The suburban burnout may soon be a thing of the past, after Police minister Liza Harvey introduced tough new laws in parliament to target hoon drivers.
Under the new legislation, it would be easier for authorities to permanently confiscate and destroy vehicles from anyone convicted of a hoon offence, including burnouts.
Mrs Harvey said under the new laws, courts could order permanent vehicle confiscation on a first offence if a motorist did any of the following:
- Committed a hoon offence in an active school zone;
- Travelled 90kmh or more above the speed limit; or
- Committed a hoon offence in a 50kmh or less zone (suburban street) which could result in harm or distress, or property damage, including the road.
"These new laws build on our successful existing hoon legislation and initiatives such as covert hoon cameras, which will help enforce the new laws," she said.
"The new laws mean if you put our schoolchildren and residents in danger with your childish and reckless driving, you could lose your car for good.”
Deputy opposition leader Roger Cook criticised how long it had taken the government to introduce the laws, but said Labor would support any legislation that attempted to reduce crime.
“The biggest deterrent to a hoon ... is the threat of getting caught,” he said.
“It doesn't matter how strict the legislation is.
“Under this government we have seen an unprecedented spike in criminal activity and they are simply powerless to do anything about it; we want to see more resources given to police.”
In May, the City of Mandurah poured cold water on a proposal to build a legal burnout pad, which the proponents said would reduce the temptation for illegal hooning behaviour on suburban streets.
But Mandurah acting OIC Sergeant Lloyd Ellis said there was a facility in Kwinana for burnouts.
“The complex in Kwinana is a controlled environment, it has all the insurances in place and it looks after the safety of drivers and the crowds of onlookers,” he said.