Hoons roam free

By Kath Gannaway
TOUGH new laws the State Government says are putting the brakes on hoon behaviour in the suburbs are out of reach of police in Healesville.
It’s almost 18 months since more than 200 Healesville people attended a public meeting aimed at giving police the resources to put a stop to the hoonish behaviour residents said was out of control in the town.
A suggestion for a ‘hoon hotline’ to be run by the Shire of Yarra Ranges has now been scrapped and police say with the nearest impounding yard for seized cars in Essendon, the new anti-hooning legislation is not a practical option.
With evidence of burnouts plastered on intersections all over Healesville, the perception in the community is that the situation is no better.
Healesville police sergeant Tony Van Gorp told the Mail last week that one of the problems was that the offence needed to be witnessed but he said another was that the legislation required seized vehicles be stored in a designated secure compound.
“We don’t have a towing company prepared to service that demand,” he said.
“Our hands are tied until we get a towing contractor on line.”
Senior Sergeant Leo Potter, Knox Division Traffic Adviser, released statistics on 7 February which showed in Knox, Maroondah and Yarra Ranges shires 46 vehicles had been seized for burnouts, wheelies and speeding. Thirty-nine of those were local drivers.
He said two vehicles had been impounded from Yarra Glen and one from Yarra Junction.
Sen Sgt Potter agreed, however, that towing was an issue.
“What puts towing companies off I think is that a tow from Healesville or Yarra Junction to Essendon and then to return is a long time out of their area.”
There is some hope in sight, however.
Garry Kirkup of Yarra Valley Towing told the Mail he was about to put in a tender which included keeping impounded cars in local depots.
“It’s the first time we have had the tender process put to us and we will put in a price,” he said.
Facilitator of the 2005 meeting Kerry Goding said she was disappointed the same success metropolitan areas are having with the legislation is not being seen in Healesville.
“We were told at the time that this legislation was coming and that it would provide the police with the means of dealing with the problem. It’s disappointing if that then becomes ineffective for us,” she said.