By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
HOONS are reappearing in numbers in Greater Dandenong car parks and streets.
Months after police intelligence had quashed hoon meets in Greater Dandenong’s industrial and retail estates, police were called to a gathering of 100 on a Friday night this month.
Senior Sergeant Scott Roberts of Greater Dandenong highway patrol said such gatherings were a drain on police resources.
“We’re trying to attend road accidents, break-ins, assaults so if these people think they’re doing no harm, they’re wrong,” Sen Sgt Roberts said.
“They’re impacting on our ability to help others.
“If one of the public was in trouble and needed us to attend quickly but found we were having to send half-a-dozen (police) cars to one of these gatherings, they’d be up in arms.”
At these meets, crowds encircle cars as they carry out screeching, smoking burn-outs.
Sen Sgt Roberts said people were endangering themselves if the driver inadvertedly gained traction and their vehicle propelled into the crowd.
“There could be multiple fatalites. The cars look like they’re going slowly but if the driver’s foot slips off the brake or if the tyres bite… the crowd don’t realise what danger they’re in.”
In this worst-case scenario, drivers could face jail for culpable driving.
This year Dandenong police’s Hoon Investigation Unit was introduced and carried out blitzes on hoon meets in Dandenong South, Hallam, Fountain Gate and Cranbourne.
On an operation in April, police charged hoons with 108 offences for car defects, speeding and unlicensed driving.
Some of the offenders were handed fines and impound fees totalling more than $1000.
At the time, hoon rallies were cancelled or had turned into “car club meets” according to Dandenong police.
Sen Sgt Roberts urged the community to let police know ahead of scheduled meets.
