Joint Statement: ROCK THROWERS TO BE TARGETED BY NEW LEGISLATION

[ozbob]

Joint Statement:

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh

Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations
The Honourable Cameron Dick
05/04/2009

ROCK THROWERS TO BE TARGETED BY NEW LEGISLATION

A new law to target offenders who throw rocks off bridges at vehicles is planned by the new Bligh Government.

Premier Anna Bligh and Attorney-General Cameron Dick said the new legislation would target offenders who endangered the safe use of a vehicle, including throwing rocks at cars.

The offence would have a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment regardless of whether someone was hurt in an incident.

"We want to send a clear message and a clear deterrent to the idiots that commit these offences," said the Premier.

"If you throw a rock over a bridge on someone driving a car, you endanger their life and the lives of others, whether you mean to or not.

"What we are saying is that if you do this sort of thing it is an offence that could cost you at least two years of your life in jail.

"This new offence will provide police with a further charging option, particularly in less serious cases, where by sheer luck, the reckless action does not result in an injury."

In the past few weeks alone there have been a number of incidents in Queensland where rocks have been thrown at vehicles.

On March 22 rocks were thrown at two Brisbane ambulances and on 26 March a rock was thrown at a bus travelling in Alexandra Hills, smashing a window and causing injury to a female passenger.

In a further incident a truck driver suffered eye injuries when his windscreen was smashed by a rock as he was driving on a motor way.

The Attorney-General said that New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory have already enacted specific offences related to throwing rocks or other objects at vehicles, and the new Queensland offence would cover this same conduct.

"Queensland has not been standing still on this issue. Last year we brought in the new offence of endangering the safe use of vehicles with intent, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and covers the more serious end of the spectrum," said Mr Dick.

"This new offence will cover the lower end offences, where a person may not act with malicious intent, but still acts with gross stupidity and little regard for others in our community.

"The message here is clear - throwing rocks at vehicles is never a joke. It is deadly, reckless behaviour.

"When people are driving on Queensland's roads, they should not have to fear rocks being thrown at their vehicle.

"This offence is a key element in a full suite of offences - also including manslaughter, murder, and willful damage - that will operate to punish such idiotic behaviour."

The new Queensland legislation could capture behaviour such as:

? Where a person throws a rock from a highway overpass where the traffic is visible in the distance but is not in the immediate vicinity; or

? Where a person places a concrete slab or other object onto the highway and there a is potential that it could be hit by a vehicle traveling at high speeds.

The pointing of lasers at vehicles could also be captured under this offence.

Premier Bligh said the matter will be taken to cabinet on Monday.

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[ozbob]

I would like to see this expanded to include buses, ferries and trains too.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Hoons who throw rocks face two years jail

Hoons who throw rocks face two years jail
Article from: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

By Darrell Giles

April 04, 2009 11:00pm

HOONS who throw rocks and other dangerous objects off road bridges and overpasses at passing cars will face two years jail under tough new laws being considered by the State Government.

Offenders are rarely caught but even if they are, under current laws, police must prove they intended to endanger a motorist's life before they face a prison sentence.

The law changes will mean jail, regardless of whether or not someone was hurt.

The legislation will also target offenders who aim laser pointers at aircraft, an alarming practice that can temporarily blind pilots.

Similar acts against the drivers of trains, ferries and other marine craft or vehicles will also be covered.

Premier Anna Bligh and Attorney-General Cameron Dick will present the changes to Cabinet tomorrow and to Parliament when it resumes on April 21.

"We want to send a clear message and a clear deterrent to the idiots that commit these offences," Ms Bligh said.

"If you throw a rock over a bridge on someone driving a car, you endanger their life and the lives of others, whether you mean to or not.

"What we are saying is if you do this sort of thing it is an offence that could cost at least two years of your life in jail."

There have been numerous recent incidents of rock attacks in Queensland, including:

March 28: Motorists on the M1 near Wet'n'Wild were pelted with rocks thrown from a pedestrian overpass.

March 26: A rock was thrown at a bus in Alexandra Hills, Brisbane, smashing a window and injuring a passenger.

March 23: A truck driver had glass sprayed in his eyes when his windscreen was smashed by a cricket ball-sized rock at Regents Park.

March 22: An ambulance taking a sick toddler to Ipswich Hospital was subjected to an overhead rock attack on Brisbane Rd at Dinmore.

January 24: Four tourists escaped serious injury after a basketball-sized rock was thrown through their windscreen at the Griffith University overpass, Gold Coast.

Mr Dick said New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory had already enacted specific offences related to throwing rocks or other objects at vehicles and the new Queensland offence would cover this same conduct.

"Queensland has not been standing still on this issue," the new Minister said.

"Last year we brought in the new offence of endangering the safe use of vehicles with intent, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and covers the more serious end of the spectrum.

"This new offence will cover the lower-end offences, where a person may not act with malicious intent, but still acts with gross stupidity and little regard for others in our community.

"The message here is clear - throwing rocks at vehicles is never a joke. It is deadly, reckless behaviour."

Mr Dick said an offender could be charged with murder or manslaughter if a victim died.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Rock throwers to be flung into jail under new laws

Rock throwers to be flung into jail under new laws
May 21, 2009 - 12:08AM

Anyone who throws a rock at a vehicle in Queensland faces jail under new laws passed in state parliament last night.

Attorney-General Cameron Dick says Queensland authorities now have access to the most comprehensive range of rock throwing laws in the country.

"Throwing rocks at vehicles is dangerous and deadly behaviour that puts the lives of innocent Queenslanders at risk," Mr Dick said.

"People driving on Queensland roads should not have to fear rocks being thrown at their vehicle.

"Under the laws passed tonight, people who engage in this reckless behaviour can be sent to jail, whether someone was hurt as a result of their actions or not."

Mr Dick said the new laws also target laser pointing and other specified conduct which endangers, or is likely to endanger, the safe use of vehicles.

Previously action against rock-throwers had to prove intent.

The new laws allow police to charge offenders even if they cannot prove intent and no one is injured.

Offenders face up to two years in jail.

AAP

[Dean Quick]

Its about damm time. Now lets see if they actually persue the maximum penalty on the next idiot that is caught throwing rocks.