Running From The Law

[Guest XR09]

So you think your fast enough. Now you will have time to think about it if you weren't.

The NSW government has vowed to "come down hard" on people who spark high-speed car chases by imposing jail terms of three years for a first offence.

Repeat offenders will face five years' imprisonment under new laws approved by state cabinet on Tuesday.

The laws will serve as a powerful deterrent to motorists who may be tempted to flee from police, NSW Premier Kristina Keneally says.

"We are giving police the laws they need to come down hard on criminals who recklessly place the lives of officers and the public at risk," she told reporters.

The legislation is expected to be known as Skye's Law, after 19-month-old Skye Sassine who was killed on New Year's Eve as police were pursuing two alleged robbers on a highway in Sydney's southwest.

The fleeing men's car collided with her parents' Subaru on the Hume Highway at Ingleburn.

Skye, who was strapped into a capsule in the rear seat, was killed in the crash.

Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell says the coalition will back the changes when they are introduced to parliament.

"Today's announcement is welcome," Mr O'Farrell told reporters.

"It's worth reminding people that this proposal originated with a former highway patrolman in (opposition police spokesman) Mike Gallacher," he said.

"Frankly, the acceptance of Mike Gallacher's idea today is state politics as it ought to work."

The NSW Police Association said it was "good to see the new premier is listening and taking positive action to protect our streets".

"We would have preferred to see mandatory sentencing included but at least this is a step in the right direction," the association said in a statement.

"Stronger laws are definitely a positive step - even if they prevent just one life from being lost."

[_Spin_]

Fortunately, there`s no such thing as a high speed chase in QLD. Or even a low speed chase. The Cap Com or whatever the radio controller is called practically starts crying for the pursueing police to STOP! DISENGAGE!!! Get out of the car and run in the oppisite direction!!!!

But apparently its okay to be in some 300 kw car and clock someone doing 10 kph over the limit going the other way, turn around and do 180 to catch them and issue them with a speeding infringement.

Or perhaps even be in some VY SS ute with windows tinted so dark it looks like a hearse and taunt folk into racing them and then, issueing them with an infringement..

While I agree, chases serve no real purpose other than to get people killed, Inocent bystanders, Police and crims, I`ve got to wonder about the other stuff.

[trevs]

its was only a matter time befor this happed why you may ask simple

over the last few years fines have increased , speed cameras are everywhere , police have cameras to detect if a car has no rego and or an unlicensed driver and anti hoon laws added to this ppl can lose their car for driving like idoits and so they should if guilty

im only guessing but I reckon with so much to lose these days with pulling over once a crime has been comitted more people are thinking f*ck it im going to try an get away and up untill today although id never do it myself I can see some idoits train of thinking

I just hope for everybodys sake the same criminals these laws are made to stop dont think will f*ck im doing 3 to 5 years if im caught or ill just kill the officer and worse case do ten years after being granted parole ( for dare I say it good behaviour )

I dont have the answers for these problems but maybe the police thinking there in a race chasing half these iodits could have something to do with it

I cant speak for evverbody but I know of late when ever ive been pulled over the the cop car comes flying up my ass like their trying for first place at Eastern Creek on the weekend

ever noticed how long it takes highway patrol to get back in the car after doing speed tests on the side of the road only to come flying along five minutes later looking important doing twice the speed limit to catch up

cheers trev

Edited 02/02/10 08:27 AM by trevs

[ZAP]

With the way our courts work here in NSW, I bet nobody gets 3 years for this offence.

It is all well and good to have these laws, but the stupid judges that have NFI about reality never seem to impose the maximum sentances.

It should be mandatory sentancing of 3 years without parole, then it would be a deterrant.

[Guest XR09]

It's been a maximum of one year in NSW for ages.

Only one poor kid in Dubbo who did stop has gone to jail. He got three months.

And yep Trev a guy who has just shoved a sawn off in a bank teller face is looking at 7 to 10 so he wont give a rats about the law.

Ps I have put your idea in front of every minister,cop and reginal speeding comitee I have the number for. ( flashing lights and cameras in school zones) See how we go.

This law is still in parliment and the wallies are pushing for it to be mandatory. But I doubt it will go through.

Edited 02/02/10 08:56 AM by XR09

[seventytwo]

You get or are suppose to get stiff sentences for murder and robberies, but still people are killed and banks are knocked over, these new laws will change nothing, those that think they can get away or desperate to get away will still run.

[trevs]

Ps I have put your idea in front of every minister,cop and reginal speeding comitee I have the number for. ( flashing lights and cameras in school zones) See how we go.

ok cool hopefully somebody spends the time to review it and can see they can still make the money their after but also help keep kids safe at the same time

instead of ripping the public blind again with little to no benefit beides financial gain .......the real reason the original camera locations would have been picked

Edited 02/02/10 09:15 AM by trevs

[tab]

  On 02/02/2010 at 8:54 AM, seventytwo said:

You get or are suppose to get stiff sentences for murder and robberies, but still people are killed and banks are knocked over, these new laws will change nothing, those that think they can get away or desperate to get away will still run.

Nothing is ever a deterrent if you're brain dead or just completely f*cked up beyond all sense of reasoning.

Good headline grab for a premier struggling in the popularity contest though, wonder if Spanna Bligh will introduce the same concept up here.

[arjey]

you are just too old to understand tab..

[pharkit]

It wont work. It will only make them stick their middle finger to authorities even higher. Its not about stoping high speed crashes, its about the new premier trying to win the law and order vote with the public. Its to make her appear tough and resolute. Its got nothing to do with saftey.