Like it or not, trends are as much a part of our life as our right to express ourselves. These trends give us a taste of what’s working for many in terms of fashion, music, buying patterns, and even how to reveal the gender of your future offspring to your family and friends.
But like any activity, the right to expression ceases when we step on the rights of others. In this case in Australia it is a matter of legality and security.
A car used to set fire to a “gender reveal” party was recently destroyed by Queensland Police. In September, Commodore Holder was filmed conducting arson, producing thick blue smoke that indicated that a baby boy was on his way.
The driver of the car was arrested by police for a “life-threatening offence” with his car. In addition to destroying his car, the driver was also sentenced to prison and disqualified from driving for four years.
“The fire was so significant you couldn’t see the road in any direction for about 100 metres,” Assistant Commissioner Ben Marcus said in a statement.
“If you tear up the road, we’ll tear up your car – it’s that simple,” said Mark Ryan, Minister for Police and Correctional Services and Minister for Fire and Emergency Services.
That activity is used to send a powerful message to the “hoons” in the Land Down Under. The car is used by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) for road accident rescue training. It was smashed on the steps of the Queensland Parliament Building, simulating the process that would need to be done to free passengers trapped in the car.
“Firefighters attend thousands of incidents of road accidents each year, many of which require the use of specialized equipment to free people,” said QFES Commissioner Greg Leach.
“While firefighters expand their knowledge with every incident they attend, our crews prefer to practice their skills on vehicles in simulated and controlled scenarios rather than on the road in real life.”
