75 year old hoon gets car confiscated after 'chase'

[balthazarr]

From: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...3-2862,00.html

Car seized after slow chase with 75-year-old hoon

Mark Buttler
May 25, 2009 12:00am

POLICE have seized the car of a woman 51 years older than the state's average hoon.

The 75-year-old's vehicle was confiscated under anti-hoon laws after she led police on a low-speed pursuit for 25km between Warrnambool and Port Fairy.

A police spokesman said attention was drawn to the woman - the state's oldest female hoon driver - when they saw her driving with her hazard lights operating on the Princes Highway.

A bizarre "chase" followed in which police say they tried everything to get the woman to pull over, only for her to ignore them.

The officers tried driving behind, beside and in front of the woman during Friday's incident.

But she kept on driving and was not spoken with until she stopped in Sackville St, Port Fairy, where her car was confiscated by Warrnambool traffic management unit.

"Numerous attempts were made to get the driver to stop but she just refused. They've made every reasonable attempt," a Victoria Police spokesman said.

The driver, who is from Warrnambool, is expected to be charged with failing to stop after a direction from police.

Anti-hoon laws have been used heavily by Victoria Police since 2007 to crack down, predominantly, on drivers travelling at high speed and performing dangerous acts such as burn-outs.

But a vehicle can be seized for 48 hours under anti-hoon laws if a driver fails to stop after police direction.

The average age of male hoons who have cars confiscated is 24, but there have been other cases of drivers of far more advanced years losing their cars.

In January this year, a 78-year-old Narre Warren man lost his sports car after being clocked rocketing along at 170km/h during a car club event at Warragul.

The oldest previous hoon was a 64-year-old Porsche-driving Armadale man, who was caught at 110km/h in a 60km/h zone.

In 2007, a drunken 55-year-old lost his utility after a burn-out session in the car park of a Ferntree Gully hotel.

As is typical with these sort of articles, it doesn't give any real details, but I can't help imagining some Mr(s) Magoo driving along in a world of her own 20-30km/h less than the speed limit.

And, although I am opposed to the 'anti-hoon' laws, I'm glad she's off the streets.

[platinumXR]

Yeah I was wondering what excuse or reason she gave for not stopping too. Typical journo... :

[jcxr]

In the words of the great Jan and Dean song, Go granny, Go Granny Go.

[Airmon]

So...what can't your vehicle be confiscated for now?

[FPV+fteT3]

I could picture my old man doing something like that particularly if he felt he had done nothing wrong.(yes he drives a camry) :togo:
Too easy to be labled a hoon I mean the old girl didn't do a skid or anything that radical

[opto]

Its just an abuse of the hoon law, as with all hoon laws, the laws are open to interpretation and this leads to abuse, was she speeding, did she leave her hazard lights on yes, is that a crime no, did she fail to stop for police yes but give credit to an old lady, looks like the law is wrong to me.

[RG]

Originally Posted by opto

Its just an abuse of the hoon law, as with all hoon laws, the laws are open to interpretation and this leads to abuse, was she speeding, did she leave her hazard lights on yes, is that a crime no, did she fail to stop for police yes but give credit to an old lady, looks like the law is wrong to me.

Yes it is.

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by opto

Its just an abuse of the hoon law, as with all hoon laws, the laws are open to interpretation and this leads to abuse, was she speeding, did she leave her hazard lights on yes, is that a crime no, did she fail to stop for police yes but give credit to an old lady, looks like the law is wrong to me.

I don't understand how it's an abuse of the hoon law. She ignored the instruction of HWP to pull over - of all the laws there are in the book, this would have to be the most dire one to break.

She should be forced to submit to a licence test if she's driving aimlessly with her hazards on and ignoring a HWP vehicle behind, beside or infront of her trying to get her to pull over.

[mrbaxr6t]

sorry guys I don't understand the comments - if we all went out and ignored police on the roads or otherwise there would be nothing but anarchy. police direction must be followed and nobody is exempt from this, what if they were trying to stop said little old lady because her car was on fire and they were trying to save her life, and through her ignorance she passed away? We would all be saying the police should have tried harder to save her :

Come on guys fair go.

[Jason[98.EL]]

Originally Posted by mrbaxr6t

sorry guys I don't understand the comments - if we all went out and ignored police on the roads or otherwise there would be nothing but anarchy. police direction must be followed and nobody is exempt from this, what if they were trying to stop said little old lady because her car was on fire and they were trying to save her life, and through her ignorance she passed away? We would all be saying the police should have tried harder to save her :

Come on guys fair go.

very wel said

there is more than one reason the police want/need to pull us over

Jason

[balthazarr]

Originally Posted by Rodp

I don't understand how it's an abuse of the hoon law. She ignored the instruction of HWP to pull over - of all the laws there are in the book, this would have to be the most dire one to break.

She should be forced to submit to a licence test if she's driving aimlessly with her hazards on and ignoring a HWP vehicle behind, beside or infront of her trying to get her to pull over.

Agreed, though nothing was said about her driving aimlessly... that was my overactive imagination.

I disagree with the anti-hoon laws on principle... If I lend my car to someone, and that person decides to be an idiot on the road, I can lose my car for something they did. Three strikes and they take your car? On what basis? It's (presumably) not stolen property... it's a (generally) expensive item that I've paid for - how is it a fair and proportionate response to the "problem"?

In this particular case, this woman had her car confiscated. Based on the article (for that is all I have as a basis), there is nothing to indicate that she was driving dangerously or erratically. Yes, she had her hazards on... so people around her should have seen that and been extra cautious - if anything, this should make it safer.

And yes, she disobeyed a police officer. So, throw the book at her... but take her car? It's a bit of overkill, isn't it?

This, of course, ignores any issues about whether, due to age, illness, medication or otherwise, she was and is fit to drive.

Taking her car for 2 days will not solve that problem.

[devilcv8]

Originally Posted by balthazarr

If I lend my car to someone, and that person decides to be an idiot on the road, I can lose my car for something they did.

While your car may be taken, you do have the right to goto court to get it back. And the argument used will be you did not giver permission for your vehicle to be used in that manner.
Although, if you are in the passenger seat at the time it may be a hard argument to win.

[balthazarr]

Originally Posted by devilcv8

While your car may be taken, you do have the right to goto court to get it back. And the argument used will be you did not giver permission for your vehicle to be used in that manner.

Yes, true. But why should I have to take (valuable) time out of my day to defend something which I didn't do?

Although, if you are in the passenger seat at the time it may be a hard argument to win.

Again, it's BS. If I'm in the passenger seat, I have no control over the driver - and it'd be dangerous for me to try and intervene.

And it doesn't have to be lending your car to a mate. If you're an employer, and one of your employees "hoons" in a company car - you have to take time out to try and get your car back. If you don't get your car back, you could be losing serious amounts of money. Yes, you'd fire the employee, but that doesn't get your car back, or make up for 2 days (or more) of lost productivity.

[blackzxr]

Originally Posted by balthazarr

Agreed, though nothing was said about her driving aimlessly... that was my overactive imagination.

I disagree with the anti-hoon laws on principle... If I lend my car to someone, and that person decides to be an idiot on the road, I can lose my car for something they did. Three strikes and they take your car? On what basis? It's (presumably) not stolen property... it's a (generally) expensive item that I've paid for - how is it a fair and proportionate response to the "problem"?

In this particular case, this woman had her car confiscated. Based on the article (for that is all I have as a basis), there is nothing to indicate that she was driving dangerously or erratically. Yes, she had her hazards on... so people around her should have seen that and been extra cautious - if anything, this should make it safer.

And yes, she disobeyed a police officer. So, throw the book at her... but take her car? It's a bit of overkill, isn't it?

This, of course, ignores any issues about whether, due to age, illness, medication or otherwise, she was and is fit to drive.

Taking her car for 2 days will not solve that problem.

Well said.
I will try and keep this short, but i have major issues with this.
We have laws in place with infringement notices for all traffic offences. We also have courts of law / judges to hear all the evidence and make and informed decision on a suitable punishment. This law sucks arsse, as it is up to an idividual to make a decision on the spot and has the ability to STEAL your car. The cop could have got a knock back, doesn't like the look of you, or is just in a mood.
Don't get me wrong, the law in principal is OK and some people deserve to have their cars taken. This should be done through the courts though and people have a right to defend themselves. I know it will clog up our courts, but i thought we had the right to defend ourselves????

What next??? You have a few parties, play your music to loud and get classed as hoon.. Hey why not, lets take your house too???? lol

[Paull]

What is it with old people driving with their Hazard lights on???

[jcxr]

Originally Posted by Paull

What is it with old people driving with their Hazard lights on???

Most likely a bit of deafness I would say. Dont know why they had 'em on initially though. Maybe they had Perry Como up loud.

[RG]

Originally Posted by jcxr

Most likely a bit of deafness I would say. Dont know why they had 'em on initially though. Maybe they had Perry Como up loud.

Speaking from experience here?

[alecrain]

She was probably going to see her grandson, nobody is going to stop her from that!

[yift]

funny how at the bottom of the article it states male hoons. they are forgeting the lipstick leadfoots out there

[uranium_death]

Originally Posted by yift

funny how at the bottom of the article it states male hoons. they are forgeting the lipstick leadfoots out there

The media are about encouraging reactions through their own agenda, not the truth in full.

That article was very selective in what they released.

I do not think this lady is a hoon.
She is just a senior Australian who may need to have her license torn up. She broke the road rules and law.

The 'hoon' tag only allows the article to take a different direction towards the end, crapping on about young men blah blah blah.

That is why I dislike the Herald Sun. Front page-worthy news is Ron Barassi's moustache, or the fact that the local mayor wears a toupee.
Their articles have pretty pictures, written by fourth graders who heard something from the friend of a friend who knows some person who bumped into a bloke who was using the urinal next to him.

Judgement is there for a reason. I suggest that we all exercise it.

[ILLaViTaR]

Knowing bad drivers, she probably didn't even notice the cops trying to pull her over despite them going in front of her.

[Matt47569]

failing to stop for police is hooning? jeez they're taking this hoon thing too far just to get some more publicity for it all

[Jason[98.EL]]

i cant beleive some of the stuff people are posting

as has been posted above if you fail to pull over for the police you are breaking the law

that is the reason the driver had thier car taken unfortunatly for the driver that falls into the hoon aspect now

from memory there were links posted other times about the laws and i think that if one of the mods or admin can get the right info for all of us and put it in a sticky or the likes we wont see threads like this

my thoughts anyway

Jason

[OLDFORDNUT]

Originally Posted by Jason[98.EL]

i cant beleive some of the stuff people are posting

as has been posted above if you fail to pull over for the police you are breaking the law

that is the reason the driver had thier car taken unfortunatly for the driver that falls into the hoon aspect now

from memory there were links posted other times about the laws and i think that if one of the mods or admin can get the right info for all of us and put it in a sticky or the likes we wont see threads like this

my thoughts anyway

Jason

ARE you serious.
if i break into a shop or house and steal your belonging's that makes me a Criminal but not a hoon, failing to indicate is an offence, does that make me a criminal? or a Hoon?
i DONT think so.
according to our dictionary --
Hoon is a derogatory term used in Australia and New Zealand to refer to a person who engages in loutish, anti-social behaviour. In particular, it is used to refer to one who drives in a manner which is anti-social by the standards of contemporary society, that is, fast, noisily or dangerously. Hoon activities can include speeding, street racing, burnouts, doughnuts or screeching tyres.[1] Those commonly identified as being involved in "hooning" or street racing are young, predominantly male although increasingly female drivers in the age range of 17 and 35 years.[2]
you must be a Do- gooder .
Start using your common sence,
if you think about it sensibly you will realise like most people do that the Hoon laws are being completly ABUSED

[GS608]

how is that being a hoon?

it seems these days anything illegal you do in a car makes you an automatic "hoon"

the words lost all meaning, yes if your speeding by a ridiculous amount, your a hoon, not if you're 10 over.

pulling skids, lighting them up and street racing is hoon material.

it's actually getting quite pathetic.

glad she's off the road though, if she can't see/hear police around her then who knows what else.

[Stattic]

Originally Posted by XR-CHIEF

how is that being a hoon?

it seems these days anything illegal you do in a car makes you an automatic "hoon"

the words lost all meaning, yes if your speeding by a ridiculous amount, your a hoon, not if you're 10 over.

pulling skids, lighting them up and street racing is hoon material.

it's actually getting quite pathetic.

glad she's off the road though, if she can't see/hear police around her then who knows what else.

agreed on all counts
yes she was probably an unsafe driver and she did the wrong thing, whether intentional or just plain poor driving she was not hooning
i did find it hilarious that they had a 'low speed pursuit'!

[Kryton]

This actually happened last week and has already been in our local papers - last week.
Must be hard to get a NEW story these days.

[AGRO]

Reads black and white for me.
They can take a vehicle whenever they deem.
And they will whenever they can, so it justifies this law, by the stats the media report all the time.
It's like, "look we are doing the right thing by introducing this law, as look how many cars we have confiscated since it's introduction". But truth be known, how many of these cars have been confiscated due to actual "hooning", to which this law was bought in for?
That's my 2 cents worth.
AGRO.

[LTDHO]

Dangerous driving is still dangerous, excessively slow speeds is still dangerous. Hoon laws apply. Most people assume that you need a commodore on bumper stops with stockies on the rear to get done. Not true.

Unfortunately this type of driving will continue as it is 99% un-policed.

I have to say out of the last 20 incidents I have reviewed, over half were aged over 60! I don't even specialise in elderly drivers (like APIA for example).

+1 for licence retesting at 60.

[OLDFORDNUT]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

Dangerous driving is still dangerous, excessively slow speeds is still dangerous. Hoon laws apply. Most people assume that you need a commodore on bumper stops with stockies on the rear to get done. Not true.

Unfortunately this type of driving will continue as it is 99% un-policed.

I have to say out of the last 20 incidents I have reviewed, over half were aged over 60! I don't even specialise in elderly drivers (like APIA for example).

+1 for licence retesting at 60.

]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]];;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
The problem is you guys think Police have the rite to escalate these laws anytime they wish.
The Hoon laws were not brought in to ping a driver who makes a mistake while driving,
They were brought in to get dangerous drivers who acted like complete tools off the street.
When are you drivers out there going to realise we are being conditioned to accept anything our Governments decide without any sort of Referendom.
Australia is Fast becoming The very same POLICE STATE most free People around the world despise

+ 2 i agree 100% with you on this one