NSW: Harsher Penalties Under Consideration For High-Speed Pursuit Offenders

[shakespeare]

NSW PREMIER Kristina Keneally said this week that she is considering introducing harsher penalties for high-speed pursuit offenders.

Under current laws, drivers who fail to stop for police face a maximum jail sentence of 12 months. Ms Keneally said that a more powerful deterrent is needed. If enacted, the new laws could see offenders jailed for three to five years, regardless of the pursuit's outcome or whether anyone is hurt.

NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos said the law would be similar to existing legislation in Queensland and South Australia.


"The evidence that we have is that it certainly has been effective in other jurisdictions - there's been drop off, particularly in Queensland in recent times, quite a significant one, and whether it's due to that law or a greater awareness of road safety is difficult to be able to judge," Mr Hatzistergos told the ABC.

"But in any event, the most recent statistics show there has been a significant drop off there."


The news comes after a New Year's Eve chase saw two-year-old Skye Sassine killed when two alleged robbers collided with the back of her family's car during a police pursuit in Ingleburn.

Ms Keneally said the new legislation would be known as Skye's law, in recognition of her passing.

In response to claims that the new laws would do nothing to deter offenders, New South Wales Police Association President Scott Weber said that simply banning police from pursuing offenders on the road would be unreasonable.


"Being a serving police officer and being out on the road there for 15 years and speaking to the highway patrol officers that go day in, day out, trying to enforce our traffic laws, they know as soon as you do that, and there's no punishment in regards to speeding away from police, or to committing a minor speeding offence, or going through a red light, it's just open slather," he said.


Ms Keneally will introduce the laws to parliament this month. Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell said the coalition will back the changes when introduced.


"Today's announcement is welcome," Mr O'Farrell told AAP.

"It's worth reminding people that this proposal originated with a former highway patrolman in (opposition police spokesman) Mike Gallacher," he said.

"Frankly, the acceptance of Mike Gallacher's idea today is state politics as it ought to work."

[Source: TMR]

[240MPS]

Go for it I welcome it...

[rd415]

Me too - good idea.

Those oldies on the forum - Have you noticed that generally drivers are now slower than 20 years ago? (excuse the term of endearment).

When I first moved from Sydney to Central West NSW everyone, including myself drove at around 130 kph on open country roads. It is fairly noticable that most drive at the speed limit now - even a few K's slower (probably due to common speedo error).

It's funny now driving in Sydney, I am used to a 50kph limit through country towns - in Sydney I get overtaken by everybody.

[tricache]

Will be interesting to see if it actually works...if people want to speed they will, there is no "ifs" or "butts" about it.

I honestly think they need to start showing some of the results of speeding to new drivers, show them some of the accidents and victims of what happens when you drive like a tool...that certainly slowed me up a bit, having a mate who's dad is a accident investigation officer and seeing some of those photos and hearing the stories definatly shocks the system a bit.

[bd581]

Problem is a lot of young people just have no respect or common sence, they would just see it as a joke and not care "that won't happen to me"
but I agree, shock factor, though it won't work for everybody, will work for some, and that's better than none at all.
But in today's world of political correctness there is no way anything like that will happen

I remember my old boss telling me that when he was a kid he was picked up by the police and taken to the morgue. Slowed him down

[LILZLR]

Good on em, about time they stand up

[MPShiv]

Why does everyone automatically think it is young people all the time?

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUNG PEOPLE!!! This has to do with people EVADING POLICE!


This is a good deterrent for would be thieves and getaway drivers etc. It Won't stop young people from killing themselves on the road.

What will REDUCE the number of YOUNG deaths on the road is more easily/readily accessible motorsports venues to drive thier cars fast in safe condiitons. I know i would gladly pay 200 bucks for 2 hours to fang my car around a track, as would so many others.

Speeding criminals need to be deterred from high speed chases and this is a very good move.

[tricache]

Why does everyone automatically think it is young people all the time?

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUNG PEOPLE!!! This has to do with people EVADING POLICE!


This is a good deterrent for would be thieves and getaway drivers etc. It Won't stop young people from killing themselves on the road.

What will REDUCE the number of YOUNG deaths on the road is more easily/readily accessible motorsports venues to drive thier cars fast in safe condiitons. I know i would gladly pay 200 bucks for 2 hours to fang my car around a track, as would so many others.

Speeding criminals need to be deterred from high speed chases and this is a very good move.

Because prevention is better than a cure...better to get younger drivers and get them on a good driving road, bad pun I know, and not have them turn into what they are now trying to stop.

Like I said before...if people are going to speed and avoid cops they are going to do it no matter what.

[STEALTH_MPS]

im all for this...ive seen about 3 times a few young drivers and im talking about 18-25yr olds still on their p's and theyve tried to outrun a cop. they are just digging themselves an even bigger hole by doing it. just stop take wat the cop gives them on the chin which wont really be that much in comparison if they try outrun them and get along with your lives instead of making it worse for themselves and putting themselves out of pocket by paying for court fees and even spending time in jail.

[Nirvandan]

Why does everyone automatically think it is young people all the time?

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUNG PEOPLE!!! This has to do with people EVADING POLICE!


This is a good deterrent for would be thieves and getaway drivers etc. It Won't stop young people from killing themselves on the road.

What will REDUCE the number of YOUNG deaths on the road is more easily/readily accessible motorsports venues to drive thier cars fast in safe condiitons. I know i would gladly pay 200 bucks for 2 hours to fang my car around a track, as would so many others.

Speeding criminals need to be deterred from high speed chases and this is a very good move.

Im with you there, harsher penalties for people who fail to stop, full stop.

Drama anyone