Council and Police together combat hoon activity in Frankston City
Published on 27 August 2021
Frankston City Council and Police are working together to tackle hoon activity in Frankston City.
Mayor Kris Bolam said the Community Local Law 2020 includes clauses specifically defining hoon activity and making it illegal, while also prohibiting people from attending or encouraging hoon events.
Mayor Bolam said: “In recent years a number of ‘hoon events’ have taken place within the Frankston municipality.
“They usually take place in less populated areas after dark and can be difficult for police to deal with under current State legislation.
“Participants and spectators gather at a site after having received details of the event’s location on social media sites,” Mayor Bolam said.
Mayor Bolam added: “In an effort to reduce the risks to individuals attending and also encouraging hoon events, it was proposed a clause regarding hoon events and attending such events be introduced in the Community Local Law.
“Council’s Community Safety Team drafted the proposed Local Laws, obtained external legal advice and introduced them following consultation with the community and the Councillors.”
The Mayor noted the Community Local Law 2020, introduced in August 2020, includes:
Clause 2.6 Behaviour involving Vehicles
(a) Any person who participates in, encourages or attends a hoon event without lawful excuse is guilty of an offence.
(b) The driver of a motorised vehicle must not stop or park in close proximity to a hoon event without lawful excuse.
Clause 4 defines a hoon event as one or more vehicles being driven on a road or in a public place in a manner involving the loss of traction; racing; time trials; or the emission of undue noise or smoke.
North West Ward Cr Sue Baker said Council’s Community Safety Officers regularly meet with members of Victoria Police and have developed a process where information regarding possible breaches of the Local Laws are reviewed by police.
Cr Baker said: “In circumstances where there appears to have been an offence committed by an individual an infringement notice may be forwarded by Council officers to the registered owner of the vehicle involved.
“The infringement notice has a penalty of $500. Recipients can have the infringement notice reviewed in accordance with provisions of the Infringements Act 2006 or pay the $500 penalty.
“If the recipient of an infringement notice does not have the infringement notice reviewed or make the relevant payment, the matter will be referred to the Magistrates’ Court by Council. The court can increase the amount of the penalty up to $2000 and can also interfere with a person’s driver licence via a suspension or cancellation,” Cr Baker said.
Cr Baker said to date there have been more than 50 infringements issued.