By Alesha Capone
Police have impounded almost 600 vehicles in Wyndham in two years as a result of driving offences including hooning, speeding and drink-driving.
Victoria Police statistics show that between July, 2017, and June last year, police impounded 302 vehicles in the Wyndham area.
Eighty-eight of those vehicles were destroyed under the state’s anti-hoon laws.
Between July, 2016, and June 2017, police impounded 296 vehicles in Wyndham, including 71 vehicles that were destroyed. The statistics relate to vehicles impounded in Wyndham, not the number of Wyndham residents whose vehicles were impounded.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said police could impound vehicles such as cars, trucks and motorcycles for up to 30 days.
“Offences for which a vehicle can be impounded are serious,” he said.
“The most common reasons for impoundments include drink and drug-driving, excessive speed, driving while disqualified or suspended, unlicensed driving, improper use and careless driving.
“Police will take every opportunity to detect and prosecute those engaging in these dangerous behaviours and get them off our roads.
“Impounding their vehicles is an effective way to do this … it’s timely to remind hoons and other dangerous drivers that we now have increased powers to impound their vehicles.”
Under rules that took effect in October last year, police can impound the vehicle of a driver who is caught behind the wheel while unlicensed, or with a disqualified or suspended license, including for a first offence.
“On-the-spot impoundment is also now available for drug-driving, drink-driving with a blood alcohol concentration of below 0.1 and recklessly damaging an emergency vehicle if the driver has been convicted for any impoundable offence in the previous six years,” the spokesperson said.
“Taking away the ability of these drivers to put themselves and others in danger is a powerful tool to prevent death and serious injury on our roads, and we will use these powers wherever an opportunity exists to keep our roads safe.”
