Sergeant Jason Van Doren doesn’t accept excuses for hooning. 72583
By Vanessa Chircop
HOBSONS Bay’s Highway Patrol Unit has been stepping up its policing of hoons and will pull out all stops this coming summer.
Sergeant Jason Van Doren and his team are trying to get the message across to the community, especially young men, that hooning can ruin lives.
Formerly based out in Torquay, Sgt Van Doren said he expects there will be some similarities with policing Hobsons Bay during summer with policing the surf coast.
Sgt Van Doren said unfortunately it is still the same types of people getting caught hooning and reckless driving.
“The stats speak for themselves,” he said.
From 1 January to 30 September 64 vehicles were impounded.
Of that 62 were male drivers, 18 were 21 years-old or younger, 14 were on their P-Plates and 15 had already had their licence disqualified.
“Thirty per cent of all hoons that we’re coming across are 21 years or under.”
Sgt Van Doren said police are also relying on the community to keep an eye out and report hoons.
“I can’t guarantee that if you pick up the phone today and ring something through that we will definitely catch that person,” he said.
“But the fact that you’ve rung up and reported it to us – it comes to our notice.”
One example Sgt Van Doren gave was a man who was caught travelling at 195km/hour a little over a month ago.
The man was reported by a person in Geelong who saw the man hooning and was later caught on the Princes Freeway between Kororoit Creek Rd and the West Gate Freeway.
“At that time we were able to send out three cars to respond,” he said.
“One from Werribee Police Station, one from Wyndham’s Highway Patrol Unit and one from Hobsons Bay’s Highway Patrol Unit.”
The man’s car was impounded and he was charged with several traffic and crime offences.
For Sgt Van Doren there is no excuse for hooning and he won’t be giving out any warnings.
“The warning is us giving you the fine or impounding your car.”
