It is so flattering when the Lord Mayor and the other Councillors want to join in on the action. I had previously reported of the very successful 12 month campaign which I initiated to combat car hoons in our CBD.

Parramatta has one of the most enjoyable outdoor dining experiences in Australia. But nothing spoils an evening than hotted up cars and inconsiderate drivers drive past only centimetres away from excessive and obnoxious noise blasted onto diners, not to mention tyre smoke from revved wheels.

A “trial” of sorts has been occurring for over 12 months where Parramatta Council’s rangers were placed in hot spots booking these cars and drivers.

Enough is enough. Those hotted up cars and inconsiderate drivers can take their own so called musical appreciation and tyre smoke and sharing somewhere.

For years now, there exist broad community objections to cars being allowed to have these extraordinarily powerful speakers installed, yet the NSW Road and Traffic Authority does not appear to intend regulating such modifications and considers them legal.

Diners and pedestrians are entitled to conduct their private activities with a reasonable sense of privacy, peace and safety. What these objectionable cars and drivers present are not only a noise pollution but also a vehicle safety as there is a much higher likelihood of these vehicles driving recklessly in our streets.

Following 12 night time campaigns over the last 12 months, Parramatta Council’s rangers have booked over 168 vehicles, fining them $150 for each offence or $300 each for business vehicles. These infringement notices are issued under the relatively new "cause offensive noise from motor vehicle sound system" powers.

During Parramatta Council’s rangers’ campaigns against car hoons, there was a high of 18 vehicles fined from a single night, through to a subsequent drop to as low as 4 vehicles fined each night, demonstrating that these campaigns against car hoons are working but only to a point.

Unfortunately, our rangers must be present to conduct this campaign as often as possible because these car hoons still don’t get it, and still have those hotted up cars and modifications to their sound systems. So campaigns have to continue until such time that car hoons no longer travel in Parramatta or any NSW streets altogether.

Community calls to the NSW Government to address this social problem has not revealed any solutions. Wickedly, I would love to have these car hoons detained and forced to listen to say Barry Manilow music in a closed room, just like we are forced to listen to their’s. Let’s see if they like it! In the meantime, Parramatta will continue to combat car hoons as best as we can.

Thanks to the Lord Mayor and all other councillors unanimously, Parramatta City Council will now examine existing and new programs to combat car hoons. A report formalising these is expected.