Hume tops the charts for vehicle impoundments in the north-west metro region, according to the most recent Victoria Police data.
The region covers the police service areas of Banyule, Brimbank, Darebin, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Moonee Valley, Moreland, Melton, Nillumbik and Whittlesea.
The statistics cover all impoundments between 2006 and 2012. They were collated in April 2013 and are now available to the public online.
Since Victoria Police began collating information across the state, 6.1 per cent of all impoundments have been recorded in Hume.
The data also reveals that the number of hoon drivers whose cars were impounded is on the rise in Hume. Cases of motorists driving while disqualified or suspended rose from 92 in 2011 to 101 in 2012.
Instances of impoundments because of improper use of a motor vehicle rose in the same period, from 53 to 81.
Acting Sergeant Simon Doherty, of the Fawkner highway patrol, said the increases could be attributed to the prevalence of new technologies used by police to help detect wayward drivers. “Automatic number plate recognition vehicles can target 2500 vehicles an hour,” Acting Sergeant Doherty said. “We can also view licence photos from our vehicles, preventing people from stating false names of others who are licensed.”
He said hoon laws had increased the number of offences calling for a car to be impounded.
In Whittlesea, the number of cars impounded fell between 2011 to 2012. Driving while disqualified was slightly up, as were incidents of evading police, which resulted in a car’s impoundment in Whittlesea.
Sergeant John Sybenga, of Epping highway patrol, said the overall downward trend was good news for the area.
“It’s pleasing hoon driving incidents are down,” said Sergeant Sybenga.
However, he urged the public to continue calling Crime Stoppers or alerting their local council about hoon hotspots or unlicensed drivers.
