FED-UP police have threatened to use little-known legislation to deregister cars involved in drag racing and burnouts and have vowed to also have onlookers in their sights during a crackdown on street racing.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
And with statistics suggesting more than 40per cent of cars seen at Newcastle’s traditional hoon spots were registered to people aged over 40, senior police are warning parents that they need to know where their driving children are or risk losing the family vehicle.
Newcastle City local area commander John Gralton will launch a crackdown on hoons on Thursday, warning anyone who frequents known drag-racing spots, such as Kooragang Island and Steel River, that they are on notice.
Superintendent Gralton said the crackdown would be different to other police operations at known car hoon spots, and would also target car owners and onlookers.
It could include using legislation to deregister cars as well as confiscating them.
A recent snapshot of a known hot spot showed more than 40per cent of the cars were registered to parents, and 45per cent of the drivers were either learner or provisional drivers.
It also suggested only 20per cent of the cars were from
Burnout marks in Greenleaf Road in Kooragang, at one of the popular hoon spots.
Newcastle, with another 20per cent from Lake Macquarie, 30per cent from the Lower Hunter and Port Stephens areas and the final 30per cent from the Central Coast and Sydney.
Police would also be targeting anyone trespassing, underage drinking, offensive behaviour, traffic obstruction and public order offences.
Superintendent Gralton said the ‘‘hoons’’ were risking lives and those around them by racing in dangerous and unlawful conditions.
‘‘Some of this behaviour may have been going on for decades, but we are serious about catching those who drive in a dangerous or potentially deadly manner,’’ he said.
‘‘Ignore this warning at your peril. There will be consequences to your actions when you are caught.’’
Superintendent Gralton said car owners were also on notice.
‘‘We will be ringing all registered owners and speaking to them about the driver’s behaviour, or even if it was an observer because they are part of the problem,’’ he said.
‘‘This is not about car enthusiasts, they can be as enthusiastic as they like and we support them in their interests.
‘‘But we do not support anything to do with dangerous driving or putting the community at risk or being someone who supports dangerous driving and putting the community at risk.
‘‘You won’t know when or where we’ll turn up, but car hoons – you’re on notice.’’
