Police have impounded 208 cars on Wyndham’s roads in the past 15 months and, from Saturday, more impoundments can be expected when laws are widened.
Victoria Police figures reveal 115 male drivers, aged 26 and over, lost their cars for a range of offences between January 1, 2014, and March 31 this year, including for speeding, driving dangerously and driving when already disqualified.
The statistics show 79 male drivers, aged 20 to 25, also had their cars impounded in Wyndham during the same period.
In comparison, 14 women across all age groups had their cars impounded.
Recently, a man aged in his 20s lost his car for 30 days after state highway patrol members caught him eating an ice-cream sundae and steering his Toyota Corolla with his knees, along the Princes Freeway at Point Cook.
Another man had his BMW sedan impounded after police clocked him driving 156km/h in an 80km/h zone on the Princes Highway in Werribee. The 31-year-old told police he had only had the car two days.
Police can impound a vehicle immediately for 30 days if the driver is caught committing a high-risk driving, dangerous driving, or hoon driving offence.
From August 1, first-time drink- driving offenders who register a blood- alcohol reading higher than 0.1 will also have their cars impounded.
Westgate Road policing adviser Damien Madden said Wyndham was an impoundment hotspot, followed closely by Melton. He said the changes to impounding laws were good from the perspective of road safety.
