South Australians have been told to slow down or risk having their licences immediately revoked.
Lead-foots will instantly lose their privilege to drive for two years if they are discovered driving at “high speeds” — 55 km/h or more above the speed limit in a zone designated 60 km/h or less.
Offenders who are found guilty additionally face a possible three-year prison sentence.
In a zone designated for speeds above 60 km/h, exceeding the speed restriction by at least 80 km/h results in automatic licence suspension.
Serial speeders receive a five-year driving restriction and a five-year prison sentence for a second such offence on each charge.
People who use a motor vehicle to cause death are likewise subject to the penalties.
According to police, the severe fines will deter individuals from driving at unsafe speeds.
Traffic Services Superintendent Bob Gray stated, “These fines send a clear message to anyone who choose to chose to jeopardise the safety of other innocent members of the community by driving at great speed.”
Police will classify reckless driving as a crime and prosecute offenders accordingly.
Since the new legislation went into force this past weekend, two individuals have already been caught exceeding the speed limit.
A 17-year-old was detained on Sunday night after reportedly travelling at up to 200 km/h.
When a Ford car was seen driving close to Adelaide’s CBD and northern suburbs, police made an effort to stop it. However, the youngster fled before being caught on the city’s outskirts.
Officers spiked the tyres of the teenager’s automobile after a police aircraft followed it.
Before being apprehended by authorities on the spot, the driver and the other four passengers fled the vehicle.
The adolescent was accused with aggravated high speeding, failure to stop, reckless driving to avoid a police chase, and driving while ineligible.
He was given a bond date of September 30 to show up in front of Elizabeth Youth Court.
A 55-year-old man was also detained on Sunday afternoon in the state’s mid-north after being caught driving 180 km/h in a 100 km/h zone.
The motorist was stopped at Yunta after he failed to stop at Ucolta and was discovered to be in possession of a temporary licence. His blood alcohol level was 0.070.
He had been denied bail and was scheduled to appear in court on Monday in Port Pirie.
Superintendent Gray said that the consequences “send a clear message to anyone who choose to chose to jeopardise the safety of other innocent members of the community by driving at tremendous speed.”
Police will classify reckless driving as a crime and prosecute offenders accordingly.