Hoons’ long walk home

By Callan Date
NARRE Warren Police have impounded the first cars in Casey under new laws after two drivers were caught doing burnouts and driving recklessly over the weekend.
The motorists, who were caught in Narre Warren and Hampton Park, will have to pay $500 to get their vehicles back and will also face numerous driving charges under tough new anti-hoon driving legislation introduced by the State Government in June.
Officers have sent a blunt warning to drivers who continually flout road rules, saying they will be caught and forced to pay financially as well as suffering the inconvenience of not having their car.
Casey Traffic Management Unit (TMU) Senior Constable Helen Edwards said both cars were impounded when the drivers deliberately spun their vehicle wheels within sight of a police member in a marked car.
“Any intentional loss of traction of a car tyre is an offence under the new hoon laws,” Sen Const Edwards said.
Narre Warren Senior Sergeant Gerry Hengel said more police are being trained to ensure as many members as possible had the ability to impound vehicles.
“The new legislation is being used and the message is for people who are conducting their driving in an unsafe manner, that they will be found and have their vehicles impounded,” he said.
Impounded cars are towed away on the spot and taken to a holding facility in Essendon, and owners have to pay a fee before they can collect their vehicles.
If police have reasonable grounds for believing a driver has committed a hoon-related offence, they will be able to impound a vehicle for 48 hours. Police can impound for up to three months the vehicle of any driver committing a second hoon-related offence within three years.
And a court can permanently take away the vehicle of any person found guilty of three hoon-related offences within three years.
Sen Const Hengel said the road toll in Casey stood at three, and was well down on the same time last year.
“The last thing we want to see is City of Casey residents hurt or injured on our roads,” he said.
The driver caught in Narre Warren will be charged with the improper use of a motor vehicle while the driver caught in Hampton Park was also detected over .05 and failed to accompany police back to the station for a second breath test.
This usually results in an automatic two-year suspension of licence.