Hoon rips up Frankston street; drivers fined in police crackdown

A brazen hoon tore down the suburban tree-lined street in broad daylight, doing burnouts and swerving dangerously.

Brazen hoons performing illegal burnouts and tearing up streets in Frankston have been slapped with dozens of fines by the council, the ­Herald Sun can reveal.

A local law introduced in August 2020 has given Frankston Council the power to fine people for taking part in, encouraging or attending illegal skids and burnout sessions.

It has led to 73 infringement notices that carry a $500 penalty being issued to hoons, with five withdrawn on appeal and 47 referred to court.

Video footage obtained by the Herald Sun shows hoons ripping up busy Frankston streets, with one hoon doing a burnout near Frankston beach in broad daylight as red smoke billows from their car.

It comes after the Herald Sun last month revealed several social media accounts promoting hoon content were brazenly encouraging drivers to “send in their best hoon videos to be featured”.

A Carrum Downs business owner, who has worked in the area for more than 20 years, said industrial estates had ­become a “hoon hotspot”.

Coloured smoke can be seen coming from a hoon’s car near Frankston.

“We often get to work on a Monday morning and see fresh burnout marks on the road, it’s just so stupid,” he said.

“I know some businesses around here are just fed up.

“I have CCTV and so do other businesses, but it doesn’t stop them.”

Mayor Nathan Conroy said the council took the issue of public safety seriously.

“That’s why the Community Local Law 2020 includes clauses specifically defining hoon activity and making it ­illegal, while also prohibiting people from attending or ­encouraging hoon events,” Mr Conroy said.

“The council pays $84 to file the matter with the court and we seek those costs back from the accused after a finding of guilt.

“At present, we have not had a contested matter.

“All accused have pleaded guilty and all of the legal work is undertaken by council ­officers.”

Mr Conroy said that the council had a close partnership with local police and undertook joint operations when required.

A hoon does burnouts dangerously close to Frankston homes.

Victoria Police Senior Sergeant Phil Hulley said since the launch of Operation Achilles, Frankston police had seen a decrease in the number of high-risk driving events. “As a result of our intensive focus on hoon drivers, we have dismantled and disrupted those responsible for organising and participating in significant illegal driving meets,” Sergeant Hulley said.

“It is hard to comprehend why individuals take part in reckless driver behaviour which not only has the potential to cause serious injury, but also damages local roads and disturbs the peace.”

Sergeant Hulley said anyone participating in illegal hoon activity would not be tolerated.

“We have teams of officers and detectives reviewing all available intelligence to identify you and, where possible, arrest and charge you,” he said. “We are determined to put the brakes on hoon gatherings before they take place.”

Hoons summoned for checks, tests

Underground hoon networks have been dealt a massive blow with police swooping on dangerous car meets in a major crackdown on illegal behaviour on Victorian roads.

Almost 50 drivers, who have been caught near recent hoon meetings across metropolitan Melbourne, were ordered to Altona police station.

The Herald Sun observed the six-hour operation, where drivers were required to surrender their vehicles for roadworthy checks.

Police issued 25 defect notices, while 15 penalty notices were issued for not complying with registration standards or driving an unsafe vehicle.

Police are cracking down on hoons’ cars. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Dozens of drivers were asked to surrender their vehicles at Altona police station. Picture: Brendan Beckett

An officer inspects a car engine. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Acting Senior Sergeant Simon Borg said Operation Achilles, the statewide action against hoons, had led to a sharp drop in the number of high-risk driving events.

“If we rewind 12 months ago, we have seen a rapid decline to the point where hoon meets are almost not existent,” Sergeant Borg said.

“Now we’d be lucky to have one every few weeks, which is relatively small scale compared to what we used to see … three or four a night.”

Specialist police inspected tyres, brakes, suspensions, window tintings and seatbelts, while the Environmental Protection Authority conducted noise tests.

Nick Rodriguez with his defected vehicle after police conducted an inspection. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Car enthusiast Trent Paulus was fined $800. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Cars lined up at Altona police station for their roadworthy checks. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Owners of vehicles issued with defect notices are required to obtain a roadworthy certificate within 28 days, otherwise their registration is suspended.

Werribee man Nick Rodriguez, 21, said he did not plan to pay the fine because he “didn’t do anything wrong”.

“It is shit, not good,” he said.

“I haven’t done anything bad so it won’t change my behaviour. I’m normally a pretty good bloke, cops are trying to pick on anyone they can.”

Car enthusiast Trent Paulus was also hit with an $800 fine.

“I wasted my whole day, it is a bit rude to make us all come here,” he said.

“I understand they are trying to get unsafe cars off the road, but it is what it is.”

A ute is driven onto a trailer after it was deemed too dangerous to drive home. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Dozens of cars were checked during the crackdown. Picture: Brendan Beckett

An officer conducts a roadworthy check and defect inspection. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Sergeant Borg said police were deterring hooning because it was dangerous.

“People will get killed or seriously injured if this behaviour continues,” he said.

“Their vehicles are effectively out of control, it doesn’t take much to plough into a crowd and there will be catastrophic results.”

He said the force conducted “comprehensive investigations” on hooning – using CCTV, social media and information from persons of interest to make arrests and seize vehicles.

“There are not many places we don’t look,” he said.

Since July 1 last year, 240 people have been charged with hoon driving and at least 1352 charges have been laid.

More than 155 vehicles have been impounded. Operation Achilles continues.

Tyres, brakes, suspensions, tints and seatbelts were inspected, while the Environmental Protection Agency conducted noise tests.

Officers run tests on a car’s engine. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Vehicles issued with defect notices are required to obtain a roadworthy certificate within 28 days. Picture: Brendan Beckett