VIC:Learner driver caught with nine passengers

AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-2011
VIC:Learner driver caught with nine passengers

MELBOURNE, April 14 AAP - Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu says hoon laws need to be
changed to deal with incidents like the "unbelievable" and "shocking" case of a learner
driver found with nine teenage passengers crammed into his car.

"It's a shocking story," Mr Baillieu said on ABC Radio.

"It's unbelievable in this day and age that somebody could behave like that."

Police said they pulled the 17-year-old driver up for a routine check to find no experienced
driver in the car and nine teenage passengers who had just attended a party.

Police said the sedan was unregistered and also had false number plates when they intercepted
it about 12.25am (AEST) on Thursday.

The youth, from Balnarring, faces charges including being a learner driver without
an experienced driver and driving an unregistered vehicle.

Police have said the incident could not be dealt with under Victoria's hoon laws because
the legislation did not cover this sort of offence.

Mr Baillieu said that if this was the case, the legislation should be changed.

"I think this is the equivalent of what we know as hooning," he said.

"Hooning is where somebody is being grossly irresponsible, putting at risk a large
number of people in a vehicle."

Under Victoria's anti-hoon laws, cars can be impounded and, in extreme cases, crushed.

AAP mok/gfr/apm

KEYWORD: LEARNER

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