By CASEY NEILL
Hoons are costing lives by using up police time during low risk periods and leaving them short of manpower during the most dangerous hours on the road.
That’s the warning from Greater Dandenong Traffic Management Unit (TMU) Senior Sergeant Scott Roberts, who’s urging the community to help the fight to stop the hoons.
He also warned hoons that police were throwing extra resources at the issue, but said deploying resources to stop them left fewer police available for peak road trauma periods.
“We’re not on the road when members of their family could be in jeopardy,” he said.
Officers broke up a gathering of about 100 hoons in Narre Warren and Dandenong South industrial areas about 10.15pm on 16 April.
“Their mere presence there is creating headaches for us,” Sen Sgt Roberts said.
“It can, if not kept in check, spill into public order issues.
“It’s only a matter of time before someone gets seriously injured or killed.”
Cr Jim Memeti at Monday night’s City of Greater Dandenong council meeting said residents had complained about drag racing along the Dandenong Bypass between 11pm and 2am, and asked that the council report the problem to police.
Sen Sgt Roberts said the police were aware of the problems and would hit hoons hard with roadworthy checks, fines and charges in areas such as Monash Drive and National Drive in Dandenong South.
He said many businesses in the industrial areas had CCTV cameras and police would use footage to track down offenders.
He said most people involved were young and a criminal conviction would affect the rest of their lives.
Sen Sgt Roberts urged the public to note registrations, and even take video footage if safe to do so, and call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
