Residents have had enough of hoon vehicle behaviour at the intersection of Patonga Rd and Pearl Beach Dr over recent weeks.
The two seaside villages are small, friendly, caring communities enjoying beach side locations in the middle of Brisbane Water National Park.
But in recent weeks the peace has been constantly shattered by extreme erratic vehicle burn outs at the intersection from as early as 7pm until late at night.
A spokesperson said hoons were spinning their vehicles in all directions, leaving tyre road markings as visible evidence.
Around 60 community members, including the presidents of the Pearl Beach and Patonga Progress Associations attended a meeting organised recently by Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch to address the problem.
In attendance were Commander Darryl Jobson of Brisbane Water Police district, Highway Patrol NSW head Martin Searle and Central Coast Council representatives Boris Bolgoff (Director, Infrastructure Services) and Jeannette Williams (Infrastructure and traffic committee).
Jobson spoke at length on policing roles-and processes, referring to data regarding incidents recorded for the area.
The spokesperson said Jobson said once a phone call has been logged, a job number is allocated, but his records did not reflect the number of residents’ reports to police.
He undertook to brief his staff on recording calls and asked residents to collect evidence, including photos of number plates and videos, when it was safe to do so.
Residents should report incidents on 131 444, with calls to be redirected to Woy Woy police.
“Please request a job number when reporting an incident and email burnouts@pearlbeachprogress.org.au, which will be monitored,” the spokesperson said.
Searle spoke about the role of the highway patrol and how it operates, saying that things such as murder, domestic violence and crimes in process had a higher priority than erratic driving.
Residents outlined concerns for the safety of the general public and bush fire risks.
Police agreed to create a case file for the Pearl Beach/Patonga area, which will result in easier deployment of response patrol vehicles.
They also said the situation would be monitored.
Bolgoff said Williams would look at deterrent options such as line marking, traffic tubes and rumble bars.
There will be a follow up with Council’s Traffic Committee.
Surely the easiest solution is to put a camera and bright light in the area to record any malfeasance and then impound the vehicle for a time or send a show cause letter to the registered owner. Why is it always so hard?
The problem is that many of the cars are either not registered (not displaying plates), or have been privately purchased with the rego not being transferred to the buyer (which means the registered address is no longer the correct address).
Unfortunately, catching them in the act is the only real way to prosecute the offences.
I agree with Bill. We have speed cameras, mobile phone cameras… why is it so hard to place a camera in known hotspots?
Residents have had enough after several weeks? Check out Hansens road Tumbi Umbi. It’s been a drag strip for years and nobody wants to lift a finger. The Police won’t issue a job number if we can’t give them a number plate. I’m not going to stand out there like a target recording number plates etc. The council are not interested and the police don’t have the manpower to patrol regularly.
unbelievable that rego numbers are needed for pro active policing in the are that I grew up in aswell as my father and grandfather being born here aswell constant problem with the same vehicles waterloo ave and trafalga ave Springwood ave I can keep naming streets but pro active policing and not reactive like all government attitudes including local government can change this put speed humps in areas that are large enough to do burn outs or one day or nights one innocent person will fall victim to these foolish behaviour PRO ACTIVE NOT REACTIVE WAKE UPCENTRAL COAST MEDIA POLICE REPRESENTATIVE
Unfortunately all this type of dangerous,anti social behaviour is being inspired by a country that is clearly showing a reluctance to punish crime.Some of the road behaviour that is going from bad to worse here on the Central Coast is not being enforced at all.I witness it every time I’m behind the wheel.It really is time both politicians and police got serious about this issue and give the GOOD road users some protection.
Sadly there is so much more serious crime on the coast now that ‘joy riding’, however dangerous and annoying, cannot be considered a priority. Lack of manpower and huge rise in crime. Huge drug issues. It is everywhere.