The new Wild West

A SUNSHINE North man will be without his new car for the next 30 days, having been caught hooning three days after registering the vehicle.

He joins a growing list of Brimbank residents contributing to the west’s reputation as the hoon capital of Victoria.

The man, 20, was caught driving at 160km/h in Hoppers Crossing last Wednesday night. Four passengers aged 17-19 were in the car.

A police spokeswoman said Brimbank had the second-worst record in Victoria, with 1113 cars impounded since hoon laws were introduced in July 2006.

The man will have to pay almost $700 to have his car released after 30 days. He will be charged on summons with speeding, dangerous driving, failing to comply with conditions of his permit and other traffic offences.

Under harsher anti-hoon laws introduced in 2011, cars can be impounded on the spot for 30 days for a first offence.

Police can apply to the courts to have vehicles owned by serious or repeat offenders impounded for up to a further three months.

Courts can also order the permanent forfeiture of cars.

About 170 cars were crushed in Victoria in 2012.

—Helen Grimaux