Bills have now passed into law making Christchurch communities safer

For far too long Christchurch residents have had to put up with excessive noise, danger, and intimidation from boy racers.

High-powered cars and younger drivers have created a lethal combination on our roads.
A culture of dangerous driving has evolved, putting lives at risk.

It is a culture that has pushed some communities to the very edge of their tolerance limit.

In Christchurch, a lone policeman was cornered by several hundred boy racers. His patrol car was pelted with bottles and peppered with pot-shots from an air rifle.

In another case, about 100 of these cowardly bullies trapped a lone aviation security guard in her car. She was left covered in shattered glass after the car windows were smashed.

Hospital patients have had to be moved from rooms overlooking the street because of a noise likened to squadrons of dive bombers circling the hospital.

Moteliers in around the Garden City tell of losing tens of thousands of dollars because of rooms that can’t be used.

And then there is the road carnage – on average there are 10 deaths from illegal-street racing a year.

The National-led Government has moved quickly to show that this dangerous, disruptive, antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated.

Less than six months ago, we introduced two bills to strengthen the laws around illegal street racing and give police greater powers to deal with it.

Through public submissions you made it clear you wanted safer communities. Those bills have now passed into law.
 
The Land Transport (Enforcement Powers) Amendment Act allows councils to make by-laws to stop cars cruising the city and suburbs. This legislation significantly increases demerit points for illegal street-racing offences and closes loopholes which have allowed boy racers to get away with ignoring fines.

The Vehicle Confiscation and Seizure legislation introduces a suite of changes including the ultimate sanction of giving the courts the power to send cars driven by repeat offenders to the crusher.

I’m delighted that this Government is taking action against boy racers.  I’m passionate about this issue.  Our bills will go a long way to helping reduce this anti-social behaviour.  

Everyone has the right to feel safe in their homes, their streets, and their communities.

The boy racer laws are part of National’s package of law and order reforms to make our communities safer and to promote the security of law-abiding families.

Watch Nicky Wagner on Back Benches as it heads to Christchurch for the boy racer special.

The Vehicle Confiscation and Seizure Bill

The Land Transport (Enforcement Powers) Amendment Bill

Getting Tough on Boy racers    June 5th 2009

We all have the right to peace and quiet in our homes, and to be safe on our streets.

For far too long the residents of many of our towns and cities have had to put up with excessive noise, danger, and intimidation from boy racers.

We have seen this anti-social behaviour turn into pack mentality and thuggish behaviour.

In one case, a lone policeman was cornered by several hundred boy racers. His patrol car was pelted with bottles and peppered with pot-shots from an air rifle.

In another case, about 100 of these cowardly bullies trapped a lone aaviation security guard in her car. She was left covered in shattered glass after the car windows were smashed.

Hospital patients have had to be moved from rooms overlooking the street because of a noise likened to squadrons of dive bombers circling the hospital.

Moteliers tell of losing tens of thousands of dollars because of rooms that can’t be used.

Horse breeders tell of valuable animals being spooked, causing them to jump or break fences.

And then there is the road carnage – on average there are 10 deaths from illegal-street racing a year, with a social cost of more than $30 million.

New Zealanders have had enough, so the National-led Government has moved quickly to show that this dangerous, disruptive, antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated.

National is strengthening the laws around illegal street racing and giving police greater powers to deal with it.

We have introduced two bills last month that have been sent to a select committee where you can have your say through public submissions.

The Land Transport (Enforcement Powers) Amendment Bill allows councils to make by-laws to stop noisy cars cruising the city and suburbs, and gives police the power to take them off the streets for instant metered tests.

The bill significantly increases demerit points for street-racing offences and closes loopholes which have allowed boy racers to get away with ignoring fines.

The Vehicle Confiscation and Seizure Bill gives the courts the power to send cars owned by repeat offenders to the crusher.

Boy racers who have three street-racing related offences within four years could see their cars crushed. Every new offence will now bring them closer to the crusher. That is the message that we want them to get.

People in our communities are concerned about street-racing. An overwhelming 89 per cent of New Zealanders agree that this get-tough approach is the right thing to do. National is listening to your concerns and we are taking action to make our streets safer.

This months - PoliceNews|The Voice of the Police - has a very interesting series of articles on Boy Racers.   The series gives a good update on current developments here and overseas.  

 click here to read the articles.  

"Attack on Police officer could be the straw that broke the boy racers’ backs"   

"Could crushing the boy racers cars really work?"

"They 'terminate’ boy racers’ vehicles on Arnie's patch"

"What the law currently says about illegal street racing?

"Legal fish hooks with crushing or selling boy racers' vehicles"

"When a life is cheapened….."

"The Polish Solution"

"Upping the ante - boy racers defiant"

 If you are unable to open and read this  .pdf please contact my office and they will post you the article.   I would be interested in your comments.
Nicky

February 2009
I am continuing to progress action on dealing with the boy racers on a number of 'fronts'.  I have met with the Minister of Transport Hon Steven Joyce, the Minister of Police Hon Judith Collins, Mayor Parker, and the Police District Commander Dave Cliff.

Presenting the petition to the Minister Hon Nick Smith, with Hon John Carter and Jacqui Dean MP.

UPDATE...I have been advised that the Transport Select Committee have accepted our petition and they have asked me to make an oral submission in support of it.   If you would like to attend when I do this - please let me know  - you would be very welcome.  

PROGRESS IN PARLIAMENT… FEBRUARY 2009
This week I spoke in the House in the 'Address in Reply' debate and of course I took advantage of the opportunity to continue the pressure.

Here is an excerpt from that speech…

ARTICLE FROM POLICE NEWS MAY 2008

"BOY RACERS: SOCIAL NUISANCE OR SERIOUS PUBLIC THREAT?"