Clamping and Impounding Laws

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (15:01): My question is to the Minister for Police. Can the minister update the council on the effectiveness of laws allowing police to clamp and impound cars since they were strengthened in 2010?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (15:01): Let me thank the honourable member for her question and acknowledge her ongoing commitment to community safety generally.

As this council would be aware, in October 2010 the government significantly strengthened legislation allowing police the power to impound or clamp cars for a number of prescribed offences. These offences include dangerous driving, drink or drug driving, driving while disqualified or without a licence, repeat driving unregistered and damage to property, including graffiti. Dangerous driving will not be tolerated on South Australian roads, and strengthening the laws has sent a clear message to the community that the government and South Australian police are cracking down on those who endanger innocent lives behind the wheel of a car.

Since 2010, police have been actively utilising these extended powers provided by the government and the parliament. Police have clamped or impounded nearly 45,000 vehicles, with drivers of these vehicles facing charges for serious driving offences. I have no doubt that the laws have had an impact on deterring hoon drivers and improving road safety. In fact, we have seen a 35 per cent reduction in the number of people caught hoon driving over the course of the last four years.

Yesterday, at the instruction of the Commissioner of Police, two cars and a motorbike were publicly crushed to remind the community that dangerous driving will not be tolerated. Since 2010, 11 vehicles have been publicly crushed, plus those ones from yesterday—an action taken to raise public awareness about the seriousness of dangerous driving offences. One of these vehicles had been involved in a street racing offence in Port Augusta, while the drivers of the motorbike and other car had been charged with drink or drug driving and driving unlicensed.

The majority of cars that are clamped or impounded are returned to their owners, sold with proceeds going to victims of crime or destroyed in a more discreet manner. Legislation allows police to dispose of a vehicle subject to forfeiture or if impounded and not collected within two months. Last year, 6,313 cars were impounded or clamped in South Australia. Of these, 60 were uncollected and sold at auction, 487 were uncollected and destroyed, three were sold at auction at the instruction of the Commissioner of Police, five were released to the sheriff and the remainder were released back to the owner.

The last public crushing took place in the 2013-14 financial year and, as such, the Commissioner of Police and I felt it was time for a highly visible reminder of our road safety laws through a public crushing. With the Easter long weekend approaching, bringing with it a heightened road safety risk, there is no better time to remind drivers about the consequences of dangerous driving. The act of a public crushing sends a strong message to the community that offences such as hoon driving, dangerous driving and drink and drug driving are unacceptable and will be dealt with accordingly.

As stated, the driver of one of the cars, which was publicly crushed yesterday, was charged with drug driving. While the incidence of hoon driving has dropped in recent years, we are seeing an increasing number of people being caught with drugs while driving. These offenders face having their cars clamped and impounded, while also facing other serious penalties. Drug driving is an issue that I am particularly passionate about addressing. While police will continue to use their powers within these laws to come down hard on drug drivers, we also have a range of other policy and enforceable measures in motion to address the rise in drug driving on our roads.

The state government is determined to drive a decline in drug-driving behaviours. We have achieved significant declines regarding drink-driving. We have seen a substantial shift in community attitudes towards drink-driving. It is now increasingly important that we repeat the same success with respect to drug driving. The strengthening of our dangerous driving laws has certainly contributed to improving road safety in South Australia and police will continue to utilise their powers to maximum effect. The message is clear: drug driving will not be tolerated.

Last year, of course, was the lowest year in the state's record keeping in terms of road deaths. We had the lowest road toll in calendar year 2016 that we have had in our history. We have to try to repeat that effort, but that demands continuous improvement, which is why every effort is necessary to ensure that our roads remain safe.