Skid meets: Hoon fans to cop $800 fines in council crackdown
NOTORIOUS hoon “skids” meets are the focus of a bold new crackdown which will fine onlookers up to $800 in a bid to reclaim suburban streets.
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HOON fans face fines of up to $800 for cheering on reckless drivers in a radical crackdown to reclaim suburban streets.
In a Victorian first specifically targeting hoon spectators anyone who attends illegal burnout sessions in Melbourne’s northwest will face on-the-spot penalties.
The laws, which a local council has introduced, could be replicated in other areas if successful.
Brimbank Council — which takes in hoon-plagued suburbs Tullamarine, Sunshine, Derrimut and Taylors Lakes — will from next year make it illegal for anyone to “participate in, encourage, or attend” a hoon meet.
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Stopping or parking a car close to the notorious gatherings without lawful excuse will also be outlawed.
Police will be empowered to enforce the laws and fine offenders — the force declaring it a game-changer in smashing a reckless hoon culture.
Brimbank Insp Dallas Normington told the Sunday Herald Sun: “The local laws being brought into effect in the Brimbank City Council area will provide local police with yet another avenue to disrupt and deter hoon meetings.”
“Those attending hoon events are placing themselves and others at extreme risk,’’ Insp Normington said.
“This is completely unacceptable.”
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Brimbank Highway Patrol Sgt Andy Oakley, who is part of the area’s road safety committee, developed the fines concept and lobbied the council.
It’s designed to stop burnout sessions being seen as a spectator sport and remove the danger for spectators who have been hit when cars veered out of control and put themselves between police and hoon drivers to prevent arrests, smashing patrol car windows and physically confronting officers.
Brimbank Council mayor Margaret Giudice said the laws were introduced at the request of police who will be authorised to issue on-the-spot fines ranging from $400 to $800.
“Brimbank City Council is supportive of the efforts of Victoria Police to discourage hoon events, and avoid danger to people gathering at these events,’’ Cr Giudice said.
“Many Councils have local law provisions about hoon events but we believe this is the first that has specific provisions about spectators.”
More than 550 fanatics have flocked to some illegal skids meets across Melbourne.
Damage to private property and roads is among key resident and business owner concerns while two teens returning from a burnout session were last year killed in a high-speed crash on the Western Ring Rd.
Underground hoon groups such as the South East, Western and Northern skids have been the target of crackdowns.
Vision of recent gatherings obtained by the Sunday Herald Sun shows a high-performance sedan in an industrial area of Preston coming within a metre of onlookers as it’s thrown into a doughnut at high speed.
In another video sparks fly from the wheels of a car as it spins out of control.
A hoon insider said fines would deter many revhead onlookers.
“If someone is going to get an $800 fine just for standing there I wouldn’t be going any more — no way,’’ he said.
A core element would still run the risk however with fanatics increasingly using motorcycles so they could easier flee police, the insider said.
Insp Normington said an anti-hoon police taskforce dedicated to stamping out illegal meetings across Melbourne’s northwest had made 10 arrests in recent months, focusing on organisers.
The force had “standing disruption plans” in place statewide.
“Victoria Police will continue to work with the community to help identify, disrupt and apprehend anyone taking part in organised hoon activities,’’ Insp Normington said.
Greater Dandenong Council, where revheads have also been a problem, has for two years used general illegal event laws to fine hoons and spectators $250.
Brimbank had similar provisions before taking its new hard line approach.
Greater Dandenong director of city planning, design and amenity Jody Bosman said its laws effectively gave police a “move on” power otherwise unavailable to them.
Police and the council had issued more than 800 warnings during a blitz late last year.
“We believe that action in conjunction with the local law powers has seen a reduction in organised hoon events within the city,’’ Mr Bosman said.
Brimbank Council’s new law was gazetted on Thursday and will start on January 1.
Anyone who sees hoon behaviour should report it via 000.