Laws put foot down with hoons

By Tania Martin
ONE HUNDRED and twenty two of the region’s motorists have had their cars impounded since the introduction of the hoon legislation in 2006.
However, this doesn’t come close to towns such as Bendigo that recorded a massive 162 impounds.
Victoria police last week announced on the second anniversary of the hoon legislation on 1 July that 5000 vehicles had been impounded since 2006.
Under the hoon law, motorists who are intercepted driving in excess of 45 km/h over the speed limit or are caught street racing face losing their cars for 48 hours.
Assistant Commissioner (Traffic) Ken Lay said that the legislation had been a clear success in Victoria.
Mr Lay said the introduction of the legislation had reinforced that Victoria was leading the way in road safety programs.
“This legislation has been successful in immediately removing dangerous drivers from our roads,” he said.
Mr Lay said that removing hoon drivers from the roads had a positive impact on road tolls and safety for all motorists.
He said that this was evident in the road toll for last month which recorded the lowest road fatalities for the month of June since records began in 1951.
However, Liberal opposition leader Ted Baillieu has slammed the hoon law for not being tough enough.
Mr Baillieu said that hoon driving was the fastest growing popular sport in the state.
He said that to a hoon driver having their car confiscated for 48 hours was now seen as a badge of honour.
“Taking a car off somebody on Friday night and giving it back to them on Monday morning is not enough,” Mr Baillieu said.
“This sort of behaviour is a disgrace and the Government must act now to toughen up on hoon legislation.”
But Government spokesman Michael Sinclair said that the statistics proved that the law was working effectively and hitting hoons where it hurts – their cars.
“Less than four per cent of hoons who have their vehicles confiscated re-offend and this proves the legislation is working to stamp out unacceptable and dangerous behaviour behind the wheel,” he said.
Mr Lay also said that the low rate for repeat offenders was a strong indication that the law was working, with only 3.9 per cent of drivers re-offending.
Since July 2006, there have been 184 two-time and 14 three-time offenders.
Mr Lay said that data had also highlighted that almost half of the hoon drivers intercepted were on their probationary licence.
“The legislation targets young male drivers who are over-represented in our road trauma and deaths statistics,” he said.
“This age group is more willing to take dangerous risks – risks to themselves and to others and this law enables police to take them off our roads immediately.”