Victoria's anti-hoon legislation and policing methods used to prevent hooning behaviour

The Victoria Police (VicPol) has developed a range of strategies and
enforcement programs to target individuals and groups who persist in driving
vehicles in a manner that creates unnecessary risk to other road users. This
group, typically referred to as ?hoons?, tend to perform organised illegal street
racing activities in vehicles that are often defective and unroadworthy. This
paper will provide an overview of the provisions of Victoria?s Anti-Hoon
Legislation introduced on 1 July 2006 and a statistical summary of the extent
and severity of the hooning problem in Victoria. The effectiveness of the
VicPol response to enforcement and targeting of anti-social driving behaviour
will also be outlined.

Furthermore, an overview of the objectives and outcomes of ?Operation
DRAG-SAFE? and other similar problem-oriented policing methods used to
prevent street racing in Victoria will be presented. VicPol has adopted a
partnership approach with Municipal Councils to dealing with anti-social
drivers through the development of Hoon Hotlines with the ability to record
and monitor ?hooning? complaints made by members of the community on the
Hoon Hotline Data Base. The effectiveness of the Hoon Hotline Database in
monitoring anti-social driving behaviour, otherwise known as ?hooning? will be
outlined. This will enable delegates to examine the suitability of Victoria?s
response to hoon-related driving behaviour for application in their own
jurisdiction.