The Government has unveiled a hard-hitting new law aimed at cracking down on boy racers and dangerous street driving, following a rise in illegal street racing and dirt bike convoys in Auckland and other centres.
The Anti-Social Road Use Legislation Amendment Bill, introduced to Parliament this week, sets out a range of new offences and penalties, including vehicle forfeiture, road closures, and sharply increased fines for excessive noise.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the legislation sends a clear message to those engaging in illegal and anti-social road use.
“New Zealanders are sick of seeing boy racers and dirt bike riders putting everyone around them at risk,” Bishop said.
“We’re taking action by bringing in much tougher penalties for idiots who use our streets as racetracks. If they want to drive dangerously, they will face serious consequences – and they won’t like them.”
Under the Bill, anyone caught fleeing Police, doing burnouts, or taking part in intimidating vehicle convoys faces presumptive vehicle destruction or forfeiture. In most cases, the courts will be required to either sell or destroy the offending vehicle, unless doing so would be deemed unjust or cause hardship.
The Bill also empowers Police to close roads and public areas, including parks and carparks, and issue $1000 infringement notices to anyone who refuses to leave. Fines for excessive vehicle noise will also increase from $50 to $300.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell said the new laws are designed to bolster the strong enforcement work Police are already doing.
“Police are already doing an outstanding job of responding to these illegal gatherings. This Bill will back them with the tools they need to go further,” Mitchell said.
“Boy racers only care about one thing – their car. Once they realise they’re not getting it back, they’ll think twice about fleeing Police or driving dangerously.”
The legislation follows a series of recent incidents across Auckland involving dangerous driving. On July 19, hundreds of car enthusiasts participated in a so-called “ Auckland invasion” avoiding enforcement by rapidly switching locations communicated via social media.
In June, another unauthorised street racing event in South Auckland saw more than 100 vehicles take over major intersections, blocking traffic and intimidating residents.
Earlier this year two people were hospitalised after a vehicle lost control during a burnout event in East Tamaki. Police have also been responding to a growing number of late-night “siren battles” and dirt bike convoys through central suburbs, often live-streamed.
The Bill, which will receive its first reading in August, includes a four-month Select Committee process to allow for public consultation.
Key provisions of the Bill include:
- Vehicle forfeiture or destruction for those fleeing Police, engaging in burnouts, or participating in intimidating convoys.
- New fines of up to $10,000 for vehicle owners who fail to identify drivers involved in illegal acts.
- Expanded Police powers to close off public spaces to vehicle gatherings and remove people who fail to comply.
- Higher infringement fees for excessive noise and other nuisance behaviour.
Exceptions to vehicle destruction will apply in cases where the owner is not the offender (unless they refuse to name the driver), or where forfeiture would be manifestly unjust or cause undue hardship.
The Government says the legislation is part of a broader effort to restore public safety and confidence in the country’s road network. “Communities have had enough, and so have we,” said Bishop. “We’re restoring order to the roads — and making sure the message is clear: if you put lives at risk, you’ll lose your car.”
Despite the new bill, a self-proclaimed boy racer, who didnt wish to be identified, spoke with Auckland News and said he was unconcerned by the new legislation:
” Every few years the government try to bring in new laws to try and put us out of business- and it never makes any impact.”
” Drivers are smarter now, and they know that you need to keep your sh*t up to date, keep your specs tight and they (Police) cant do anything really. If they move us on from one place, we just go somewhere else-its simple really, ” he added.
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