A west Australian dealer has failed in his appeal to get back a car back impounded under ‘Anti Hoon’ legislation. Victorian Park Auto Classic dealer principal Darrin Brandon has had his yard’s sole demonstrator Mini Cooper S impounded for 28 days after a test driver was allegedly caught doing 170km/h down the Rowe Highway on January 30.

Under Western Australia’s tough anti-hoon laws, police can impound any car exceeding the speed limit by more than 60km/h, even if it is not the property of the driver.

”We feel a bit hard done by,” Brandon told WA Today. “Unfortunately we lent a car to someone and they behaved badly and now we have had it confiscated with no great loss to him (test driver).”

Brandon has been told he did not qualify for the hardship provisions of the laws. Early release can be granted for medical reasons but not inconvenience.

“But I think if you don’t submit it you haven’t taken all avenues and that leaves us open for people to comment that we could have applied and we chose not to.

“We just want our vehicle back to continue business and to also have the law changed.”

“As police have pointed out to me, they don’t have any choice as that’s the law that stands today. Rob (Johnson) can’t introduce the changes until parliament resumes on Febuary 23,” he told WA today.

WA Police Minister Rob Johnson admitted the legislation needed to be amended but continued tostand by the laws.

“It is impossible to consider every contingency with any legislation. This is why I agreed to amend the legislation,” he told WA Today.

“The amendments we are planning will cover this contingency but I can’t get those through until parliament resumes at which time I will be seeking to introduce them as a matter of urgency.”

source: Autofile