Chalk one up for the car enthusiasts

[CSP]

Top Gear tragic acquits accused hoon | News.com.au

A magistrate with some common sense (and perhaps a bit of a sense of humour). Fast does not automatically equal unsafe!

[soop]

Ahh jesus. I can't see this going anywhere good.
Just wait till all the preachers get hold of it.

[dirt drifter]

i fell off my chair laughing when i read that! not only did old mate get let off but also got awarded 18k in court costs! u would have to go out and buy a lotterey ticket after that wouldnt ya?

but yeah the media and every fun-hating killjoy under the sun is going to scream blue murder over this im sure

[acarmody]

While I think that is funny, I also have to wonder what the magistrate was smoking. Whats the top speed of a Falcon, that could be the speeding fine?

[undersuspicion]

lol was in there for the verdict. Went off

[CSP]

Whats the top speed of a Falcon, that could be the speeding fine?

Based on what? To be fined for doing a certain speed, that speed must be PROVEN.

[acarmody]

Not at all, at least here in QLD a cop is considered an expert witness, if the cop says you are doing a certain speed, than with or without actual proof, you can still be charged.

Also in the case of the OP, the cop would know what speed he/she was doing, if the Lambo driver was still pulling away than at the least that could be the speed to be charged with.

[FusionX]

He was speeding. He even admitted to speeding. The case was whether he exceeded 45km/h past the speed limit or not (where hoons laws come in)

The cops were stopped when he went past. If he was doing 120km/h (30km/h above the speed limit), the cops are going to have to travel a lot faster then that to catch up. The cops could never get close enough to get an accurate measure on the speed the car was doing. Cops in Perth are known for doing this. Speeding to catch a car and because they had to do xxx km/h to catch up thats what they charge you with. Just that this became a high profile case and they got caught out.

Just hope the owner decides to sue the police as well.

[ari666]

The case was whether he exceeded 45km/h past the speed limit or not (where hoons laws come in)

nothing to do with that in the slightest. they have to prove within a certain accuracy what speed you were travelling at, a 'guess' at 100 meters distance is not admissable, therefore he was let off.

[Dr HaxZaw]

With no disrespect to the Ford Falcon couldn't cut the mustard

He would have thought he'd never find himself driving a bog-standard Ford Falcon when he came to Australia but I suppose that's what bean counters do

lol i love how the magistrate just starts ripping on the falcon

[Blown V6 Hatch]

LOL, all the dogooders will have a real cry about this one...Fact of the matter is, the cops case wasn't strong enough and they got caught out, it's that simple. Kudos to the magistrate for making up his own mind and not just doing what Joe public wants him to do.