Driving with a lead foot Down Under is increasingly likely to get your car turned into a tin can, as authorities continue their battle to keep the 'hoons' in check.
The warning, by Victoria State Police Minister Bob Cameron, came alongside a practical demonstration - as a Holden Commodore belonging to a serial hoon - or boy racer - was crushed flat at a scrap yard.
Proposed changes to the anti-hoon laws would see first-time offenders having their ride impounded for seven days (up from two days), while second-time offenders would have their vehicles removed for at least 20 days, up to a maximum of three months. Mr Cameron also said the changes would make it easier for the cars of third-time offenders to be confiscated.
"We want to crush the spirit of hoons," he added.
"The fact of the matter is, we want there to be hardship, because we do not want our hooning."
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, in the four years since the anti-hoon laws were implemented in some Australian states, police have impounded some 11,370 vehicles. A remarkable 46.3% of these have been from the Aussie Holden marque.
And its Commodore model has something of a reputation as the weapon of choice for Australian speed freaks. In October last year, the driver of one example managed to embed his vehicle in the roof of a Sydney bungalow, after apparently taking to the air from a dirt ramp and cruising over a fence.
However, anti-social driving is by no means limited to cars from Holden. In January it emerged that a Lamborghini Gallardo belonging to a Perth GP had been impounded under anti-hoon laws, after a mechanic had been caught speeding at the wheel.
