ACT Police have been given new powers to stamp out dangerous driving following Canberra’s worst yearly road toll in a decade in 2022.
Minister for Transport and City Services, Chris Steel, announced the new laws which give police the power to immediately suspend driver licences and seize vehicles.
“The changes mean that if an offender exceeds a posted speed limit by more than 45 kilometres per hour, they will be now issued with an immediate licence suspension by ACT Police,” Mr Steel said.
“In an ACT first, police will also be granted the power to seize and impound a vehicle caught speeding more than 45 kilometres over the limit,” he said.
“Under these changes, people repeatedly engaging racing and hooning behaviour could also face a court imposed penalty of up to $16,000 or a 12-month prison sentence.”
Mr Steel said first-time offenders could face the same penalty if the behaviour was aggravated, for example, if they had a minor in the car when committing the offence.
He said the new laws would also require medical practitioners to report information related to a person’s fitness to drive to the road transport authority (RTA).
The Minister said this new regulation making power followed recommendations from the Coronial Inquiry into the tragic death of Blake Corney.
“Later this year the ACT Government will also roll out a community education and awareness campaign focused on dangerous driving behaviours,” Mr Steel said.
“The campaign will highlight the Government’s zero tolerance stand on dangerous driving and make the community aware of the potential penalties they will face.”
