Difficult to ID drivers who evade police

MORE than two-thirds of vehicles clamped or confiscated following police evasions — now totalling 1627 — either did not belong to, or were dumped by, an elusive offender, new figures reveal.

Figures obtained from Tasmania Police show hundreds of offenders are using stolen vehicles and those owned by their mates and family to evade police and, in some cases, are getting them confiscated.

Since 2009, when the laws were enacted, there have been 2326 vehicle clamping and confiscation records for primarily evading police, of which: 809 HAD a person different from the offender listed as the owner. 818 CASES where either the offender or the owner could not be “identified satisfactorily’’.

Tasmania Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Brett Smith said there was a significant proportion of evasion offences where the offender was not identified and, in many cases, the vehicles were owned by others.

However, tough new laws would target evaders who did a runner after dumping the vehicle, he said.

“In certain circumstances, vehicles will now be automatically forfeited to the Crown and police will also have the power to clamp or confiscate a vehicle until the driver of the vehicle at the time of the offending is identified,’’ Mr Smith said.

The police figures provided to the Mercury also show the number of reckless driving, excessive speeding and evader repeat offenders caught by police has reached alarming levels in the past financial year.

A total of 157 offenders have had their vehicles clamped or confiscated indefinitely, having offended more than twice.

And 86 persons offended twice in the 12-month period, leading to vehicles being locked up for 90 days.

Mr Smith said the number of vehicles seized had created an ongoing logistical challenge at police storage compounds.

He said of the 164 courtordered forfeitures since 2009, most of the vehicles were not worth selling.

“Many seized vehicles are unroadworthy and unregistered and not of any real value,’’ he said. “Any funds raised go towards cost recovery, for example, towing costs.

“The vast majority of forfeited vehicles are considered valueless and are provided to the SES/Tasmania Fire Service for training purposes.’’

Courts have the power to impose a large monetary penalty on repeat offenders caught using someone else’s vehicle.