A Ford Falcon has been seized by Northern Territory Police for alleged hooning during a weekend when hundreds of modified cars descended on Alice Springs for the Red CentreNATS motoring festival.

The brightly coloured orange Falcon was confiscated after police allege its driver performed a burnout on the Stuart Highway – outside the controlled environments where similar displays form part of the annual event.

Northern Territory Police confirmed officers from Southern Traffic Operations were patrolling the Stuart Highway at Braitling when they spotted the Falcon leaving Power Street and turning right onto the highway.

Orange and silver drag racing car performing a burnout, huge supercharged engine exposing plumes of smoke at a nighttime track.
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Police allege the driver cut in front of another vehicle before accelerating heavily and breaking traction, potentially placing other road users at risk.

Officers subsequently stopped the Falcon and seized it under the Territory’s anti-hooning laws. Images of the car showed a large “SEIZED BY POLICE – HOONING” sticker placed prominently across its windscreen.

The incident came during Red CentreNATS, an annual celebration of modified and performance vehicles that includes drag racing, burnouts, cruising, show cars and other activities in controlled venues around Alice Springs.

That made the alleged offence somewhat ironic, with drivers attending the event provided with dedicated locations where they can legally demonstrate their cars’ performance rather than doing so on public roads.

Senior Sergeant Dev Kanyilmaz said police had been pleased with the behaviour of the overwhelming majority of motorists and spectators during the event.

Red and black police SUV parked on a street with a towing strap attached to the front vehicle and a 'Seized by Police' banner on the windshield car in the foreground.
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However, he warned enthusiasts that Red CentreNATS did not provide a licence to take the festival’s more spectacular driving activities onto surrounding streets.

“There are controlled environments where people can enjoy their vehicles and everything that comes with an event like Red CentreNATS. Public roads are not one of them,” Kanyilmaz said.

Police said even a brief piece of reckless driving could result in a serious collision and warned motorists that alleged hooning offences could result in their vehicles being immediately confiscated.

The Falcon incident demonstrates just how quickly that penalty can be applied: from apparently lighting up the rear tyres to losing the entire car to police custody in a matter of minutes.