Police crack down on infamous ‘chap laps’ event which brought the street to a stand still

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Police say they'll be cracking down hard on a group of drivers who hooned along chapel street as part of an organised meet-up last night. Traffic was diverted and a police operation stood up as cars screeched down the street, clouding it in thick smoke. Community leaders condemned the behaviour, amid calls for more to be done to breathe new life into the inner Melbourne precinct.

Transcript

00:00Smoking up Chapel Street. This event, with the title Bring Back Chaplaps, impressed some onlookers, but not local police.

00:14That's one of our major entertainment precincts. We have pedestrians walking on the footpaths.

00:19If one of those cars get out of control, they're going to take out a pedestrian. It's reckless.

00:24The event was publicised on social media, with hundreds turning out to watch the spectacle, some even jumping on and off the back of a flatbed truck.

00:34Police diverted cars from the area as traffic came to a standstill and issued fines for hooning behaviour and modified cars.

00:42With this driver told, consequences are on the way.

00:46We will identify him, he will be charged and his car will be impounded.

00:51In the light of day, criticism was swift.

00:54It's absolutely disgraceful. Safety for people in and around our roads is of paramount importance.

01:00Chapel Street used to be one of the best places to go. It was a tourist highlight. Now, what you're seeing is it's become a crime hotspot.

01:08Stonington Council has condemned last night's display here on Chapel Street and says it's investing in measures to help make the area safer.

01:16But not all local business owners are convinced it's enough.

01:19Daytime is bad. Now night time's looking bad. The shops are shut down. It's not safe in the streets at night. It's a problem.

01:26It's an issue locals have noticed too.

01:30I see hoons down the street and I'm like, oh, it's just another hoon. Do you know what I mean? Like it just, yeah, you acclimatise to it. But it's definitely visible.

01:37Having lived here and having worked here, it used to be a great place. It's horrible to see this happening.

01:42Police acknowledged not everyone who turned up was there to make trouble.

01:46There's a lot of beautiful vehicles. If an event like that is run well, it's of no harm to the community.

01:52But when you get just that 10% that take it to the next level, it's reckless and it's dangerous.

01:59I love you.

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02:03Please have a freebie of comments.

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02:05So, for a few days.

02:07I love you all.

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