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Queensland Getting A Hoon Hotline From December

The Queensland Government is stepping up its commitment to stamping out hoon behaviour, with a new 'hoon hotline' going into action next month.

QLD Police Minister Neil Roberts said this week that the 13 HOON initiative comes as part of Pre


The Queensland Government is stepping up its commitment to stamping out hoon behaviour, with a new 'hoon hotline' going into action next month.

QLD Police Minister Neil Roberts said this week that the 13 HOON initiative comes as part of Premier Anna Bligh's election commitments in 2009.

"Queenslanders told us that they were fed up with hoons taking to our streets doing burn-outs, engaging in illegal drag racing and generally driving in an unsafe manner," Mr Roberts said.

"That's why the government went to the election with a commitment to develop a new police hotline to give Queenslanders a way to report hooning activity.

Queenslanders concerned with dangerous driving will be urged to call the hotline, where operators will request details including the location of the offence and the vehicle's registration and characteristics.

"For hooning incidents actually under way and if there is no immediate danger to anyone, the information obtained by the operator will be forwarded to the designated police operations centre to have police units detailed to respond," Mr Roberts said.

Speaking with the Sunshine Coast Daily this week, Sunshine Coast Traffic Branch Chief Sergeant Terry Mulheran welcomed the project but acknowledged that it will not be a flawless service.

“To get a successful prosecution, we will have to get an admission from the hoon or we will need the person who calls in to give evidence in the court which might scare some people off," Mr Mulheran said.

Mr Mulheran added that without physical evidence or an admission, an attempt to prosecute would not get far.

The launch of the 13 HOON hotline follows the successful trial of a similar initiative in Queensland's Gold Coast region - a campaign that Roberts' predecessor Judy Spence described as "unnecessary."

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