Demerit point hog shocks Mordialloc cops
Wes Hosking and Jon Andrews
01Jul08
MORDIALLOC police are astounded after nabbing a motorist who racked up a whopping 86 demerit points.
The 27-year-old Ashwood man, allegedly driving on a twice suspended licence, had his Honda sedan impounded after a routine check in Warrigal Rd, Mentone.
Sen-Constable Tim Luscombe said he had only ever seen drivers with up to 20 demerit points.
``It would be a world record,’’ Sen-Constable Luscombe said.
``It is the sort of thing you needed to recheck.’’
The motorist - caught on Sunday - will be charged on summons and could face a jail term.
``It just a blatant disregard for the law,’’ Sen-Constable Luscombe said.
``He wasn’t concerned until he had to get a cab home and watch his car being towed.’’
Standard demerit point penalties in Victoria
10 - Caught between 0.05 and 0.07 or under the influence of drugs
8 - Speeding by 45km/h or more
6 - Speeding by 35km/h to 45km/h
3 - Using a mobile phone while driving
3 - Not wearing a seatbelt
2 - Failing to keep left
1 - Fail to dip headlights, driving at night without headlights and tail lights on or following too closely
Source: VicRoads
Since July 1, 2006, 36 hoons have been caught by Mordialloc, Chelsea and Cheltenham police.
In another shocking case, Mordialloc police clocked a 27-year-old Hoppers Crossing motorcyclist doing 200km/h in a 60km/h zone.
Another eight motorists were nabbed at 140km/h or more, and 18 people were busted for burnouts, fishtails or doughnuts.
Victoria Police statistics show drivers at 160km/h travel at 44m-a- second and would take at least 154m to stop.
Under the hoon laws, motorists caught speeding excessively, doing burnouts or driving improperly forfeited their vehicle for 48 hours.
Further offences risked a three-month confiscation or permanent loss of a vehicle.
So far, almost 5000 vehicles across Victoria have been impounded.
RACV spokesman Peter Daly said hoons have got to be taken off the road.
``The message is clear and confiscation should be enough of an incentive to behave properly, but obviously it is not getting through.''
