ST KILDA & PRAHRAN, VIC. — Victoria Police has issued a stern warning to hoon drivers to avoid Melbourne’s south this summer, following a two-night operation which saw 150 hoon vehicles identified and almost 120 defect notices issued in a crackdown in St Kilda and Prahran.
Over two nights, Prahran Highway Patrol, led by Prahran Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Adam Dowling, pulled over 150 vehicles suspected of being illegally modified and inspected them for defects alongside Department of Transport and Planning mechanics.
“Hoon activity generally gears up during the warmer months, and our message to those drivers is: don’t bother – especially in St Kilda and Prahran,” Snr Sgt Dowling said.
The highly visible road safety operation was conducted during the evenings of Friday, October 17 and Saturday, October 18, near The Esplanade and Chapel Street.
There, police identified and deterred alleged illegal hoon activity in the area, as well as getting drug and alcohol impaired drivers and unroadworthy cars off the road.
“Modifying your vehicle can be costly, and having to pay a fine on top of fixing your car after it is found to be defective will cost you even more in the long run,” Snr Sgt Dowling said.
The operation resulted in:
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- 150 vehicles inspected;
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- 117 defects issued, including for oversized tyres, vehicles being raised too high, vehicles being lowered too much, and air suspension without certificates;
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- 25 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) issued for unsafe/unroadworthy vehicles;
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- 11 vehicles, including some motorbikes, were towed for having major defects;
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- Two alleged drink drivers caught;
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- One drug driver caught and
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- Two drivers were caught driving while suspended or unlicensed.
Police will continue to target hoons and run highly visible operations to ensure road safety, with a reminder that this can be anytime, anywhere.
“We have ongoing operations across the southeastern suburbs where we are pulling defective vehicles off the road and issuing infringement notices,” Snr Sgt Dowling said.
