Repeat offender's vehicle crushed

Albany police will crush the four-wheel-drive of a repeat driving offender after Albany Magistrate’s Court ordered the vehicle be permanently confiscated.

In court last Thursday, Magistrate Elizabeth Hamilton gave police permission to take 40-year-old Mike Harrer’s Toyota Land Cruiser from him for good after he was caught driving for the eighth time without a valid licence last November.

Harrer had faced eight charges of driving under suspension since 2009 as well as multiple licence suspensions for drink driving and failing to pay fines.

Police have begun cracking down on drivers who ignore court-imposed licence suspensions and want Harrer’s case to serve as a warning.

Senior Constable Drue Pardoe said police would continue to pursue permanent vehicle confiscation if people repeatedly flouted traffic laws.

“We are actively targeting people driving under court-imposed licence disqualifications with a view to having their cars permanently confiscated,” he said.

“We are taking it a step further because these people don’t deserve to be able to drive on our roads.

“There are a number of people being investigated at the moment.”

Under impounding legislation, motorists caught driving without a valid licence can have their car immediately impounded for 28 days.

Police can make an application to seize permanently the vehicles of drivers caught without a licence three or more times 8within a five-year period.

Snr Const. Pardoe said police were currently pursuing a further two applications for long-term vehicle confiscations.

Harrer’s vehicle will be crushed in the next fortnight.

Also on Thursday, a 26-year-old woman facing her fifth count of driving without a licence had her hearing deferred for legal advice.

Meanwhile, a 29-year-old Albany man charged for driving an unlicensed vehicle while under a court-imposed driver’s licence disqualification will appear in Albany Magistrate’s Court late next month.

Police said they were disgusted to find the man and his partner had a four-week-old infant unrestrained in the car when it was stopped.

Under new seatbelt laws, a driver can face a penalty of up to $900 for carrying unrestrained passengers.

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