By NICOLE VALICEK
POLICE are warning hoon drivers that if they act recklessly in Hobsons Bay they will be caught.
Sergeant Graeme Couch from the Hobsons Bay Highway Patrol warned that drivers who endangered other road users, exceeded the speed limit or behaved recklessly on local roads would be caught.
“The Victoria Police intelligence system for catching hoons has never been advanced or greater,” he said.
“As a result chances are if hoon drive, if you drive recklessly, if you endanger others or if you speed the changes are you will get caught.”
He said the hoon problem has become more “sporadic” in the Hobsons Bay area, but that the residential streets of Altona Meadows were still a hot spot for hoon activity.
“In the past we’ve seen organised meetings at various hoon hot spots around the area.”
Sgt Couch said police had conducted a number of operations over the past 12-18 months to successfully rid these and other targeted areas of hoon driving.
“We’ve got a few areas on our hit lists and there are reports of good intelligence of hooning occurring, as a result we have mounted specified police operations to target that.”
In the first four months of 2013, police in Hobsons Bay have impounded more than of 25 vehicles as part of the hoon legislation. More than half of these drivers were aged 16-25 years and less than half of the drivers resided in Hobsons Bay.
All the drivers who have had their car impounded this year were male.
Most recently a 30-year-old Seabrook man had his car impounded on 2 July when he was found to driving while suspended along Kororoit Creek Rd in Williamstown.
He will be charged via summons for driving while suspended, use unregistered motor vehicle and hindering police.
Another incident occurred on 22 June when a 35-year-old Maidstone man was fined $599 and had his license suspended for six months and incurred six demerit points for travelling 104km/h in a 60km/h zone.
And on Sunday 23 June a 45-year-old Williamstown attempted to avoid the booze bus and was detected with a blood alcohol level of .159 per cent.
His licence was immediately suspended and will appear in court in the coming months.
Hobsons Bay police Inspector Richard Paterson said “hoon driving is senseless”.
Insp Paterson said the most common reasons for impound include excessive speed and drivers driving while disqualified,”
“All police will continue to enforce the road rules and deter poor driving behaviours to improve safety in Hobsons Bay,” Insp Paterson said.
“It not only puts the hoon driver at huge risk but every other person who is also on that road at huge risk.
“That risk is not only injury to people but financial as well.”
Residents can report hoon driving and illegal trail and quad bike use to the Hoon Hotline by calling Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
