NSW: Police clamp wheels of alleged street race cars
13 Jan 2009 1:40 PM
SYDNEY, Jan 13 AAP - Police have clamped the wheels of two cars involved in an alleged street race in Sydney.
About 12.30am (AEDT) on Sunday, two Mitsubishi FTO sports cars accelerated away from an intersection on Orange Grove Rd in Liverpool and attempted to overtake each other at high speed on the Hume Highway, police said.
The alleged race was witnessed by police in two unmarked cars, who had stopped behind them at a set of lights, and the cars involved were seized.
A 17-year-old P2 provisional driver from Blair Athol, near Campbelltown, and a 19-year-old P1 provisional driver from Figtree, in Wollongong, were charged with street racing offences.
They have been ordered to appear before Liverpool Local Court on February 26.
On Tuesday morning, their cars were returned to them by police, with the wheels clamped.
They will be required to pay the cost of the clamping and the cost of releasing the clamps at the end of the mandatory three-month period.
Any attempt to tamper with the wheel locks is punishable by a fine of $2,200.
It is the first time police have used the clamping provisions of the NSW Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Car Hoons) Act 2008.
Police Traffic Services Commander John Hartley said the presence of their clamped vehicles at home provided offenders with a daily reminder of their actions.
"While a first offence would see your car confiscated for three months, if you re-offend you run the risk of police removing your pride and joy for good," Chief Supt Hartley said.
Clamping is currently being trialled in the Liverpool and Wollongong local commands and will be adopted across NSW if it is successful.
