Minister for Police and Emergency Services Kim Wells recently announced that SES and CFA members will use the Jaws of Life on forfeited hoon cars to train for road accident rescues.
“The Victorian Coalition Government and Victoria Police have made a commitment to creating a safer road system in Victoria and we see the removal of these hoon cars from our roads for practical training for our SES and CFA members as a fantastic opportunity,” Mr Wells said.
Mr Wells said Victoria Police will now begin donating forfeited or abandoned vehicles to the SES and increase the number of cars donated to CFA over the coming months until both emergency services organisations will begin regularly receiving forfeited vehicles for training purposes. Wells added that the Victoria SES is the largest road rescue service in Victoria with 102 road crash units across the state.
“SES attends up to 1,200 road rescues each year so these vehicles will provide SES members with real-life experience in freeing people trapped in vehicles,” Mr Wells said.
Mr Wells explained Hoons who refuse to pay their fines and impoundment costs at the expiry of the impoundment period will have their vehicle deemed abandoned and it will become the property of Victoria Police. Wells added that according to the Road Safety Act 1986 gives the Chief Commissioner of Police the authority to sell, by public auction or tender, or otherwise dispose of a motor vehicle that is the subject of a forfeiture order.