THE State Labor Government should direct police to put an amnesty on all traffic offences until the car theft spree in Townsville ends, says Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto. 

With 35 car thefts recorded across Townsville in the last week alone, Mr Dametto said speeding fines and other driving offences “should take a back seat until the government got the stolen car issue under control”. 

“Why should motorists be punished for going 5 or 10km/h over the speed limit when we’ve got stolen vehicles rampaging through our streets that are a far greater danger,” Mr Dametto said. 

“The criminal thugs who are stealing these cars have no respect for the law because they know they can just floor it and police aren’t allowed to pursue them under the State’s no pursuit policy. It’s diabolical.” 

Mr Dametto said law-abiding citizens who made the “occasional innocent mistake” on the roads were being treated like criminals by the State government while repeat offenders continued to be let off scot-free by the courts.  

“It feels like the justice system has been turned on its head and that criminals get more of a fair hearing than ordinary people,” Mr Dametto said. 

“Police resources should not be tied up in speed camera traps and RBTs when night after night, stolen vehicles are running around town at ridiculous speeds. The government needs to get its priorities in order and task police with cracking down on car thefts before more innocent people die.”