Hundreds of young drivers spent Monday night hooning around Melbourne's northern suburbs with police vowing to fine at least 300 people up to thousands of dollars each.

More than 500 people gathered for hoon meets in Sunshine West, Tullamarine, Derrimut and Keilor Park areas, police said, driving across the northern suburbs from one location to the next doing burnouts, skids and other dangerous driving.

Police wearing body cameras went to the meets in unmarked patrol cars, where officers pepper-sprayed one 17-year-old boy who they say started behaving violently. The teen was released and is expected to be charged with hindering police and offensive language.

By Tuesday afternoon, investigators had identified 180 people who they said will be fined, but that number is likely to increase as police review their footage.

Most people at the meets were from the northern suburbs and between 18 and 23 years old, but some travelled more than an hour from areas like Wallan and Cranbourne to be there.