The Austrian government has changed legislation to punish drivers found guilty of extreme speeding by confiscating and auctioning off their cars. The move seeks to stub “boy racers” involved in illegal street races and other related cases of extreme speeding. The government has also threatened to freeze the winner’s prized possession.
The dispensation of conservatives and Greens intends to toughen Austria’s law in line with that of its neighbouring nations such as Switzerland and Germany. According to authorities, the purpose of the law is to avert deaths caused by illegal street racing that sometimes even involves bystanders.
“At the speeds we are talking about here no one is fully in control of their vehicle. The car becomes an uncontrollable weapon and a danger to completely innocent people,” the transport minister, Leonore Gewessler of the Greens was quoted as saying by the Guardian.
If an individual is caught driving above the 100 km/hr speed limit in towns and above 200 km/hr elsewhere will have their vehicle seized for two weeks. In case a person is a repeat offender, their vehicle will be confiscated and auctioned off.
The latest plan is in addition to measures introduced last year that increased how long drivers lose their licences in cases of speeding and extreme speeding, say reports
