Supreme Court of Norway to decide on vehicle seizure law in reckless driving case

Masked individuals blocked the road for other vehicles while driving without license plates, leading to street racing. A police pursuit ensued, with a civilian police car chasing one of the speeders, reaching speeds over 200 km/h on the E18 highway between Lier and Drammen last year.

On Tuesday, the case was presented before the Supreme Court of Norway, which focused on the key question: Does the prosecution have the legal authority to seize vehicles in such instances? Currently, Norway has no established practice for confiscating a car solely for speeding offenses. According to defense attorney John Christian Elden, seizure is only permitted under certain circumstances, like repeated offenses indicating a disregard for legal repercussions.

The police chase concluded in a field in Sande, where the vehicle’s speed was recorded at 211 km/h over a lengthy stretch. The 20-year-old driver received a 60-day prison sentence for the racing incident, along with the forfeiture of his BMW, which ended up in the field after the police pursuit. The appeal regarding the vehicle seizure is what the Supreme Court will focus on.

Danish legislation provides police the option to confiscate cars at the scene in cases of reckless driving, providing a possible precedent for similar measures in Norway. The Danish law, enacted in March 2021, allows for vehicle seizure if the driver exceeds 200 km/h or is found to have a blood alcohol level exceeding 2.0.

Norwegian authorities hope that establishing vehicle confiscation could serve as a deterrent to reckless driving, particularly targeting individuals who frequently engage in such dangerous behavior. The Supreme Court’s ruling in this case could significantly impact future similar incidents.