Trials of engine immobilisers in Townsville, Cairns, and Mount Isa have been extended until September 30
Over half of the government’s engine immobiliser subsidy vouchers have not yet been redeemed, so motorists have been given extra time to protect their cars.
Since more than half of the government’s engine immobiliser subsidy vouchers have not yet been redeemed, motorists have been given three extra months to protect their cars.
As part of the Engine Immobiliser Subsidy Trial, the Queensland Government invested $10 million to provide around 20,000 $500 vouchers for residents in Mount Isa, Cairns, and Townsville.
As a result of the Queensland Police Service extending the program, the trial has a new deadline – September 30, 2024.
Over the course of the trial, police exhausted all vouched allocations and distributed 20,242, but 56 percent are still unredeemed.
The number of outstanding vouchers in Townsville is 5936, in Cairns it is 5017, and in Mount Isa it is 388.
As a result of the extension, residents will have more time to use their vouchers and install immobilisers.
TrackN’s Ashley Glenister, a supplier of car immobilisers, welcomed the extension but urged political parties to commit to a broader plan before the October 26 election.
As 30 June loomed, many of my installers – not knowing if the vouchers lasted beyond 30 June – stopped taking bookings.
Cairns, Townsville, and Mount Isa car owners now have three months to install immobilisers on their cars.”
“Immobilisers prevent anyone without a code from starting a car, even if they have the keys.” he explained. As a result of the alarming extent of car theft across the state, the Queensland Government is to be commended for adopting the Queensland Police Union’s proposal for a trial of car immobilisers.”
As part of the government’s $1.28 billion Community Safety Plan for Queensland, Mr Glenister also advocated for the trial to be expanded to other parts of the state.
For those whose cars have been stolen, the government has already committed to a statewide towing assistance program.
He suggested that the car immobiliser trial be extended for statewide implementation in order to reduce the number of victims of crime and reduce the number of calls to the Towing of Motor Vehicles program.
