Police lose $22,000 auctioning seized vehicles

ltd_on20s · 11-09-2009, 05:31 PM

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/stor...4-2761,00.html

THE first auction of unclaimed vehicles seized from suspended drivers has ended up costing WA Police about $22,000.

Twenty two seized vehicles went under the hammer today, selling for a total of just $9900.

Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan said the cost to police was about $1000 per vehicle, once auction costs were deducted.

But he said police would now consider using debt collecters to recoup the losses from the vehicle owners.

“The outcome of the auction is disappointing although not entirely unexpected," he said.

" Whether this first auction is indicative of future auction returns is yet to be seen.

" Under the Road Traffic Act Amendment, WA Police can recover any outstanding debt from the owners and we are currently exploring this course of action.

"WA Police already has existing contracts with debt collecting agencies.”

More than 2100 vehicles have been taken from motorists caught driving with a suspended or cancelled drivers licence since the new sezure laws were introduced on July 1 this year.

More than a third of the impounded vehicles, which each cost more than $1000 to recover, were not collected with the 28 day seizure period.

once the car has been impounded i did'nt think the owner had any legal liability to pay costs associated with it.

only to his loan company........

wrong or right?

snappy · 11-09-2009, 05:46 PM

Good to know making the roads safer is not about money . What did they want a profit

Teflon Turbo · 11-09-2009, 05:48 PM

do you think anyone bought their own car back?

GTP owner · 11-09-2009, 05:56 PM

i knew that confiscating cars would result many people driving clunkers/death traps. Tried telling the local pollies too. But they are always swayed by popular opinion and the media, so we now have more unroadworthy cars and more people not paying registration.

vztrt · 11-09-2009, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltd_on20s

But he said police would now consider using debt collecters to recoup the losses from the vehicle owners.

Can they even do this??

auxr · 11-09-2009, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

Can they even do this??

yep - just reconfigure the legislation - these vehicles went for a pittance, the most paid was just over $2,000, arguably most were clunkers - I'm awaiting the first GT to be auctioned, be down there in a flash.

jaydee · 11-09-2009, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teflon Turbo

do you think anyone bought their own car back?

They were just about all piles of junk and had been delicensed, so if they wanted it back it would have to go over the pits. Probably still cheaper than the $1000 holding fee.
Me though, I'm glad these menaces are off the road, they lost their license in the first place because they're idiots on the road. If they keep driving they keep losing there car.
Eventually the pay off will be less trauma on the roads because stats here in WA show unlicensed drivers are responsible for about 20% of fatals and serious prangs.

Road_Warrior · 11-09-2009, 08:17 PM

Sucked in.

Although there was an XG panno that looked ok, I wonder what it went for.

rag top · 11-09-2009, 08:20 PM

is there a list as to what cars were auctioned and how much they went for?

Auslandau · 11-09-2009, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaydee

They were just about all piles of junk and had been delicensed, so if they wanted it back it would have to go over the pits. Probably still cheaper than the $1000 holding fee.
Me though, I'm glad these menaces are off the road, they lost their license in the first place because they're idiots on the road. If they keep driving they keep losing there car.
Eventually the pay off will be less trauma on the roads because stats here in WA show unlicensed drivers are responsible for about 20% of fatals and serious prangs.

When will the 'eventual' happen and they have taken the unlicensed, uninsuranced off the roads? They have crappers as stated, tehy take them away, they get another crapper ..... these type of people don't care and will just keep getting unroadworthy, uninsured crappers. Unfortunatley an unlicensed driver looks the same as many other responsible person ... untill they have an accident.

If they made a profit I am sure there would be a huge increase in trying to fix the problem though ..... somehow they would then find a way, but until then it will always be a token fix.

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Swamp Rat · 11-09-2009, 09:02 PM

my sister is a qld cop and she heard that they(qld police) maybe using the confiscated cars as ünmarked "police" cars, but she hasnt been able to confirm it yet,maybe some one here knows more?

xrford · 11-09-2009, 09:24 PM

Even if they were mostly all shi*ters? would be the last thing youd expect being pulled over by a cop in a XG panno lol
Although then youd get idiots trying to run them, theyd have to be half decent impounds youd reckon.

Swamp Rat · 11-09-2009, 09:30 PM

lol... some of the cars theyve impounded here in qld would surprise you
some would make you cry

Fev · 11-09-2009, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swamp Rat

my sister is a qld cop and she heard that they(qld police) maybe using the confiscated cars as ünmarked "police" cars, but she hasnt been able to confirm it yet,maybe some one here knows more?

I've seen cops in NSW doing it before.. not 100% sure if they are confiscated but 180sx's isn't exactly standard issue lol

Swamp Rat · 11-09-2009, 09:34 PM

ive seen a hotted up gemini,an old vw bettle and a few lancers so far
i near got whip lash when i saw the flashing lights in the beetle windscreen,felt sorry for the poor bugger he had pulled over though

Mr Hardware · 11-09-2009, 10:58 PM

This isn't the first time and won't be the last time that it's cost a government department to dispose of assets in the 'correct' way. Just remember you've gotta pass the 'Front Page of The Australian' test.

SLO AU XR8 · 12-09-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swamp Rat

my sister is a qld cop and she heard that they(qld police) maybe using the confiscated cars as ünmarked "police" cars, but she hasnt been able to confirm it yet,maybe some one here knows more?

Nope, and if it did happen, and they were using my car, without my permission, I would be reporting it as stolen. They go to a holding yard. Also IIRC it is illegal for QLD police to use any vehicle over 5 years old for official duties.

jaydee · 12-09-2009, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rag top

is there a list as to what cars were auctioned and how much they went for?

No i don't think there was, but 90% of them were old Hyundais and Corollas etc, averaged $450 each. They were junk, those that bought them will have fun getting them over the pits I reckon.

Swamp Rat · 12-09-2009, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLO AU XR8

Nope, and if it did happen, and they were using my car, without my permission, I would be reporting it as stolen. They go to a holding yard. Also IIRC it is illegal for QLD police to use any vehicle over 5 years old for official duties.

makes you wonder whats going on with the gemini and vw i saw

zaneabel · 12-09-2009, 06:42 PM

In NSW i believe a Safety Certificate / vehicle Safety check is required each year. This has not been implemented here in QLD and i am not to sure as to why it has'nt.

I am curious about what the other States have in place, as in compulsory Annual vehicle checks.

I understand that this would make it hard for the "battler" keeping there car on the road. But Safety should be paramount.

We sometimes see some really unsafe cars come through the shop.

Keepleft · 12-09-2009, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by auxr

yep - just reconfigure the legislation - these vehicles went for a pittance, the most paid was just over $2,000, arguably most were clunkers - I'm awaiting the first GT to be auctioned, be down there in a flash.

ONLY because know one has the $ to challenge this rubbish in the high court. Constitution and inherited rights mean nothing these days.

Road_Warrior · 12-09-2009, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keepleft

ONLY because know one has the $ to challenge this rubbish in the high court. Constitution and inherited rights mean nothing these days.

I've always wondered how these laws would stack up against the Constitution...

Bucknaked · 13-09-2009, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

Can they even do this??

I'm wondering the same thing. Whats to recoup? The cars were seized because they broke some law. So where is there a need to recoup money?

Interceptor · 13-09-2009, 10:59 PM

gotta love it, the government enacts a law to confiscate cars, and then financially penalise the people for disposal for the impounded vehicle.... if the government doesnt like losing money on impounding/confiscating cars, they shouldnt do it

Maggot · 13-09-2009, 11:46 PM

no sympathy for people driving uninsured, unlicensed.. they are involved in a large percentage of accidents, cause insurance hassles and as a general rule
the cars are not maintained.. good thing.

and no.. they should not go after the former owner for any money.. I think the cars should be crushed as scrap as well., and not offered back to become death traps again.

Next auction we are going to try and get one as a farm basher.

hypnodoc · 13-09-2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

Can they even do this??

Mate in this state, they can fit people up for murder, send them to jail for 11 years and before the CCC find the coppers are dirty, they can resign and get a 130k per year job with FISA (I refer here to Andrew Mallards wrongful conviction), so selling confiscated cars and then sending the HOON a bill for the loss will be a walk in the park for the lying rouges and the crooked coppers who run this state. I think 99.5% of Police, Karl O'Callaghan included, do a great job, but theres a lot of weeds in the garden over here. They have let 3 wrongly convicted murderers out oF jail in the past decade with another 2 or 3 to go. Worse than bloody Texas. Unless of course you are a bent copper. No wonder people can get let off for headbutting the Taser happy clowns.

irlewy86 · 14-09-2009, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bucknaked

I'm wondering the same thing. Whats to recoup? The cars were seized because they broke some law. So where is there a need to recoup money?

The Police usually use a Third Party to recover and hold the vehicle. So until Joe Blow pays the fine the Police are liable for the costs to the Third Party.

Hoon confiscation fell dramatically in Queensland when they started losing money.

ltd_on20s · 14-09-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irlewy86

Hoon confiscation fell dramatically in Queensland when they started losing money.

lol money talks hey.

bcr2734 · 14-09-2009, 12:14 PM

And QLD has none atm.

Feral Ford · 10-11-2009, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggot

no sympathy for people driving uninsured, unlicensed.. they are involved in a large percentage of accidents, cause insurance hassles and as a general rule
the cars are not maintained.. good thing.

and no.. they should not go after the former owner for any money.. I think the cars should be crushed as scrap as well., and not offered back to become death traps again.

Next auction we are going to try and get one as a farm basher.

as long as we can bash the f... out of it the padock

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