Police hoon blitz nabs dozens for antisocial behaviour
Nearly 60 fines were handed out - but it's hard for police to be everywhere at once, as recent damage shows
Police have declared a two-day blitz on antisocial and “dangerous” hoon-like driver behaviour a huge success, issuing dozens of infringement notices across several notorious hotspots.
Despite those efforts, just days after the police crackdown in late July, hoons in hotted-up cars were back at one of their favourite locations, inflicting maximum damage on a grassy area at North Wollongong’s Stuart Park.
Council builds a wall
Wollongong City Council last month placed more than 50 large sandstone blocks as barriers to protect the area used by skydivers at Stuart Park.
The latest act of vandalism is in an area to the west, close to the skydiving base.
On the first weekend of August, hoons broke through a lock to get access to the parkland, creating deep scarring of the grassy landscape.
Chef Nick Manias says more police patrols are needed in the area to stamp out the “out of control” antisocial behaviour.
In the 1990s, Nick was head chef at the famous Lagoon restaurant at Stuart Park and had a running battle with hoons he said were treating the roadway to the Lagoon as their own private drag strip.
“We lost a lot of business in those days because our diners hated the noise and smell of the fumes and burning tyres.”
As reported in the Illawarra Mercury at the time, Nick threatened to take matters into his own hands if police weren't able to resolve the issue.
“It’s disappointing that the same area is again being targeted by these idiots,” Nick said. “They clearly have no appreciation of the damage they’re causing, which the rest of us have to pay for.”
Nick now operates a successful Greek taverna on Bourke Street which he says has also been impacted by noisy vehicles revving their engines and performing burnouts right outside.
More police action needed
“We need more police patrolling places like this and impounding vehicles which are clearly illegal and shouldn’t be allowed on our roads.”
In the recent blitz, codenamed Operation Spoiler, NSW Police issued 70 infringement notices and ordered more than 50 drivers to rectify vehicle defects.
Police said the joint operation, at the end of July, targeted highly modified and defective vehicles involved in antisocial driving behaviour in the Illawarra. The operation also targeted vehicles which breached noise standards.
The cars were identified in a number of areas including Wollongong CBD, Mt Keira, Darkes Forest, Knights Hill and Stuart Park.
Led by Police Traffic and Highway Patrol, Operation Spoiler had the support of the Environment Protection Authority and Transport for NSW.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command Inspector Michael McKechnie said the operation was a success in taking dangerous cars off our roads.
Hotspots targeted
“The operation was not only static. During these times, Highway Patrol officers were deployed to hotspots known for dangerous driving offences,” Insp McKechnie said.
“Two drivers were allegedly detected doing burnouts in Stuart Park. These drivers were directed straight to the Bulli Showground site, where they were issued with traffic infringement notices for sustained loss of traction, and yellow labels for other defects detected during the inspection.
“Police and the community are sick of these cars doing burnouts, driving dangerously and creating excessive noise. If you attend these locations, expect to be stopped on the night by police or directed to present your car for inspection.”
Operation Spoiler resulted in 58 defect infringement notices (fines), 25 major red label defect notices for vehicles unable to be driven, which were towed from the showground, and action to be taken against 18 drivers by the EPA related to excessive noise.
