Boy racer 'reality check' in Christchurch

KIRK HARGREAVES/The Press

TALKFEST: National Mp Nicky Wagner at a Boy Racer Bill community debate.

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The Government's boy racer select committee should come to Christchurch and hear from those bearing the brunt of the problem, National MP Nicky Wagner says.

Parliament is considering a bill to outlaw boy-racer "cruising" and increase punishments including crushing the cars of repeat offenders.

Yesterday, Wagner called on the select committee considering the bill to make the journey "to the city most affected by it".

"I would really like them (the committee) to hear from the people of Christchurch."

Wagner will meet some of those most affected by boy racers at Presbyterian Support on Bealey Ave, Christchurch, tonight.

On Saturday, Wagner attended a meeting of boy racers concerned about the proposals and debated the issue with them.

While Wagner estimated there were 20 people at the meeting, one organiser, 16-year-old Ruth Anderson, said there were only six young people.

Despite the poor turnout, Anderson said the meeting was valuable.

A feature was discussion on how to construct and make a submission.

Anderson agreed there were some "stupid people" who behaved badly in their cars and needed to be stopped but she said most people were just into parading and showing off their cars.

"We don't intentionally disturb people," she said.

However, the cruisers would remain in the city as the slower speeds in the area were better for showing off cars and meeting others.

Anthony Rohan, 27, said his submissions would probably address the issue of noise, particularly having a standard tested at warrant of fitness time rather than individually when a person was pulled over.

While there was a consensus that some behaviour needed to be stopped, Rohan said the car-crushing proposals were nothing more than an "emotive" response to appeal to the public.

"I don't think, practically, it's going to do much."

Wagner said it was a pity the boy-racer culture had got out of hand as there was now a "sense of entitlement" among the racers.

While there were "a couple of young people who felt they were being victimised", the boy-racer laws were a response to a real problem, she said.

Two incidents of attacks on police and security guards had galvanised action, she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News