Melbourne’s north and west continue to be hotbeds of hoon driving.
Since record-keeping began in 2006, about 40 per cent of Melbourne’s car impoundments have occurred in the northern and western suburbs.
In 2014, Brimbank had the most cars confiscated by the police (424), followed by Hume (323), Greater Dandenong (235), Frankston (229) and Melton (181).
Whittlesea had the 11th-most impoundments last year, with 130. Police say the industrial areas of Thomastown are known to be popular with hoon drivers.
Victoria Police statistics reveal that 6.4 per cent of all vehicle impoundments between 2006 and 2014 were in Hume.
Last year, police confiscated 4874 cars across the state, a 6.1 per cent increase on the previous year.
Since anti-hoon laws came into effect in 2006, police have had the power to impound, immobilise or permanently confiscate cars driven in a dangerous manner.
If police have reasonable grounds to believe a driver has committed a hoon-related offence, the law allows them to seize their car and impound or immobilise it for 30 days.
Hoon gatherings
Fawkner highway patrol member Sergeant Robert Henderson said officers were called out to gatherings of hoon drivers at least once a week.
“There can be as many as 20 to 100 cars out there, but they usually disperse before we arrive because they’ve been tipped off we’re on our way.”
He said most hoon “gatherings” in Hume were in the Campbellfield industrial estates, notably Lara Way, Merola Way and Merri Concourse.
Sergeant Henderson said it was difficult to arrest hoons at illegal burnouts because of the threat they pose to the safety of police officers, who are often greatly outnumbered.
In Hume last year, 64 cars were impounded because they were driven at more than 45km/h above the speed limit. Another 47 were confiscated due to the driver’s ‘improper use’ of the car, a charge commonly faced by hoons.
Hoon driving can be reported to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
