A major long weekend crackdown on hooning has led to eight arrests, dozens of fines and the seizure of two Ford Falcons, with Queensland police vowing there will be “more consequences to come”.
Officers disrupted an alleged hooning event involving about 30 vehicles across Brisbane and Ipswich between May 2 and 3 as part of Operation X-Ray Antler, targeting dangerous driving and illegal street gatherings across southeast Queensland.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Police swoop on hoons in major crackdown
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Police said the operation was only the beginning, with investigators now combing through CCTV, social media and intelligence to identify more drivers involved.
“The message from us is those people can expect a visit from police shortly,” North Brisbane District Acting Superintendent Michael Hogan said.
“The broader community are sick of the hooning and the police are taking a zero tolerance approach.”
Two vehicles — a blue Ford Falcon and a silver Ford Falcon — were seized during the operation, while officers issued 66 traffic infringement notices, including fines for speeding, spectating at hoon events and driving defective vehicles.
Two alleged offenders who initially escaped were later tracked down by the dog squad and arrested.
Among those charged was a 20-year-old man allegedly caught stealing tyres near one of the hooning events before being chased down by police in Eagle Farm.
Authorities allege the illegal meets are increasingly linked to wider criminal offending, including thefts and dangerous driving.
“They’re engaged in serious criminal activity that has resulted in serious consequences, including the loss of lives,” Hogan said.
One driver who allegedly evaded police during the weekend operation was later seen performing dangerous driving manoeuvres on the Gateway Bridge, filling the roadway with smoke.
“Just drove straight into a cloud of smoke and the rest is history, the car in front with his headlights off was just doing all the burnouts,” one motorist told reporters.
Police said a Highway Patrol unit intervened before the situation escalated further, though the driver has not yet been charged, with investigations into the Gateway Bridge incident remain ongoing.
The crackdown comes amid growing concern over the dangers linked to hooning culture in southeast Queensland.
In March, police charged a 24-year-old Sunshine Coast man over an alleged burnout incident in Hemmant ending with a Ford Falcon engulfed in flames with four people inside.
Police allege the vehicle caught fire during the activity, leaving all four occupants seriously injured.
A 20-year-old man suffered critical leg injuries and spent weeks in hospital undergoing multiple surgeries.
“It’s not worth losing your life, causing a loss of life,” Hogan said.
“For anyone who has friends or families involved in this activity, please urge them to realise the danger of the activities they’re engaging in.”
Police said the groups involved were typically aged between 18 and 20 and often travelled between different industrial areas and roads across southeast Queensland to avoid detection.
Authorities denied all vehicles involved were stolen, but said many were unregistered or unroadworthy and tyres used for burnouts were often stolen from businesses across the region.
“We have identified a number of what we would call groups that are participating in this activity,” Hogan said.
Queensland Police said more targeted disruption operations are planned in coming months as part of a broader strategy to stamp out dangerous driving and illegal street racing.
“Police have no tolerance for these senseless offences and will continue to run targeted operations to identify, disrupt, and take enforcement action against hooning,” Hogan said.
