A PROPOSED Private Member’s Bill that would amend the Road Safety Act 1984, introduced by Western Victorian MP, Stuart Grimley, would make it illegal for people to organise or attend a hoon event.
Currently, police can only fine or impound the cars of those driving in a hoon event, meaning passengers and spectators are free from prosecution.
Hoon driving is the dangerous or illegal driving of a motor vehicle including the loss of traction, racing, time trials, or driving that causes undue noise or smoke.
The proposed bill has been developed in collaboration with councils and police and aims to protect Victorians from dangerous hoon events by recognising attendees encourage hoons to engage in unlawful activity and should be penalised.
If passed, the bill would introduce statewide fines of $1453 for anyone who organises, promotes, attends, or participates in a hoon event without a reasonable excuse, and anyone who stops or parks near a hoon event without lawful excuse.
Western District Division Two senior sergeant and road safety manager, Matt Wheeler said hoon events were not an issue within the Hamilton area.
“I’m not aware of any organised hooning events in this area,” he said.
“We’re always on the lookout for vehicles engaging in hoon behaviour, such as burnouts and reckless driving.
“We mostly have one-off sort of things and when we do catch those people who engage in that behaviour, their vehicle is impounded, and they appear before the court.”
Both Brimbank Council and Frankston Council currently have anti-hoon event laws in place which have proven effective in deterring hoon behaviour.
Police in the Brimbank area have been fining people who attend hoon events, with more than $80,000 in fines being issued at one event.
Mr Grimley said there was a need for statewide legislation and consistent laws to prevent hoons from moving their ‘meets’ to other council areas, in order to avoid fines.
“A $1500 fine will hopefully make people think twice about attending a hoon event,” he said.
“Passing this bill will surely deflate the tyres of illegal hoon drivers, spectators and other willing participants.”
