Time for you Aussies to...

[Cobrabill]

start killing your politicians.

http://www.fquick.com/blog/Australia__Police_Confiscate_$200k_Car_at_Car_Meet/1685



Thirty police officers descended on car enthusiast gatherings in New South Wales, Australia beginning at 5pm yesterday. The raids took place at Anzac Parade and Penrhyn Road resulting in a search of 72 vehicles, 39 tickets and 18 vehicle impoundments. The biggest prize was a classic Ford Falcon GT valued at A$200,000 (US $188,000) that was permanently confiscated on the grounds that it had performed a second burnout offense. It will be sold at a police auction. Another GT, three Holden Commodores, a Holden Utility, Holden Torana and a Nissan 200SX will be held for a minimum of three months for violating anti-hoon statutes. These laws prohibit so-called anti-social driving behaviors such as causing a vehicle to "undergo loss of traction by one or more of the driving wheels."

More on this after the jump..

"Operation Torque was established after ongoing concerns from the community about the behavior of car enthusiasts in the Port Botany, La Parouse and Brighton Le Sands areas," NSW police explained in a statement.

Undercover police had staked out enthusiast gatherings for months to determine the best time for a blitz, documenting alleged offenses on hidden video cameras. In the first two months of the year, NSW police had seized a total of 84 cars, generating significant revenue.

"There's a lot of money being put into these motor vehicles," Botany Bay Local Area Commander Ron Mason told 2GB radio today.

Following the raid, a group of upset car owners, including relatives and friends, converged at the Roads and Traffic Authority impound lot to protest the police action. Although no violence was reported, authorities responded by calling out the riot squad. Police have grown increasingly harsh in their treatment of individuals accused of driving offenses at the urging of elected officials. In March, the NSW government considered legislation boosting the fines and associated penalties for "hooning" up to a maximum of $3300 and possible jail time.

"Apparently the drivers of those vehicles were aggressive and gestured with their middle fingers to police and to anyone else who was present," Member of the Legislative Council Fred Nile explained. "Some of our young drivers are very aggressive."

Car confiscation is big business in Australia. The state of Victoria seized 3437 cars generating $1 million in net revenue between July 2006 and December 2007. Often, authorities target high-end cars. In March, Western Australia police seized a $250,000 Aston Martin from a 52-year-old woman accused of speeding.

[Ron61]

Man, that does sound a little on the extreme side. Wonder if they have some of our former politicians now living there. It would make sense to target the more expensive cars as they figure if the person can afford the car they can afford the big fines. But if that 52 year woman was just speeding and not really doing anything else, I think taking the car is to much.

Ron

[Wes Tausend]

...

Bill,

That is just unreal. No wonder various civilizations undergo a bloody revolution every so often. I thought modern man was heading away from Hun-like property seizures. Down under never used to be like that, did it? Apparently they are back-sliding big time.

Who next? Not us I hope. Or is it too late already?


...

[wtm442]

Big Brother is watching you. Guess 1984 is a little late, but growing in various parts of the world.

Seizing a car for speeding? Wow. Maybe she was doing 150 MPH in a 55 MPH speed limit?

[Aussie Mike]

They are pricks! I think the Comunity concern is a beat up blown out of the arse of some TV current affairs reporter.

As far as the police are concerned this is an easy collar for them with lots of high profile publicity that makes them look like they are doing good for the "comunity". Arseholes should be out fighting real crime.

We are turning into a country that thinks the police force is a business and should be run at a profit. Speed cameras a a multi milion dollar industry that the govenrment now relies on in it's budget calculations.


Not happy. And not much we can do about it because the 2 parties running this country are as useless as each other. Voting is generally a case of decide which is the worse of the two and vote for the other one.

Cheers

[Seagull81]

What the heck is a Hoon?
Steve

[LoBelly]

The laws created to deal with a (very) few high profile cases have become just a tool for the police that they can apply at their discretion - end of arguement.

After that the burdon of proof is reversed and $$ roll in.

Have never heard of any reprimand being handed out for the overzealous application of this law and I think that it was written with that intention.

I'm unimpressed with legislation and its going to result in some of the kids running instead rather than give up their ride - the consequences of which are predicably going to be injured bystander and this is unlikely to be a softening of the policing.

LoBelly

Hoon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Ron61]

Mike,

It is fast becoming the same way here, just not as radical yet. The police force is used more now as a revenue raising business than a law enforcement agency it seems. And as for having anyone to vote for except the least bad of the worst, that has been going on for many years. To bad it had to find its way into your country.

Ron

[ac andy]

Heard on the news today that our government factors in $100's of millions in traffic fines into their budget each year. So if their so called "safety cameras" were working so well, the revenue should be dropping, along with the road toll.

What a load of bulls%#t!

It is very rare that a high end sports car is involved in a fatal accident. Its usually the bald tyred s%#tboxes that pump out plenty of smoke and oil that are involved in the accidents.

You know, the same ones that open their doors onto you in the supermarket carpark!!

Our state government in Victoria is just as bad as in NSW.

Mike is spot on, they are all as useless as each other!!

Andy.

[Wayne Maybury]

While I really don't know the exact amounts, I have been told that our provincial government has recently passed legislation greatly increasing the cost of infractions as well as taking away a lot more points.

I understand cracking down on the bad a$$es but some of these initiatives seem to go too far. I sure am glad that I'm not a 20 year old now or I wouldn't be able to drive for very long before losing my driver's licence.

Wayne

[FWB]

didnt the aussie govt just take the guns from the people recently? they have to be locked up and you must apply for a permit to get them for hunting only?
well now i know why i carry when i drive my car.