Queensland Police arrest two teenagers, seize cars in anti-hoon crackdown

Queensland’s new anti-hoon laws have been put to the test, with a pair of 18-year-old drivers arrested after posting footage of themselves driving dangerously on social media.

A pair of teenage hoons have been arrested in Gympie as Queensland Police continue their hardline stance against dangerous driving in the state.

In a media statement, the Queensland Police Service announced it had arrested two 18-year-olds who allegedly posted footage of themselves engaging in hooning activity on social media.

The first 18-year-old male was charged with two counts of driving an unregistered vehicle, driving uninsured vehicle, driving with a suspended licence and with false plates attached, as well as one count of obstructing police.

He is due to appear in the Gympie Magistrates Court on 21 September 2023.

The second 18-year-old male – allegedly known to the first offender – was charged with three counts each of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, wilful damage, wilfully driving a vehicle causing smoke, driving while disqualified, driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle, and driving with false plates.

He faced Gympie Magistrates Court on 4 September, though the outcome of his appearance is not yet known.

According to Queensland Police, the pair were arrested after the hooning videos – and information from the public – were used to connect the teenagers to their crimes.

The charges are believed to be the first made as a part of the Queensland Police Service’s ‘Operation Victor Coriolis’, which targets, disrupts and prosecutes hooning activity across the Gympie district.

Inspector Brad Inskip said Queensland Police would continue to investigate further hooning activity in the region despite the recent arrests.

“Our message to anyone taking part in high-risk activities on our roads is that we will continue to target you, investigate and take action against you,” Inspector Inskip said in a media statement.

“You can expect the vehicle you are using for your dangerous antics and anti-social behaviour to be seized and removed from your possession before it causes injury to an innocent member of the public.”

The V6-powered Holden Commodore sedan allegedly used by the pair was also impounded, and could be crushed in accordance with the latest anti-hoon laws in Queensland.

In April 2023, Queensland passed new laws which made it an offence for anyone to participate in, organise or promote a “group hooning activity” – including spectators who may not even be driving a car.

Drivers and spectators at hoon gatherings in Queensland can now be fined up to $6000, while those caught behind the wheel face additional punishment which includes up to one year in prison, a loss of licence and/or their car scrapped.

Queensland is one of five Australian jurisdictions – with Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory – that can crush a hoon’s car after it has been impounded and forfeited.

The Queensland Government’s new anti-hoon laws have also made it an offence to possess false number plates while taking part in a hoon event.

Queensland new laws also mean registered owners of cars detected attending a hoon event must prove they were not driving the vehicle when the offence was committed.

Bystanders can upload footage and images of illegal hoon activity to its online ‘Police Link’ portal or report instances of dangerous driving by calling 13 46 66 (13HOON).

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