Police warn hoons

By Kath Gannaway
POLICE in Yarra Ranges have moved to dispel any sense of false-security hooning drivers may have around reports the new hoon legislation is not being enforced in Yarra Ranges.
Shadow Police Minister Kim Wells last week accused the Labor Government of not providing sufficient trained police to fully implement the legislation. “… not all police officers can immediately impound a vehicle,” he said.
Acting Inspector Region 4 Traffic Tony Hill, confirmed that not all police in the region had been trained but said any police officer could call for assistance from the Regional Traffic Task Unit (RTTU), who would assist if impoundment of a vehicle was required.
“Police in this region have been trained and will continue to be trained over the next six months until every police officer is trained in the legislation,” he said.
Inspector Hill said it was important to realise that not every vehicle would be impounded. “We have to look at individual circumstances and be able to present a credible case to the courts. It a situation warrants it however, we will certainly look at that option, and it is available now,” he said.
Inspector Hill said police were keen to hear from anyone who had witnessed hooning behaviour.
“Anyone can be witness to the offence and we (police) have up to 10 days after the offence to consider utilising the legislation,” he said. “They (witnesses) would have to be prepared to make a statement, and for it to stand up in court, like any process, we need people to be able to give evidence.
“If people are prepared to stand up and dob in a hoon, we will certainly look at enforcing it,” he added.
He said any police officer who observed illegal or hooning behaviour would charge a driver with the relevant offences and could seek advice from the RTTU and work with them to implement vehicle impoundment.
“It’s already happening now,” he said. “The message to hooning drivers is ‘you’ve been warned and if you lose your car it’s going to be your own fault’,” Inspector Hill said.