding 0.05. He will appear in Mandurah Children's Court tomorrow.
Another driver, a 21-year-old, was caught speeding on Kwinana Freeway at 9pm travelling at 198km/h in a 100km/h zone.
The Safety Bay man will be charged by summons with reckless driving and his car was seized for exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h.
Police also seized cars in Port Hedland and Morley, impounding them for 48 hours.
Senior police yesterday were alarmed and outraged at the hoons' blatant disregard for the law.
Peel Supt David Parkinson likened their behaviour as "akin to murderers''.
Supt Parkinson said statistics and the road toll, which was now 99, showed that a review of penalties and impound times was needed.
He said the impounding of six cars in one night beggared belief.
"This makes me wonder whether we are winning the war,'' Supt Parkinson said.
"We're out there and we're catching them, but my biggest concern is that it's becoming a game. If it is a game, it's a lethal game and we need to see the penalties reflect that.
"They are either going to kill themselves or they're going to kill someone else.
"They are dicing with death. They are dicing with their own lives, but more importantly the lives of others.
"We've got to sit down, evaluate it and implement something that is a deterrent for these kids.''
Assistant Commissioner John McRoberts said there had been at least 20 vehicles seized for exceeding the speed by more than 45km/h since tougher hoon laws came into force on May 1.
"Police welcome the introduction of the tough hoon legislation provisions,'' Mr McRoberts said.
"We are serious about addressing driver behaviour, particularly those who drive at speeds significantly over the posted limit.''
Police Minister John Kobelke said: "Police will continue to impound hoon's vehicles until they get the message that our community does not want them endangering the lives of road users with their irresponsible and out-of-control behaviour.''
Mr Kobelke said the impact of the amended laws, which allowed the public to dob-in hoons with photographic and video evidence, would be reviewed whenever changes were needed.