A 19-YEAR-old Launching Place driver is hundreds of dollars out of pocket and went without a car for 48 hours after having it impounded on 14 July.
Healesville Police in an unmarked car called the tow truck in after catching the driver doing burnouts in Maddens Lane at Coldstream about 10.30pm.
“He would have had to pay $457 just to get the car back, and that’s without any fines he might receive when he faces court,” said Senior Constable Steven Colverd.
The driver has been charged with improper use of a motor vehicle.
“If he’s caught again he can lose the car for three months and if there’s a third offence we can apply for the car to be forfeited altogether,” he said.
The Launching Place driver is the first case of impoundment by Healesville Police under the anti-hoon legislation after towing contracts were finally allocated in the Yarra Valley just over two months ago.
The Eastern Community Legal Centre has another message for hoon drivers and it’s about the ripple effect of having someone else’s car impounded.
Michael Smith, manager of the Eastern Community Legal Centre, said some young people were unclear about the consequences of committing hoon driving offences in someone else’s vehicle, and the costs involved in getting an impounded car back.
“Some hoon offences are having a major impact on the driver’s friends and family because the car may be theirs. It is impounded regardless,” he said.
The centre has put together a simple fact sheet about the legislation, which explains what are considered hoon-related driving offences and the possible penalties and costs.
“Families may find this helpful to remind young people that apart from endangering themselves and others on the roads, they risk losing their most prized possession, their car, possibly permanently, said the centre’s Outer East coordinator, Denise Budge.
For a copy of the brochure or to speak with a lawyer phone the centre on 9762 6235.
The centre, based in Boronia, provides a free legal service at Yarra Junction, Lilydale and Rowville.
Sen Const Colverd said he hoped the message would spread among local drivers that hooning comes at a cost.
