A video released by the police shows the much-discussed race that took place last year on the E18 between Drammen and Lier. In the video, you can also see that dozens of people had gathered to watch the motorists complete a race. In the Lierbakkene down towards Drammen, the video shows that the civilian UP car is up to over 200 km/h. The video stops just before Kjellstad. It is only after this that the one BMW driver runs away from the police. It started a car chase on the E18 through Drammen, which eventually ended on a field in Sande in Vestfold. At the end of September, a 20-year-old was sentenced in the Supreme Court, where he was deprived of his car, among other things. The UP chief: – Wise decision The decision is seen as ground-breaking as it opens the way for the police to confiscate the cars of the convicted. In Denmark, a similar law is already in place, which gives the police the opportunity to confiscate the cars of people who have committed serious traffic offences. The head of the Emergency Police (UP), Knut Smedsrud, is happy that Norway is now following the neighboring country to the south. – This is a wise and good judgment that provides guidelines for when it may be appropriate to confiscate vehicles. The head of the Emergency Police (UP), Knut Smedsrud says that these rough driving environments are found in large parts of the country, especially in Eastern Norway, and now hopes that the sentence will stop people from serious traffic offences. Photo: Joel Waag / news – And when is it appropriate to confiscate a car? Do you have to drive twice the legal speed, or what else? – What the Supreme Court says here applies to a specific case, where there has been an extremely serious violation of the Road Traffic Act. It was racing, organized, blocking roads, extremely high speeds. A civilian police car recorded the pursuit of one of the rough drivers in the above video. They had to go up to over 200 km/h to keep up with the rough riders. The 20-year-old was sentenced to 60 days in unconditional prison for the race, as well as confiscation of a BMW, which ended up on a field in Sande after the police chase. UP: Happens in large parts of the country Smedsrud says that rough driving is not a very big problem. – But we have got a slightly aggressive car environment, which we see does not respect laws and regulations, and which is not deterred by either shorter prison sentences or fines. So we need tools to deal with these environments, and then we believe that confiscating the vehicle will have an effect. He goes on to say that these environments are located in large parts of the country, especially in Eastern Norway, and now hopes that the verdict will stop people from committing serious traffic offences. – The Supreme Court has emphasized the general preventive effect. It should be a deterrent, make others refrain from that type of action. That is what we want to achieve. We do not want that type of driving to be carried out. – Does not only apply to organized racing Police attorney at the South-East police district, Haldis Framstad Skaare, also hopes that there will now be less rough driving on Norwegian roads. It is the police prosecutors who are responsible for criminal cases, as well as taking them to the district court and the court of appeal. – We are very satisfied that the Supreme Court agreed with us, and that we had a legal basis to confiscate the car in this case here, she says. Police attorney at the South-East police district, Haldis Framstad Skaare, says that the confiscation of a car is not only limited in cases where it is done under organized circumstances such as illegal racing, but in all cases of gross speeding offences. Photo: PRIVAT Skaare assures people that it is only in the most egregious cases that it is appropriate to confiscate the car. – It is also an assessment that we have to make on a case-by-case basis. Basically, it is about a person showing a lack of consideration and respect for the regulations. She says that the cars that are impounded by the police end up with the bailiff. – Unfortunately, we see a lot of illegal high speeds, i.e. speed violations that are very serious. Now we really hope that this is a powerful signal to send to those who are considering driving very fast by car. In the past, you could lose your driving licence, receive heavy fines and end up in prison. We now have a tool that we want to make more use of, and that is being able to confiscate the car. In its reasoning for the judgment, the Supreme Court writes the following: “The Supreme Court attaches considerable importance to the fact that the first part of the driving was participation in organized, illegal racing on public roads. This type of driving is a growing problem. Strong general preventive considerations then dictate that the car be impounded” Skaare says that impounding a car is not only limited in cases where it is done under organized circumstances such as illegal racing, but in all cases of serious speeding offences. Photo: The police – The Supreme Court has confirmed that confiscation applies to serious offences. There is no requirement for illegal racing, it is the gross violations of the Road Traffic Act that this would affect. She says that you have nothing to worry about as long as you stay within the threshold for driver’s license confiscation. – Then you are also well within the threshold for car confiscation. It is much easier to lose your driver’s license than to lose your car. Car confiscation will take place in the most serious cases where there is a total lack of consideration and respect for road traffic legislation. Published 04.10.2024, at 11.36 Updated 04.10.2024, at 1 p.m
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– Happens in large parts of the country – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
