The hoons speed cameras can’t catch: This week’s idiots on the road

While sneaky speed cameras rake-in millions of dollars by nabbing cars a few kilometres per hour over the limit, highway patrol officers across Australia were dealing with seriously dangerous drivers.

Here’s a timely reminder about the idiots we share the road with – dangerous driving offenders who seemingly aren’t bothered by the increased rollout of speed cameras.

While sneaky speed cameras were raking-in millions of dollars by nabbing cars a few kilometres per hour over the limit, highway patrol officers across Australia have stopped a number of recidivist dangerous drivers in their tracks. 

Some have even had their cars seized, another act speed cameras can’t peform.

Police in the regional town of Wagga Wagga in central west NSW were at a house making enquiries about a burnout offence when they heard another burnout being performed in a neighbouring street.

Highway patrol officers from Strike Force Puma – a taskforce which pro-actively targets repeat dangerous driving offenders – were in the front yard of a premises conducting an interview with a driver believed to have recently performed a burnout as well as other driving offences.

But the interview was interrupted when they heard another vehicle which, soon after, turned into the street where police were located.

The driver of the red Holden Special Vehicles Clubsport V8 – a 26-year-old man from the area – was directed to stop by police.

Police located on the road burnout marks estimated to be 40 metres in length.

“An examination of the vehicle driven found numerous modifications which lacked the required engineer’s certifications as well as defective seatbelts and smooth tyres,” according to a post on the NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Facebook page.

“The driver of the Clubsport was issued a field court attendance notice for the burnout offence and, as he was the registered owner of the vehicle, it was seized for a period of three months.”

Further west, in Narrandera, a 17-year-old suspended learner fled from police after the Toyota Corolla he was driving was delected at 135km/h in a 60km/h zone.

“Police made attempts to stop the (vehicle), however the driver failed to stop, resulting in a police pursuit,” the police wrote on Facebook. “Due to the driver’s speed and manner in driving, the pursuit was terminated.”

Five days later, police attended the home address of the vehicle’s registered owner. 

“The driver has been charged with Drive Motor Vehicle While License Suspended, Police Pursuit, Drive At Speed/Manner Dangerous and Exceed Speed Over 45km/h – Radar, and will face (court) at a later date,” said police.

It seems some learners take time to learn the road rules.

Highway patrol officers from Cessnock Highway Patrol (near the NSW Central Coast) pulled over a 24-year-old learner motorcyclist travelling at 150km/h in a 110km/h zone – while using a mobile phone when not permitted, and while impaired by drugs.

“About 1am on Monday 21 March 2022, officers observed a motorcycle (travelling at) well above the signposted 110km/h limit,” said a police Facebook post. 

“Police took up a position behind the motorcycle where its speed was checked at 150km/h. The rider, a 24 year old man … was stopped and produced a NSW Learner Rider Licence.

“Officers observed the rider’s mobile phone to be mounted to the handlebar of the motorcycle and the rider to be using a function of the phone, which is prohibited for novice riders.

“He was subjected to a road side drug test which returned a positive indication to cannabis.”

The motorcyclist was arrested and conveyed to Cessnock Police Station where he underwent further testing. He was issued penalty notices for exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h and rider use mobile phone when not permitted. 

His licence was confiscated on the spot for a period of 6 months and the registration of the motorcycle seized for 3 months.

Further charges are pending the analysis of the riders oral fluid, say police.

In Victoria, age appears to be no barrier to having a vehicle impounded.

A 73-year-old disqualified driver from Warrnambool had his Ford Falcon impounded at a cost of $1130 dollars – after telling police he was just driving to the shops.

A Victoria Police Facebook page said: “A court summons is in the mail and (the 73-year-old driver) will also need an explanation to the Magistrate as to why he was driving while disqualified.”

Next to a photo of the Ford Falcon being seized in a home driveway, police noted the driver will now face “30 days walking to the shops.”

“Note: Yes, we can take it out of your driveway and put it onto a tow truck,” said police.

Meanwhile in Frankston on the southern outskirts of Melbourne, police have been cracking down on so-called “monkey bikes” – tiny unregistered motorbikes popular with teenagers and novice riders.

“At approximately 12:30pm, a ‘monkey bike’ was located hidden and abandoned in bushland near the intersection of Hodgins Road and Frankston-Flinders Road, Hastings,” said a Facebook post published by police in Victoria.

“The ‘monkey bike’ was impounded under Mornington Peninsula Shire Council Impound Laws at a cost of $500 to the owner. 

“At approximately 1:25pm, Somerville HWP attended Crib Point in relation to multiple youths causing trouble on motor bikes in the vicinity of the Crib Point Football oval.

“Police attended and located four youths riding ‘monkey bikes’.  Four motorbikes were subsequently impounded at a cost of $895 each, and four youths will be summonsed at a later date for offences including unlicensed driving, use unregistered motor vehicle, Drug Driving and Refuse Oral Fluid Test related offences.

“A fifth rider in Crib Point upon sighting police, dumped his ‘monkey bike’ and ran from the scene.

“This ‘monkey bike’ was also impounded under Mornington Peninsula By-Laws, again at a cost of $500 to the owner.”

At the end of the Facebook post, Victoria Police noted: “Monkey bikes can drive people bananas. Monkey bikes are NOT for use on public roads and cause a danger to other road users and their riders.”

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