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Victoria’s New Hoon Laws In Effect From Tomorrow

Whether you're a local or a roadtripping outerstater, if you're heading to this week's Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne, keep the doughnuts and burnouts to the state's race tracks.

From tomorrow, Victoria's polic


Whether you're a local or a roadtripping outerstater, if you're heading to this week's Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne, keep the doughnuts and burnouts to the state's race tracks.

From tomorrow, Victoria's police force will have the power to immediately impound 'hoon' vehicles for 30 days - up from the current 48 hour on-the-spot impoundment laws. 

Repeat offenders will make a visit to court, where they risk losing their vehicle for a further three months, with a minimum 45 days, or having their vehicle seized permanently.

The number of offences now considered 'hooning' has also increased, including repeat drink, drug and unlicensed driving.

Overload a vehicle with passengers on an otherwise well-behaved trip, and in the eyes of the law, you're a hoon.

“These changes are tough, no doubt about it,” Head of Road Policing Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe said. “But they are tough for a very good reason. This type of dangerous driving is unacceptable.

“Police are sick of it, the community is sick of it and these new penalties will see dangerous drivers off the road for longer.”

The top five Police Service Areas where hoon offences have occurred in the past five years are Hume, Brimbank, Bendigo, Whittlesea and Greater Dandenong.

Police analysis shows that the top suburbs where the hoon drivers live are St Albans, Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Mill Park and Craigieburn.

Since hoon laws were introduced in 2006:

  • Police have impounded more than 14,500 vehicles.
  • About 96 percent of hoon offenders are male.
  • About 41 percent of hoon offenders are aged 18 to 21; 24 per cent are aged 22 to 25; almost 13 per cent are aged 26 to 29.
  • The 30 to 39 year old age group are the fastest growing group for hoon offenders, increasing from 11 percent of offenders is 2006 to 17 percent of offenders in 2011.
  • More than 45 percent of hoon offenders are full licensed drivers, with probationary drivers making up 38 percent of offenders.
  • Excessive speed is the most common offence (5474 offences), followed by improper use of a motor vehicle (5013 offences).
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