Hooning
Part of the Crime topic
Understand what hooning is, and what you must do and cannot do to follow the law in Queensland.
In short
Hooning is a common word for any anti-social behaviour in a motor vehicle. It is illegal in Queensland.
There are serious consequences for breaking the law. You can be fined and imprisoned for hooning offences. The most serious offences, such as driving without due care and attention or street racing, carry a maximum fine of $6,676 or 6 months in jail.
Police have the power to impound vehicles, immobilise and confiscate vehicles involved in hooning offences, even if the vehicle belongs to someone else.
This page provides a summary of Queensland's hooning laws. It's not exhaustive and should not be considered legal advice. Consult with a qualified legal professional for comprehensive information or matter-specific advice.
You must
To comply with the law in Queensland you must:
- follow all road rules and drive responsibly
- ensure your vehicle complies with safety standards
- ensure your vehicle is registered and insured
- report honing or other dangerous driving behaviours to police.
You cannot
To comply with the law in Queensland you cannot:
- drive
- without reasonable consideration for other people
- in a way that makes unnecessary noise or smoke
- an unregistered or uninsured vehicle
- without a valid driver licence
- engage in dangerous or careless driving, such as speeding, street racing or burnouts
- play loud music from a car stereo
- evade police when directed to stop.
Exceptions and special circumstance
If your vehicle is impounded, you may be able to apply to Queensland Police for the early release of the vehicle if:
- Not having the vehicle causes severe financial or physical hardship.
- The cause of the offence has been corrected (e.g. the vehicle now complies with safety standards).
- You are the vehicle owner, and the offence occurred without your consent.
- The impoundment or immobilisation was unreasonable.