hoon

At the turn of the 20th century in Australia, the term {{linktext|hoon}} (and its rhyming slang version "silver spoon"){{cite book |title=A Dictionary of Australian Underworld Slang |last=Simes |first=Gary |year=1993 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=UK |isbn=0-19-553499-9 }} had a different meaning: one who lived off immoral earnings (i.e., the proceeds of prostitution, as a pimp or procurer of prostitutes).{{cite book |title=Working girls : prostitutes, their life and social control |last=Perkins |first=Roberts |year=1991 |publisher=Australian Institute of Criminology |location=Canberra |isbn=0-642-15877-0 |url=http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/lcj/working/ch4-5.html |access-date=4 April 2007 |archive-date=6 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070406205634/http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/lcj/working/ch4-5.html |url-status=dead }}

Linguist Sid Baker in his book The Australian Language suggested that hoon (meaning "a fool") was a contraction of Houyhnhnm, a fictional race of intelligent horses which appears in Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift.Richards, Kel: [https://web.archive.org/web/20060504174226/http://www.abc.net.au/newsradio/txt/s1613704.htm Hoon], ABC NewsRadio, 2008.

It may also be a portmanteau word combining "hooligan" and "goon."

The term hoon has obtained a semi-official use in Australia, with police and governments referring to legislation targeting anti-social driving activity as "anti-hoon laws". The term has even begun to appear in the titles of legislation, e.g. Victoria's Transport Legislation Amendment (Hoon Boating and Other Amendments) Act 2009.

In Western Australia, the Road Traffic Amendment (Impounding and Confiscation of Vehicles) Bill 2004,[http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/bills.nsf/BillProgressPopup?openForm&ParentUNID=A1E7E98B96551D3748256E4D00241B18 Road Traffic Amendment (Impounding and Confiscation of Vehicles) Bill 2004], Parliament of Western Australia, 23 June 2004. which was passed by the Parliament of Western Australia in June 2004, empowered the Western Australia Police to confiscate and impound vehicles found to be engaging in excessive speed or noise.Ministerial Media Statements: [http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=114812 Anti-hoon laws pass through Parliament] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611051141/http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=114812 |date=11 June 2009 }}, Government of Western Australia, 17 June 2004. The law was used to impound a Lamborghini after a mechanic was caught speeding in it; he had been driving without the owner's knowledge. The police claim that the law does not permit them to release the car under the only legal course of action available to the owner, that of "hardship". The police retorted that, having the means to own it, "he can afford to hire a vehicle."{{cite web|url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/gp-loses-lamborghini-thanks-to-hoon-mechanic-20100108-lyim.html |title=GP loses Lamborghini thanks to hoon mechanic|work=Brisbane Times|date=8 January 2010 |access-date=26 July 2011}} The owner complained that the law amounted to "mandatory sentencing without trial". The Western Australian Police Minister, Rob Johnston, "admits the laws are unfair but says he stands by them".{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/08/2788412.htm?site=perth |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110161659/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/08/2788412.htm?site=perth |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 November 2012 |title=ABC Online |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=8 January 2010 |access-date=26 July 2011}} Former Western Australia District Court Chief Judge Antoinette Kennedy described the minister's reaction as "the politics of envy".{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/03/26/2857721.htm |title=Chief Judge Kennedy hangs up her robes|publisher=ABC News|date=29 March 2010 |access-date=26 July 2011}} After all hoon-related offences, the defendant's licence is cancelled and experience accumulated on it is returned to zero.

In the state of Victoria, hoon-related offences include burnouts, doughnuts, drag racing, repeated driving while disqualified and high-level speeding were added to Section 84C of the Road Safety Act 1986 in July 2006. Victoria Police have impounded an average of ten cars a day under the laws,[http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=16499 Hoon Laws], Victoria Police, 29 July 2008. with over 5,000 vehicles confiscated and impounded two years after their introduction.[http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/DOJ+Internet/Home/About+Us/Media+Room/News+Archive/JUSTICE+-+Thousands+Caught+Under+Tough+Hoon+Laws+(Video) Thousands caught under tough anti hoon laws] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124135420/http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/DOJ+Internet/Home/About+Us/Media+Room/News+Archive/JUSTICE+-+Thousands+Caught+Under+Tough+Hoon+Laws+%28Video%29 |date=24 January 2009 }}, Department of Justice, Government of Victoria, July 2008. By contrast, the hoon boating laws of Victoria currently centre on offences involving dangerous behaviour and do not yet reference offences relating to public order or amenity.See the Transport Legislation Amendment (Hoon Boating and Other Amendments) Act 2009 and its amendments to the Marine Act 1988.

In Queensland, the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 allows members of the Queensland Police to impound the vehicles involved in prescribed offences.[http://www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/roadSafety/hoons.htm Road Safety: Hoons], Queensland Police. The laws relating to confiscation of vehicles for offences such as street racing, time trials and burnouts were strengthened in 2002. Further laws introduced in July 2008 provided for the confiscation of vehicles for repeat offenders involved with drunk driving, driving while suspended or driving with illegal modifications.

The maximum penalty for hooning in Queensland is $4,712 or six months imprisonment.[https://www.qld.gov.au/law/crime-and-police/types-of-crime/sentencing-fines-and-penalties-for-offences/ Sentencing fines and penalties for offences], Government of Queensland. Retrieved 18 August 2015. Repeat offenders can lose their vehicle for 48 hours for the first repeat offence, up to three months for a second repeat offence, or permanently for a third repeat offence. On 11 August 2008, a number of confiscated vehicles were auctioned by the government; the remainder were crushed and sold as scrap metal.[http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=54546 Qld hoon laws lead to big car auction] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611010521/http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=54546 |date=11 June 2009 }}, Australian Associated Press, 7 July 2008.

In New South Wales, the word hoon is actually contained in the name of the legislation – the Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Car Hoons) Act 2008 enacted in July 2008 – which introduced new measures against street racing and increased fines. Previous legislation provided only for the vehicles of repeat offenders to be forfeited to the Crown, but the Car Hoons Act allowed for them to be used in crash testing by Transport for NSW, for educational and deterrence purposes, and roadworthiness testing in the context of modifications.[http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/rulesregulations/penalties/street_racing_burnouts.html New penalties for street racing and burnout offences] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219003651/http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/rulesregulations/penalties/street_racing_burnouts.html |date=19 December 2008 }}, Roads & Traffic Authority.

In South Australia, the relevant legislation is the Criminal Law (Clamping, Impounding And Forfeiture of Vehicles) Act 2007.{{Cite web|url=http://www6.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/sa/consol_act/cliafova2007527/index.html|title=CRIMINAL LAW (CLAMPING, IMPOUNDING AND FORFEITURE OF VEHICLES) ACT 2007}} The legislation, amended in December 2009,{{cite web |url=http://legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/B/CURRENT/CRIMINAL%20LAW%20%28CLAMPING%20IMPOUNDING%20AND%20FORFEITURE%20OF%20VEHICLES%29%20%28MISCELLANEOUS%29%20AMENDMENT%20BILL%202009.aspx |title=Amendment December 2009 |date=22 November 2021 }} directs that, upon conviction for a 'prescribed offence'{{Cite web|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/sa/consol_reg/cliafovr2007636/s4.html|title=prescribed offence}} the motor vehicle be forfeited to the Crown; the Police Commissioner then has discretion to sell or otherwise dispose of it, i.e. crush it.{{Cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,26431054-5006301,00.html|title=crush it}} At the end of 2010, 62 cars had been impounded by the courts. None were worth more than $1600 and many were not capable of reaching 150 km/h.{{cite web|first=Miles |last=Kemp |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/south-australian-laws-to-crack-down-on-powerful-hoon-cars-only-caught-unmodified-bombs/story-e6freuzr-1225976987192 |title=South Australian crack down on powerful hoon cars only caught unmodified bombs|publisher=Daily Telegraph|date=28 December 2010 |access-date=26 July 2011}}

In Tasmania, police officers have the power to confiscate and clamp motor vehicles where drivers commit certain types of "hooning" offences. These powers are contained in the Police Offences Act 1935 and the Traffic Act 1925. The "hooning" offences to which they apply include unlawful entry on land with a motor vehicle, failing to comply with a direction to leave a public place, "hooning" behaviour such as causing a loss of traction in your wheels or creating unnecessary noise, recklessly or negligently driving, holding a race without a permit, evading police, driving over 45 km/h over the speed limit and driving whilst disqualified.

It is an offence to commit certain types of "hooning" behaviour, including operating a motor vehicle in a way that deliberately creates unnecessary noise or smoke, unnecessarily accelerating or causing a loss of traction (for example, by doing burnouts or drag racing) or racing against another vehicle. This offence is contained in the Police Offences Act 1935. The maximum penalty for this offence is 20 penalty units (i.e. $2,800), 3 months’ imprisonment or both. Also, a court may order that the offender be disqualified from driving for a maximum period of 2 years.

Since the 2010s there has been a rise in hoon gatherings with hoon crime rings in relation to criminal activity uploading their images and videos on social media. The names of these hoon criminal groups include the "Black Bandit" in Victoria and the "Mexican Hoon Cartel" in Queensland.{{cite web|title=Gang of hoons egg each other on by filming their illegal stunts across Victoria|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/gang-of-hoons-egg-each-other-on-by-filming-their-illegal-stunts-across-victoria/news-story/945783409aa2d595cac355454083af6d|first=Jessica|last=Evans|work=The Herald Sun|date=June 20, 2013|access-date=25 June 2019}}{{cite web|title=Teenage 'ringleaders' of petrolhead gang the 'Mexican Hoon Cartel' are arrested in dawn police raids – as the group vows to terrorise locals and 'tear up streets like the law doesn't exist'|url=https://pressfrom.info/au/news/australia/-77562-teenage-ringleaders-of-petrolhead-gang-the-mexican-hoon-cartel-are-arrested-in-dawn-police-raids-as-the-group-vows-to-terrorise-locals-and-tear-up-streets-like-the-law-doesnt-exist.html|work=PressFrom|date=15 August 2018|access-date=25 June 2019|archive-date=26 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626143229/https://pressfrom.info/au/news/australia/-77562-teenage-ringleaders-of-petrolhead-gang-the-mexican-hoon-cartel-are-arrested-in-dawn-police-raids-as-the-group-vows-to-terrorise-locals-and-tear-up-streets-like-the-law-doesnt-exist.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Police charge teens over Gold Coast's Mexican Hoon Cartel|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/police-charge-teens-over-gold-coast-s-mexican-hoon-cartel-20180815-p4zxod.html|first=Toby|last=Crockford |work=Brisbane Times|date=15 August 2018|access-date=25 June 2019}}{{cite web|title=Alleged hoon ringleader's home raided by Gold Coast Police|url= https://www.mygc.com.au/alleged-hoon-ringleaders-home-raided-by-gold-coast-police/|editor-first=Matt|editor-last=McDonald|publisher=MyGC|date=October 21, 2020|access-date=21 October 2020}}

• Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton was described as a "hoon" by a magistrate as he fined him A$500 after being caught by Victoria Police performing fishtails and burnouts in his Mercedes-AMG C63 two days before the 2010 Australian Grand Prix.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/lewishamilton/7527854/Lewis-Hamilton-Formula-1-drivers-Mercedes-impounded-by-police-in-Melbourne.html |title=Lewis Hamilton: Formula 1 driver's Mercedes impounded by police in Melbourne |work=The Telegraph|date=26 March 2010 |access-date=26 March 2010 | location=London | first=Andrew | last=Hough}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia_pacific/10143347.stm |title=F1's Hamilton charged over 'loss of vehicle control' |publisher=BBC News Online |access-date=23 May 2010 | date=23 May 2010}}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/lewishamilton/7962618/Lewis-Hamilton-fined-after-acting-like-a-hoon-in-Australia.html |title=Lewis Hamilton fined after 'acting like a hoon' in Australia |work=The Telegraph|date=24 August 2010 |access-date=29 August 2010 | first=Tom | last=Cary}}
• In a similar case to Hamilton's, former NASCAR driver and Stadium Super Trucks founder Robby Gordon was caught performing doughnuts in a Stadium Super Truck outside a Darwin, Northern Territory nightclub following a race at Hidden Valley Raceway. He was fined A$4,150 after pleading guilty on four traffic charges and his Confederation of Australian Motor Sport competition visa for future Australian events was suspended.{{cite web|last=van Leeuwun|first=Andrew|url=https://www.motorsport.com/truck/news/robby-gordon-fined-4000-for-darwin-burnout-920297/|title=Robby Gordon fined $4000 for Darwin burnout|publisher=Motorsport.com|date=18 June 2017|access-date=19 June 2017}} In addition to indefinitely prohibiting him from racing in Australia, the visa ban placed the future of the racing series in Australia in doubt.{{cite web|last=Howard|first=Tom|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2017/06/20/cams-deny-gordon-future-competition-visa/|title=CAMS to deny Gordon future competition visa|publisher=Speedcafe|date=20 June 2017|access-date=20 June 2017}}
• Texas Motor Speedway calls its Global RallyCross Championship race held during Firestone Firehawk 550 weekend as the "Hoon Kaboom", as many GRC cars are similar to types of cars "hoons" will typically drive.
• Rally driver Ken Block incorporated the term in his marketing campaigns, and amalgamated the word into his team name – Hoonigan Racing Division.
• The term is used in the original Mad Max to refer to the bikers stalking Max's family.
• In Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, Bruce the Hoon was a barbarian hero whose exploits were recounted over and over again by Truckle the Uncivil.

• Car tuning
• Boy racer
• Rice burner
• Skate punk
• Street racing
• Evo Street Racers
• Lowrider
• Scraper (car)
• Sideshow (automobile exhibition)

{{Reflist}}

Category:Australian slang

Category:Driving

Category:New Zealand slang

Category:Hazardous motor vehicle activities