Western Australia has a hoon problem. It exists everywhere to some extent, I suppose, but I never encountered it in the parts of Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia I lived in previously.

Hoon activity can be doing a burnout; dangerous or reckless driving; racing another vehicle, speeding, and accelerating or braking and skidding wildly.

I think it’s fair to say WA is the hoon state of Australia and Kalgoorlie-Boulder is the hoon capital. I saw some figures last year which showed there were more hoon arrests here than anywhere else.

The State Government began legislating to fix the problem in 2004. I’m pretty sure the laws have been made even tougher and it’s now possible for citizens to “dob in a hoon” without being required to give evidence in court.

Hoons are generally young males driving souped up cars who drive at excessive speeds in built-up areas.

I headed out for a walk at 6.15pm this evening. I was nearly at the Hannans School when I saw a hoon race past. In the few seconds that followed, these were my thoughts in actual order:

i) What an idiot;
ii) Why didn’t I bring my mobile phone;
iii) He’s going too fast for me to take a picture or see the number plates;
iv) Where are the police when you need them?

The hoon had just got around the corner and was revving his engine to accelerate again towards the next intersection.

Immediately, I heard a police siren! Nankiville Road doesn’t normally have police parked in it, so either they were waiting for this idiot or they were there for another reason.

Whatever, I expected to see the hoon pulled over. It surprised me a little when he turned up Graeme Street and didn’t seem to be slowing down. I thought he was probably going too fast to stop and still expected to see him pulled over as I continued my walk in the same direction to the telephone tower.

It wasn’t to be; the hoon led police on a chase. The police must have seen him turn onto dirt tracks at the back of the Hannans golf course, because I encountered the police turning back the opposite way, presumably to intercept the hoon.

I don’t know how it turned out; will be an interesting news story to follow up tomorrow.

What can be done to stop hooning? I think the politicians are right to make the laws tougher. In my opinion it should be two strikes and you’re out. Impound their vehicles and sell them on the second offence.