regular hoon drivers

[zedevan]

Even just yesterday I was driving behind an 'internationally' licenced driver in a Honda 4wd who along jonston st between cyclists and other cars nearly changed lanes into someone atleast 4 times

while this person would b just as bad a driver in a normal car, atleast they wouldn't have a massive blind spot, and would only have about half the momentum if they did hit someone

[sco_aus]

sorry, Hondas aren't 4wds, they are a waste of time lol. Any vehicle doing the speed limit (including 40) hitting something is going to do so much damage, so a 4wd doing 100 and car doing 100, it doesnt matter at that sort of speed, the likely hood of surviving are very slim.  Its about prevention, its a monumental task to build a vehicle that will keep someone alive at those speeds (especially head ons and yes they are getting safer these days) and considering some of the older vehicles available, so training people to drive better, drive safer, drive to the conditions, not drive when drunk or tired etc. It is so much more important to be pro active, instead of reactive (ie knee jerk reactions like banning trucks because people in cars keep running into them, which has been a recent topic).

[xrman]

I think the hoon laws need to be more defined than they are now before the crushing of cars can happen as the police like to use it to hastle people for no apparent reason, I found that out when I took off from a set of lights a bit faster than the other people and was pulled over and was read the hoon laws act, when I then replied with the fact I did not speed or spin my wheels the police proceded to tell me I did nothing that they could book me for under the law. Thus I would be extremely upset if the took my car for a month like the police told me they do under the new hoon laws, and that was a first time offence.

[Lightmaster240z]

Sound like a taxi driver to me

[Zedman240]

Sound like a taxi driver to me

If he added "while I did a U-turn in front oncomming traffic" that would be true...

[620Z]

10,000 Cars confiscated and that's the ones that are caught. There must be at least 100,000- not caught so it really raises the question as to what is going on. This Police discretion to use the law as they see fit does leave the door wide open to abuse as well. As I say does the punishment fit the crime? Lose your car, lose your license, lose your job? For what because a cop says you took off from the lights to fast. Hmmmmm

[MaygZ]

I think the hoon laws need to be more defined than they are now before the crushing of cars can happen as the police like to use it to hastle people for no apparent reason, I found that out when I took off from a set of lights a bit faster than the other people and was pulled over and was read the hoon laws act, when I then replied with the fact I did not speed or spin my wheels the police proceded to tell me I did nothing that they could book me for under the law. Thus I would be extremely upset if the took my car for a month like the police told me they do under the new hoon laws, and that was a first time offence.

You got pulled over 'cause you stuck your head out of the crowd.  You didn't get a ticket, you didn't get charged with anything and you didn't lose your car.  You simply got reminded that the cops were there.  Don't make it more than it is.

[MaygZ]

10,000 Cars confiscated and that's the ones that are caught. There must be at least 100,000- not caught so it really raises the question as to what is going on. This Police discretion to use the law as they see fit does leave the door wide open to abuse as well. As I say does the punishment fit the crime? Lose your car, lose your license, lose your job? For what because a cop says you took off from the lights to fast. Hmmmmm

Police discretion allows cops to warn rather than book when they find someone doing the wrong thing.  Police discretion is not using the law as they see fit, it is not making up shiver to book someone.  You don't lose your car for taking off from the lights too fast.  You lose it for bagging them up at the lights (not for a little 'chirp') or for driving like an F-wit!

Drive responsibly, respectfully and within the constraints of the law and never have a problem again!!!

[PZG302]

Police discretion allows cops to warn rather than book when they find someone doing the wrong thing.  Police discretion is not using the law as they see fit, it is not making up shiver to book someone.  You don't lose your car for taking off from the lights too fast.  You lose it for bagging them up at the lights (not for a little 'chirp') or for driving like an F-wit!

Drive responsibly, respectfully and within the constraints of the law and never have a problem again!!!

Habe to agree here with MaygZ....Pass the attitude test and if you haven't been done for something stupid you generally are fine. I have, and have had some very bad cars in terms of attracting attenion form the constabulary. I have been let off for 80 in a 60 zone with a ticket for a bald tyre, no points and cheaper fine, quite a few years ago now in Sydney. Have also been let off for uninsured, but done for unregistered by being polite, friendly and generally passing the attitude test. In both cases I was in the wrong, but was given a figuarative clip over the ear and told don't do it again.

Last weekend I had to drop the work ute off and my partner was following in the XR8 ute. It was wet and she is used to driving a Daiwoo wagon that wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. Leaving a set of lights behind me and beside a police car she lit the ute up and backed off, stopped and accelerated again to light up the back wheels before the traction control cut in. The police looked across, saw a blonde female driver and basically wagged a finger before driving off laughing. It was obvious it wasn't her car and she wasn't being a hoon, just wasn't used to the torque of the 8 and how much she doesn't need to use in the wet.

If anything I tend to get pulled over to ask about the car and what's been done to it and how much they miss theirs, or more recently their dad's, though I did get some strange looks passing a marked police car doing just under the limit when I towed my Z from Sydney last year, the ute didn't know it was towing over 2 tonne and just sat on the 110 set on the cruise control

[Zedman240]

I too was let off after doing something ridiculous like driving on Swanston Walk years ago...For some reason I was in the CBD following a van and before I knew it, he turned onto Swanston and I followed him! After realising where I was, spotted a lane to escape but before I could turn the wheel, divvy van flashing the lights right behind me. Cop came up, told him what happened and when I realized what I did, tried to get off that road asap. I knew not to be a smartass, or talk back and just be civil. I remember him asking what I do for a living, and could I afford a fine. Told him how much I earned and how I couldn't afford anything and after I told him where I worked, asked if I knew an Ashley. I said "of course, we work together". Works out, that cop and guy I worked with were friends and told me "Tell Ashliegh, Troy says hi!" After that he let me go with a "don't do it again!".. Lovely

[zedevan]

was pulled over and was read the hoon laws act

you deserved it :p

ie knee jerk reactions like banning trucks

they should also remove all telephone poles...lol

on another note it would be nice if people were fined for parking in clearway's and turning right when there is a flashing sign telling them not to do so - theses are the people who are going to cause accidents

a few years ago i was pulled over in the zed and told off for taking the car close to its redline (a side street near my house where i often couldn't b bothered changing gears and changing back again in the space of 15metres as required)...they threatened me with 'loss of traction' as they said they heard the tyres chirp (it had just started raining and it was from a t interesection which was covered in bricks), and ended up giving me a canery with rwc for bald tyres (tried explaining that i was aware they had just gone below the indicator, and i was planing to buy new ones in a few days time after my exams had finished - they wouldn't have a bar of it), although i've seen heard that they have to sight two things in order to be able to tick the rwc box?

i'm waiting to be discriminated against in my new car, and when possible i'm driving my xgf's much more unroadworthy '90s hatchback - its nice to be able to pull up next to cops and not have to worry because of their stupid stereo types!

[620Z]

All these warm fuzzy stories are going to make me shed a tear. NOT!
As I say wear a short skirt, show a bit of cleavage or shed a tear, you get off with a warning. Have a set of testicals, hotted up car and the dodgy cops fine you. I guess my point is consistancy. And they should be professional and not take things personally. People shouldn't have to suck up to cops to get let off?  Police should be consistent. Problem is plenty of them think they are too good and have massive ego's that need to be fed with lots of sucking up. Like that b!tch on TV who just starts finding anything wrong with a car because some guy showed some attitude. If they can't take it and be mature/professional about it maybe they shouldn't be in the job. But to simply just get a person and fine them as much $ as they can because some young guy objects to their Mr Meaner in the first place. Hmmm Sorry I won't suck up anybody's bum even if it means getting a fine. Don't like cops and never will. They have lied and cheated to me too many times. Even threatened to arrest me for laws that didn't exist. (Not car related)That's a whole other story.
But again I say. 11 knifings in Melbourne last weekend. Plenty of offenders not caught. And those who are get off with lighter sentences than a so called "Hoon" drivers. They don't go to jail, they get fined bugger all and good behaviour. But drive fast, get fined more $, lose your car and possibly your job. Sorry but I must be the only one here who thinks more resources should be redirected from driving offences (Not drink driving) to street violence. But we all know which one is easier and safer for the cops to tackle. Plus with more convictions, less court time it's easier to go the soft target.
But don't get started. Ha Ha

[PZG302]

I think it all comes down to attitude, if you treat someone with respect, generally that will be returned. I have never sucked up to anyone, but I treat others the way I would like to be treated and that seems to work for me.

If you want to be targeted and have your car canaried off the road then by all means have attitude and be a smartarse. Being polite, calm and respectful when stopped has never seen my car then being gone over and hit with dodgy road worthy issues. There is a big difference between being respectful and sucking up. Look at the people coppers have to put up with most of the time, if you are polite and don't have an attitude it will throw them As they are not used to not being abused....

[gav240z]

Sorry but I must be the only one here who thinks more resources should be redirected from driving offences (Not drink driving) to street violence. But we all know which one is easier and safer for the cops to tackle. Plus with more convictions, less court time it's easier to go the soft target.
But don't get started. Ha Ha

Craig I do and don't agree with you. I agree with you because as a young male when I first started going clubbing and out to places like Chapel St or Crown Casino (sorry this is Melbourne), or even in Sydney city center on a Friday night I used to feel pretty un-safe even with my friends. You definitely see lots of fights, now I'm not saying you don't see the same thing in Ireland, because it happens here too. However there is definitely a lot of aggression amongst young men in Australia.

 I think a lot of it, has to do with a small group of minorities who think the law doesn't apply to them. Yes there are stabbings and all sorts of unsocial behavior. Unfortunately a lot of these same people happen to drive around in hotted up sedan's of (particular manufacturer's who will remain nameless because I don't won't to stereotype).

So Police naturally feel that targeting this group of people will also prevent other crimes. Various studies show that by stopping smaller crimes often it helps prevent larger ones.

You have to view it from both sides is what I'm getting at.

Take this video on youtube as 1 example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlNdS512KV0

I'm not saying Lebanese people are the problem here BTW. It can be anyone displaying this kind of attitude. Just look at the abuse they get, look through any of those related videos. You can see why all "hoons" get grouped under the 1 umbrella.

The problem is Craig you are effectively doing the same thing to the Police by saying that all cops are bad or just pick on you for no reason.

Sure I've been pulled over before. I recall 1 night I was pulled over in my 260z and the cop was just asking me standard questions to make sure I wasn't up to anything. My friend in the passenger seat started to get really agitated and upset. He was saying why are you picking on us for? I said to him just be calm and don't worry. The cop was asking my friend what his problem was, because I was calm they didn't hassle me, but because my friend was giving attitude he was pressing him further.

Another time I was driving around (with no particular destination in mind), just because I wanted to drive. I saw a booze bus and I went past it several times on the other side of the road. As I went by I pushed the clutch in and gave the car a little rev. I went by maybe 3 times, till finally on the 3rd pass I decided to go through the booze bus. 1 of the cops came up and said I saw you going by and giving it a little rev. Then he decided to pull me to the side and inspect the car. He would have fined me too if he had the time, but they had to pack up and leave. Looking back I certainly deserved it, I was after all being a smart arse.

On the way back from Mornington once I was speeding in the Z and got pulled over. I knew I was in the wrong. I didn't try and lie my way out of it. Sorry officer I didn't know etc.. Instead I took it on the chin and he said to me. I'd be careful with that exhaust as I'm tipping its over the limit. He didn't fine me, though had I been a smart arse hey may have considered it.

Now I don't usually wear a skirt or show cleavage, unless I'm pretty drunk that is . So I don't think it has to do with that.

Of course there will be times where you get a Cop who has had a bad day or just wants to book you for the sake of it. They are human and imperfect like us. Likewise some are on a power trip and abuse that power. However you have to keep in mind these guys see bad accidents with young males wrapped around poles, trees and other crap. I'm sure many don't sleep well at night because of it.

Driving a hotted up car is like a red flag to a bull. You should expect more Police attention than if you were in a sleeper (hence the term sleeper because nobody expects it). Complaining about it, is like when women dress up and wear revealing clothes then whinge about getting wolf whistled at. It goes with the territory is what I'm saying.

I guess at the end of the day, the Police are there to serve and protect, however that means sometimes they have to lay down the law too. That also means you will sometimes be unlucky and get a random pull over and check done.

If you want to really blame someone, blame the media. They are always looking for a way to sensationalise a story it gets viewers for their program, it gets pensioners up in arms and it turns the community on car enthusiasts. Likewise if the media is constantly reporting car hooning and showing young men wrapped around trees Police will crack down because the community is demanding it.

And finally to end this friendly discussion I want to ask the question.

What is the difference between "regular hoon drivers" and "non-regular"? Is it like unleaded vs leaded?

[pantah]

If you want to really blame someone, blame the media. They are always looking for a way to sensationalise a story it gets viewers for their program, it gets pensioners up in arms and it turns the community on car enthusiasts. Likewise if the media is constantly reporting car hooning and showing young men wrapped around trees Police will crack down because the community is demanding it.

Too true...........Young blokes have been wrapping themselves around trees,etc for years.Its not new,just seems to be for the media.
Maybe the problem is all the pent up aggro in young people these days..............Alot of the fun I had as a kid has been restricted in the last 20 odd years.　People these days get pissed and cant control all that pent up stress,etc and it comes out as aggressive anti social behaviour.It gives regular hoons such as myself a bad image........Thats what I dont like !