State Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu discussed the hoon problem with local residents. From left, Gembrook Liberal Party candidate Brad Battin,
By Jade Lawton
LOCAL hoons terrorising Berwick and Beaconsfield could have their cars crushed under tough new penalties to be introduced later this year.
Both the Liberal and Labor parties have vowed to strengthen anti-hoon legislation if elected in November.
State Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu visited Berwick Railway Station on Friday to promote the Coalition’s policy, which involves confiscating cars from first-time offenders for 30 days.
Second-time offenders will lose their vehicle for up to three months and those who offend a third time will see their cars crushed.
Hoons will also be forced to undergo a safe driving course, Mr Baillieu said.
“At the moment for a hoon driver on his first offence, their car is taken off the road for 48 hours. Police have to take the car, process the car, handle the paperwork, so if someone offends on a Friday night the car is back on Monday. That just occupies police time, achieves nothing, and is being regarded as a badge of honour,” he said.
Berwick resident Tony White said he had seen dangerous hoon behaviour near his home.
“These kids have too much money and they are buying expensive cars. One example is the other day I saw a young bloke in a WRX going up the footpath on Kangan Drive, obviously overtaking a friend of his but on the inside on a crest of the hill. There is no way he could have seen what was coming,” Mr White said.
And Berwick Village Chamber of Commerce President Harry Hutchinson said he often saw hoons on his evening walk.
“I walk on the south side of the railway line and I see them drifting on a regular basis,” he said.
Former police officer Brad Battin, the Liberal Party candidate for the seat of Gembrook in the November election, identified Berwick and Beaconsfield railway stations, Kangan Drive, Bryn Mawr Boulevard and Beaconsfield’s shopping strip as hoon hotspots.
“I live about one and a half kilometres away (from Berwick station) and I can hear them in the early hours of the morning,” he said.
“The police attempt to curb the behaviour of young drivers; however they are only able to work with the laws they have.”
Transport Accident Commission (TAC) Minister Tim Holding said Victoria already had the toughest anti-hoon laws in Australia.
“The Premier said earlier this week that options such as crushing hoon cars were on the table – and our government will implement a new regime for repeat hoon driving offenders, which will result in repeat hoon offenders having their cars confiscated to be sold or crushed,” he said.
