HOON DRIVING

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (14:50): My question is to the Minister for Police, and I congratulate him on his fine stewardship of the portfolio. Is the minister aware of the blight caused by hoon drivers on South Australia's roads, and what is being done to deter these idiots?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (14:50): I thank the honourable member for his compliment and his question, because I am pleased to inform him that more than 3,000 drivers have had their cars impounded or clamped since South Australia's tough anti-hoon laws were introduced back in 2005.

What we are doing by clamping these cars and taking them off the road is sending a strong and clear message to these ratbags that this government will not tolerate their reckless behaviour. These idiots ruin people's quality of life with their dangerous, anti-social behaviour, and we are hitting them where it hurts most by taking their pride and joy off the road. The anti-hoon laws have also been widened to include more offences that can lead to police impounding vehicles, and this means that more cars are now being taken off the road. The wider range of offences includes driving an uninsured or unregistered vehicle, drug driving and graffiti vandalism.

I take this opportunity to congratulate our dedicated police men and women in their efforts in targeting this crime and impounding or clamping more of these cars. Unlike the opposition, which constantly questions the performance of South Australia's police, I would like to give our hard working police officers credit where it is due. I point out that 24 hours have now gone by since I challenged the Hon. Mr Ridgway to get off the back of police and nominate a recruitment target for boosting police numbers. He is quick off the mark to condemn the performance of our police but, when it comes to saying what he would do, we hear nothing but silence.

The anti-hoon laws introduced by the Rann Labor government are also part of a broader strategy to reduce the number of road accidents in South Australia. Not only do we want to take these hoons off the road but we also want to encourage a change in behaviour, particularly among teenaged drivers, who are the least experienced behind the wheel but who are also the most vulnerable to the lure of showing off in front of their mates. I am pleased to say that that message seems to have been getting through. Official statistics show the number of road offences committed by drivers aged 19 and under in South Australia has continued to fall each year since the introduction of the anti-hoon laws in 2005.

The total number of offences involving drivers aged 19 and under fell to 15,427 in the 12 months to 30 June 2008, a fall of more than 4.5 per cent from the 2006-07 financial year and a reduction of almost 20 per cent since 2004-05.

The South Australian community can also play a part in reducing this sort of anti-social behaviour. By contacting SAPOL's Traffic Watch line on 131 444 if they witness hoon or any other irresponsible driving they can help police take these idiots off the road. The information provided through Traffic Watch will assist police to effectively target this type of dangerous behaviour. Since Traffic Watch began in May 2006, 25,738 complaints have been received, resulting in 3,613 cautionary letters, and a further 833 complaints were allocated to local service areas for follow-up investigation, resulting in eight arrests, 43 reports, 118 cautions and five defects.

So, my message to those who continue to drive like idiots is: not only do you risk having your car impounded or clamped for up to 90 days but also you could have your car seized and sold, with any profits going to the Victims of Crime Fund.