Repeat hooning offenders will automatically lose their cars under new laws that also introduce Tasmania’s first road rage offence.
The Police Offences Amendment Bill 2025 removes judicial discretion for third-time offenders, making vehicle forfeiture mandatory.
Police will also gain stronger powers to seize vehicles for up to 90 days after an alleged offence, instead of acting only at the scene.
The legislation creates a standalone road rage offence targeting drivers who use threatening gestures or abusive behaviour that cause alarm or distress to others.
Penalties will reach up to $10,250 or six months jail for behaviour that leads to property damage, injury, crashes or fear among other road users.
The offence covers threatening words, gestures or actions “calculated or likely to provoke a breach of the peace” while driving or immediately afterwards.
Fines for common assault will rise from a maximum of $4,100 to $10,250, while aggravated assault will double from $10,250 to $20,500.
Property damage penalties will jump from $2,050 to $10,250, with maximum jail terms extended from 12 months to two years.
Drivers who create excessive noise from vehicles could face up to six months in jail, on top of existing fines now capped at $8,200.
Police will also be able to use CCTV, mobile phone videos and other digital evidence in hooning prosecutions.
Tasmania Police clamped or confiscated 650 vehicles in the past financial year, with 96 specifically for hooning activities like burnouts.
Recent operations in problem suburbs Clarendon Vale and Risdon Vale resulted in three vehicles clamped, one motorcycle seized and more than 40 infringement notices in just two weeks.
Police Minister Felix Ellis said the community had long been demanding stronger action.
“Hooning can affect people whether they’re in our cities, our suburbs, our regional towns or out in remote country areas,” he said.
“People doing the wrong thing in their cars put lives at risk.”
He said the reforms will deliver strong measures to enable police to crack down on hoons.
“There’ll be stronger powers and penalties for police to make sure that we can get hoons off the road as well as greater powers to crush and confiscate vehicles,” he said.
Assistant Commissioner Adrian Bodnar urged drivers to change their culture.
“What we need to see is a culture where compliance with the road rules is normalised and it’s expected,” he said.
“I really do plead to the public just to take more responsibility when you’re driving. Please slow down. Please be more attentive and drive to the conditions.”
The legislation had already passed the lower house before the state election.
