Fast penalties for ‘extreme speed’
SA drivers will immediately lose their licences and face hefty jail terms for “extreme speed” under new laws which came into effect today.
Photo: Tony Lewis/InDaily
Extreme speed is classed as 55km/h or more above the limit in a 60 or less zone, or 80km/h or more above the limit in a zone marked 60 and above.
Police will be able to immediately disqualify the licences of drivers and those convicted will face penalties of up to three years jail from Monday.
In certain circumstances the maximum penalty is up to five-years jail, with a mandatory minimum licence disqualification for five years.
Traffic Services Superintendent Bob Gray said the penalties are consistent with the criminal nature of the offence.
“These penalties send a strong message to people who choose to threaten the safety of other innocent members of the community by driving at extreme speed,” Supt Gray said.
“Driving in a way that endangers lives is a criminal act and will be treated as such by police.”
Repeat offenders will face disqualification periods of five years for subsequent offences.
The maximum penalty is up to five years imprisonment with a mandatory minimum licence disqualification for five years.
On Sunday night a 17-year-old man from Salisbury Downs was arrested after allegedly driving at speeds of up to 200km/h.
Police attempted to stop a Ford sedan after it was detected speeding near Adelaide’s CBD and northern suburbs but the teen sped off before being intercepted on Adelaide’s outskirts.
A police helicopter tracked the teen’s car and officers spiked the tyres.
The driver and four others abandoned the car before being detained by police at the scene.
The teen was charged with aggravated extreme speed, failing to stop, driving dangerously to escape police pursuit and driving while suspended.
He was bailed to appear in the Elizabeth Youth Court on September 30.
A 55-year-old man from Broken Hill was arrested in the state’s mid-north on Sunday afternoon, after he was clocked at 180km/h in a 100km/h zone.
The driver refused to stop at Ucolta but was intercepted at Yunta where he returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.070 and was found to be the holder of a provisional licence.
He was refused bail and was due to appear at Port Pirie Magistrates Court on Monday.
-AAP
