Five cars seized

By Paul Dunlop
FIVE Pakenham motorists have had their cars seized since new “antihoon” laws were introduced.
In seven months since the laws were introduced on 1 July last year a total of 11 vehicles have been impounded across the Cardinia Shire, a rate of more than one a month.
Hoon drivers have been picked up from Beaconsfield, Upper Beaconsfield, Bunyip, Cockatoo, Kooweerup and Tynong North as well as Pakenham.
Police have welcomed the new Victorian legislation, which cracks down on hoon drivers. Motorists caught dragracing, performing “burnouts” or engaging in other dangerous acts face having their cars impounded, immobolised or confiscated under the tough laws approved in July.
Senior Constable Bill Riess, of Kooweerup Police, said motorists should drive carefully and under the speed limit at all times, or risk the consequences.
“You never know where we’ll be,” he said.
In the City of Casey, about 30 cars have been impounded with hoon drivers picked up mostly in Berwick (seven), Cranbourne (five), Narre Warrren (five) and Hampton Park (seven).
Police Assistant Commissioner Noel Ashby said hoons generally tended to offend outside their own communities.
“Half of our hoon drivers are probationary licensed drivers and 99 per cent are male. The legislation really targets young male drivers, who are overrepresented in our road trauma and family statistics,” he said.
“Hoon behaviour costs lives and police will continue confiscating hoon vehicles in the interests of road safety for all Victorians.”