Police from Shoalhaven Local Area Command have announced a blitz to target dangerous drivers on the south coast, declaring they’re planning to throw the book at repeat offenders, NSW Police say.
Police say they’re fed up with groups of drivers conducting ‘burn-outs’ and other reckless acts on public roads, particularly in the Huskisson area, south of Nowra.
"Enough is enough," Chief Inspector Steve Johnson said.
"We have had a gutful of arrogant drivers attending clandestine meets and terrorising our community with their illegal activities," he said.
"Hoon is too gentle a word for these offenders, they’re dangerous.
"We recently issued multiple traffic infringements to a 23-year-old Bomaderry mother caught doing burn-outs in school zones.
"It’s the fourth time she’s been caught "hooning" and driving with defects on her car in recent times, earning herself more than $1,500 in fines and the loss of eight demerit points.
"Instructions have been given to police conducting "Operation Henson" within the Shoalhaven Command to apply the full weight of the law against these drivers who are tearing up the streets, risking the safety of nearby residents and passers-by.
"From now on, there will be no more warnings and no discretion applied by our officers...we’ll be throwing the book at them until these antics stop," Chief Inspector Johnson added.
"We’ve got local roads covered in burn-out marks and the community deserves to be protected.
Shoalhaven Police want the community to dob in reckless drivers and report any illegal meets.
"At the end of the day, the community is our eyes and ears and in addition to our own patrols, we’ll be relying on the public to tell about any dangerous driving behaviour it sees.
"Many of these drivers are behind the wheels of unregistered and uninsured vehicles and then they just dump them after they’ve finished their burn-out sessions," Chief Inspector Johnson said, "We’ll be making them accountable for those abandoned cars."
Chief Inspector Johnson said the high speed ‘donuts,’ street-racing and other illegal acts pose an unacceptable risk to everyone involved.
"These drivers could easily lose control of their cars and hurt themselves or slam into bystanders."
Shoalhaven Police warn the drivers are now facing arrest, criminal records, hefty fines and long-term loss of their licences if they don’t heed the warnings and stop the illegal behaviour.
Police are urging anyone with information in relation to dangerous driving incidents to call Crime Stoppers.
