Queensland Seeks Stricter Punishments for Hooning Offenders

Queensland’s Police Minister is pushing for harsher penalties for motorists caught hooning on the state’s roads. Interestingly, this proposal even includes those not physically present in the offending vehicle.

Cracking Down on Hooning

Mark Ryan, the Minister for Police and Community Safety, recently introduced the Queensland Community Safety Bill. The bill is a call to arms, demanding more robust powers to prosecute hoons and those involved in related activities.

If enacted, the laws could see hoon drivers facing up to five years in jail if they post their antics on social media, as per proposed amendments of Section 328A (Dangerous operation of a vehicle).

According to the proposed legislation, any offender who posts material on a social media platform or an online social network to promote their involvement in the offence, or the act constituting the offence, commits a crime. The maximum penalty for such an offence is 400 penalty units or five years imprisonment.

Changes to Existing Hooning Laws

The proposed legislation also calls for the replacement of the existing Section 19C. This section pertains to ‘Unlawful conduct associated with the commission of racing, burn out or other hooning offence’. The replacement will include more comprehensive rules.

Concerns were raised that the existing regulations, which only punish bystanders who encourage hooning by cheering or voicing support, weren’t sufficient. This led to the proposal for the secondary amendment.

Queensland’s Stance on Hooning

Queensland already boasts some of Australia’s strictest anti-hoon laws. Legislation passed last year made it an offence for anyone to participate in, organise, or promote a “group hooning activity”. This includes potential fines of up to $6000 for both drivers and spectators, with drivers potentially facing one year in prison, loss of licence, and even having their car crushed.

Despite the Community Safety and Legal Affairs Committee recommending the bill be passed, it has faced public criticism. A petition criticising the proposed changes received over 15,500 signatures of support from Queensland residents before it closed this week.

Final Comments

The bill’s future remains uncertain, with no known date set for its hearing by the Queensland Parliament. Queensland residents have voiced concerns about the bill’s potential impact on innocent third-party viewers or publishers of content on social media. There is also concern about the prospect of penalties that may affect residents’ ability to maintain their livelihood based on their ‘associates’ on social media.