TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR OFFENDERS

The State Government continues to implement tougher legislation to help protect Queenslanders.

For too long sentencing has not matched community expectation. We have - 

• Doubled the maximum penalty for serious assault on a police officer from 7 to 14 years.
• Introduced a new offence for the murder of a police officer with a non-parole period of 25 years.
• Increased the non-parole period for murder from 15-20 years imprisonment (for a single murder) and from 20- 30 years imprisonment for multiple murders.
• Introduced tougher penalties to protect children.
• Increased the penalty for offences against children with a mental impairment from 14 years to life imprisonment.
• Increased Child exploitation material offences from 5 years to 14 years imprisonment.
• Increased penalties for Procurement of a child from 5 to 10 years imprisonment.
• Introduced tougher penalties for hoons evading police.
• Increased penalties for evading police to a mandatory $5000 and two years loss of licence.
• Introduced new laws dealing with hooning offences with the first offence incurring an impoundment for 3 months and the second offence within 5 years would have far more serious implications with the offenders vehicle being crushed or forfeited.

Information courtesy Mark Boothman MP, Member for Albert

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Be on the look out for this boat

May 24, 2013 at 2:32 pm by Sergeant Holly James

Police are seeking public assistance in locating the vessel depicted above.   

The Vessel was stolen from the Arundel area and is a yellow 2003 6.4m Four Winns bowrider with Queensland Registration VL906Q. Vessel was stolen with a 2002 Four Winns trailer with Queensland Registration 983QVT.

Police are requesting that anyone who is able to identify this vessel and trailer to contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Police zone in on heavy vehicle drivers

May 20, 2013 at 8:57 am

The Queensland Police Service will conduct a coordinated road policing response, to support the national heavy vehicle Operation AUSTRANS 2013 which launched today.

Operation AUSTRANS 2013 is designed to provide a collaborative multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional approach to target fatigue, drug use and other safety issues.

Inspector Ray Rohweder from State Traffic Support Branch said the Queensland Police Service will participate in the operation by enforcing compliance of road safety and workplace safety-related legislation among heavy vehicle drivers, transport companies and other industry stakeholders.

“The majority of heavy vehicle drivers and businesses take driver safety seriously but the biggest contributing factors in road crashes involving heavy vehicles is driver fatigue,” Inspector Rohweder said.

“It is common for heavy vehicle drivers to be required to cover long distances with tight deadlines and police will be taking a particular interest in drivers suspected of suffering from fatigue, or who may be under the influence of drugs who could potentially endanger other road users.

“We will focus on these contributing factors while ensuring all heavy vehicle drivers are obeying the road rules such as speed compliance, throughout the duration of the operation.”

The operation will run from Monday May 20 to Sunday June 16, inclusive.

From:  myPoliceQPS News

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Obscure laws can sting drivers who don't realize they're facing fines up to $2200

            Source: The Courier-Mail

QUEENSLANDERS can drive in bare feet or thongs without penalty, but let a dog or your arm hang out of the car window and you face a fine up to $2200.Many drivers are clueless about the more obscure road rules and are often shocked when hit with hefty fines, say the state's road safety advocates.

Joel Tucker, senior road safety adviser at the RACQ, warns Queenslanders to brush up on all sections of the law to stay safe on the road.

"The Queensland Road Rules feature over 300 sections, many of which have penalty provisions but there are a number of lesser-known road rules that have fines associated," he said.

"Regardless of whether people think it's a big deal or not, road rules, even the more obscure ones, were created to help keep all road users safe."

·      Examples included rules against driving with animals on laps or opening vehicle doors to create hazards.

·      If a driver lets a dog's head hang out of their car window - or their arm - and they could be up for a steep fine under Queensland's obscure road laws.

·      A ticket could be issued if a dog is enjoying a breeze out the window of the vehicle.

·      Under the "insecure or overhanging load" section of the road rules the Queensland Police Service confirms there could be a maximum penalty of 20 units, i.e., $2200 or an instant $256 ticket fine.

Russell White, road safety advocate and co-founder of the CARMA Road Safety Initiative, says motorists are often surprised when they are pulled over and issued with large fines for these kinds of offences.

·      Failure to show consideration to other drivers is another area where fines can be issued.

·      Motorists who drive in a way that makes unnecessary noise or smoke could be slapped with a $352 fine and lose two demerit points.

·      Unnecessary use of the car horn could land a $66 fine or a maximum penalty of $2200.

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Child rapist walks free

April 23, 2013, 6:18 pm / Derryn Hinch / Today Tonight

Child rapist walks free.
A court has ruled that a man who committed a ghastly crime against a little girl should walk free and unsupervised.

Hans Lester Watt abducted and raped a three-year-old girl.  The 42-year-old was drunk when he took the toddler and assaulted her.

According to Watt it was revenge to get back at the innocent little girl's grandmother whom he claimed had insulted his dead mother.

Watt was jailed for 11 years and was due for release last year.

The Queensland Attorney-General applied to have Watt classified as a dangerous sex offender; Watt would have his jail-term either extended or he would be released with a supervision order.

The court refused the request because the judge found the circumstances were 'unique' - that Watt was not an unacceptable risk.

A psychiatrist said the chances of Watt re-offending were low if he did not drink alcohol; moderate if he did drink and said the best chance of rehabilitation was if he lived in a dry Aboriginal community.

The Attorney-General appealed the judge's decision.

Yesterday the Supreme Court turned him down and upheld the earlier ruling to let a child rapist walk free - unsupervised.

Derryn's verdict: My mantra for years has been - who's looking after the children?  In my opinion, the Queensland Supreme Court certainly is not, this decision is a travesty.

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ANTI-HOON LAWS TOUGHER IN QUEENSLAND

Updated: 10:55, Wednesday April 17, 2013
Serial hoons in Queensland will have their cars crushed or sold after new laws passed State Parliament.

Police Minister, Jack Dempsey, says the laws are the toughest in the country and will stop people driving recklessly and street racing.

A first offence will result in a hoon's car being taken off the roads, while a second offence within five years will see the car either sold or crushed.

'We are telling the people of Queensland that the police now have the legislative tools to truly put the brakes on hoons,' Mr Dempsey said in a statement.

The minister urges people who have a local hooning issue to contact their nearest police station or the Hoon Hotline: 13HOON (134 666).

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Armed robbery offences, Gold Coast

April 9, 2013 at 7:18 am

Police are investigating two linked armed robbery offences that occurred on the Gold Coast overnight.

Around 10.30pm two women were walking along Rankin Avenue at Main Beach when a silver car stopped in front of them.

Two men were in the vehicle with the passenger getting out of the vehicle and making demands for money while armed with a small handgun. A mobile phone was stolen but no money.

A short time later just before 11pm two women were at a bus stop on the Gold Coast Highway near Glenelg Avenue at Mermaid Beach when the same silver vehicle stopped and both men got out of the vehicle and approached the women.

The men tried to grab the women’s handbags. One of the women was pulled to the ground and her handbag stolen. She sustained a cut to her elbow. One of the women has told police she saw a small handgun during the incident.

Police are presently compiling a description of the offenders.

Anyone with information which could assist with this matter should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day.

Crime Stoppers is a registered charity and community volunteer organisation working in partnership with the Queensland Police Service.

For all non-urgent police reporting or general police inquiries contact Policelink on 131 444.

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