TWO Tamworth men have been slapped with thousands of dollars in fines and have lost their licences after they were caught on camera hooning and carrying out burnouts.
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Magistrate Michael Holmes said Bohan George Armstrong-Keven, 19, had a “death wish”, while he slammed Aaron James Hunt’s poor traffic record after he admitted to “showing off” in front of his mates.
“This sort of behaviour ... not only is it illegal, it is anti-social behaviour,” Mr Holmes told Tamworth Local Court this week.
“People would think there are hoons in Tamworth.
“My obligation is to look after the community of Tamworth.”
The two were caught red-handed in a blitz by highway patrol police, who launched a covert operation using Tamworth Regional Council CCTV cameras, which were hidden near the RMS building on Hill St.
The late-night offences in February culminated in several charges against a number of people as police continue their crackdown on known traffic hot spots.
“His traffic record ... he’s got a death wish,” Mr Holmes said.
Solicitor Fiona Hadlington said Armstrong-Keven’s traffic record did not assist him, but he was remorseful and had lost two jobs because he did not have a driver’s licence.
“Dad sums this up. He was egged on by the boys he was with. He says he was with the wrong crew,” she said.
“Hopefully now he realises the stupidity of his actions.”
According to police, the pair operated their vehicles to undergo a prolonged, intensified and sustained loss of traction.
Hunt pleaded guilty to two counts of carrying out a burnout and told the court he had lost part of his income as a result of his offending, after losing his licence on the spot.
“I was showing off in front of my mates,” the 23-year-old, who was unrepresented, told the court.
The court heard Hunt was issued his licence in 2008, but the latest offence wasn’t his first, after he was issued an infringement for a burnout in 2012.
“You’ve got an appalling record for such a young person,” Mr Holmes said, fining Armstrong-Keven $1000 and putting him on a 12-month bond for the duration of his licence disqualification.
Hunt was ordered to pay $2000 in fines and was disqualified from driving for three months.
“I suggest you buy a small car,” he told Hunt, warning him to stay out of trouble.
Another Tamworth teenager, Angus Ian Gallegos, has pleaded guilty to several burnout and hooning offences stemming from the same police operation.
He will be sentenced in July.
