Hoon Offence Lawyers NSW | Burnout & Pursuit Defence

Comprehensive Defence for High-Speed Offences and Vehicle Sanctions.

"Hooning" offences—including burnouts, street racing, and police pursuits—carry severe penalties that extend far beyond the courtroom. Beyond heavy fines and imprisonment, police have the power to confiscate number plates, impound vehicles, or even seek forfeiture to the State for repeat offenders. Because these acts are viewed as a deliberate disregard for public safety, the courts treat them with a high degree of seriousness.

At Tempus Law, we guide you through the process of protecting your vehicle and your future. Our specialists assess the strength of the evidence, negotiate with the prosecution, and advise on early plea options or vehicle return applications to minimise the disruption to your personal and professional commitments.

HOON OFFENCES

“Hooning” is a colloquial term used to describe dangerous and reckless driving behaviour that is deliberate, anti-social, and which endangers the public. It includes things like reckless driving, street racing, burnouts, and/or police pursuits. These offences are criminalised under the Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW), the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), and the Road Rules 2014 (NSW).

If you’ve been charged, it’s important to understand the penalties, vehicle sanctions, and legal options which are available to you. At Tempus Law, we guide clients through the process, helping to protect their licences, vehicle, and their future.

Burnouts

A “burnout” is the act of spinning the tyres in place to heat and smoke the tyres. There are varying degrees of burnouts. These burnouts can be exacerbated and can be considered more serious if:

You operated the vehicle knowing that petrol, oil, diesel fuel or other inflammable liquid was placed on the surface of the road beneath at least one of the tyres
You do, or omit to do, any other thing that prolongs, sustains, intensifies or increases the loss of traction
You repeatedly do this
You perform the act knowing that the action would disrupt the peace of the residents
You facilitated others to take part in the burnout
You filmed the act for the purpose of organising or promoting the participation of other persons in this activity

Aggravated burnouts do carry more severe penalties and are treated as such by the Court.

What are the penalties?

The penalties which you might face vary on the type of burnout it is alleged you have conducted.

Type of offence	First offence	Second offence
Loss of traction	$1,100 fine
Exacerbated loss of traction	$3,300 fine 12 month automatic disqualification	9 months imprisonment $3,300 fine 12 month automatic licence disqualification

High Speed Driving

Exceeding the prescribed speed limit is illegal. If you are found to have been exceeding the speed limit by more than 45 kph, the Police have the power to revoke your licence privileges, seize your vehicle and licence plates.

Police pursuits

If you are directed to stop by a NSW Police Officer, you must comply and stop your vehicle. It is a criminal offence to fail to stop against the directions of the Police.

Onus and burden of proof

It is for the Prosecution to establish, beyond reasonable doubt, that:

You drove a vehicle
You held reasonable grounds to suspect that police officers are in pursuit of you
You do not stop the vehicle
You then proceed to drive in a manner recklessly or at a speed or in a manner dangerously to others

What are the penalties?

There are very serious penalties associated with this type of offending.

Imprisonment
- First offence: 3 years
- Second or subsequent offence: 5 years
Monetary penalty
- First offence: $5,500 fine
- Second or subsequent offence: $5,500 fine
Automatic licence disqualification
- First offence: 3 years
- Second or subsequent offence: 3 years
Minimum licence disqualification
- First offence: 12 months
- Second or subsequent offence: 12 months

Seizure of vehicles and number plates

If you are caught committing one of the above offences, the Police have the ability, in some circumstances, to confiscate your number plates, impound your vehicle, and attach a number plate confiscation notice to your vehicle.

In the event that you have received a number plate confiscation notice, you will be unable to drive that car for 3 months.

If you have repeatedly engaged in this type of conduct, your vehicle could be forfeited to the State.

Why Early Legal Advice Matters

Hoon offences carry consequences that extend beyond the court room, such as:

Licence loss affecting work and daily life
Vehicle impoundment or forfeiture disrupting personal or professional commitments
Criminal convictions that may impact employment, insurance, and future driving privileges

Early advice can help:

Assess the strength of the evidence
Present mitigating factors such as:
- Employment reliance on driving
- Remorse
- First-time offender status
Explore driver safety or intervention programs recognised by the Courts
Negotiate outcomes with Prosecution or present a strong case in Court

At Tempus Law, our traffic law specialist can:

Provide guidance on possible defences and mitigation strategies
Represent clients in court to minimise licence loss and vehicle penalties
Advice on early plea options and vehicle return applications
Ensure you understand your rights and the potential impact of a conviction

Acting promptly increases the likelihood of a favourable outcome. Don’t wait until it’s too late – your licence, vehicle, and future may depend on early legal intervention.

Expert knowledge of NSW traffic law and court procedures
Assistance in preparing evidence and submissions
Negotiation with Transport for NSW or police where appropriate
Guidance on mitigating penalties and exploring Section 10 non-conviction options

Having professional representation can make the difference between successfully keeping your licence or serving a full suspension period.