July start for bylaw targeting boy racers
BY SAM SACHDEVA
Relevant offers
An anti-cruising bylaw targeting boy racers has been adopted by the Christchurch City Council.
The bylaw, which comes into force from July 1, will ban groups of cars from cruising on some Christchurch streets at set times, with offenders facing a fine of up to $1000.
However, opponents said the bylaw was unlikely to stop boy racers from cruising in the city.
At a council meeting yesterday, Mayor Bob Parker said the bylaw would help reduce the "debt of discomfort" that many Christchurch residents had experienced as a result of boy racers.
"We mustn't hesitate – I will be damned if we're [Christchurch] not the first off the blocks on this issue."
Most councillors favoured the bylaw, saying residents from their communities would be happy with the crackdown.
However, councillor Yani Johanson said it was unlikely to be effective and would be difficult to enforce.
Johanson said the law had been "rushed through" without consideration, and could be circumvented by boy racers.
However, he said he would support the bylaw because "it's all we've got".
Club K car enthusiasts spokesman Anthony Rohan said the bylaw was unlikely to stop boy racers, who would exploit loopholes and keep cruising.
Boy racers would move to suburban areas without restrictions, and cause new problems for police.
The Government needed to give local authorities more powers to deal with boy racers, he said.
"I feel sorry for the council; they're doing everything in their powers with the bylaws they have, but, unfortunately, it's not really enough."
Acting road policing manager Senior Sergeant Trevor Pullen said police were "supportive of any new legislation which gives police the ability to deal with [boy racers] more effectively".
However, Parker said he would write to the Government about the "ludicrous" levels of signage required to enforce the bylaw.
Council staff had estimated that the 1000 signs required for the bylaw would cost $340,000.
Officials are requesting an exemption for the signs from the Ministry of Transport.
BYLAW DETAILS
Cruising is defined as "driving repeatedly in the same direction over the same section of road in a motor vehicle that (a) draws attention to the power or sound of the motor vehicle being driven; or (b) creates a convoy ... and (ii) impedes traffic flow".
Police have told the council they will interpret "repeatedly" as more than once, while a convoy will be interpeted as two or more vehicles "with a common purpose".
WHEN
Cruising is prohibited between 10pm and 5am, seven days a week.
WHERE
Areas covered under the bylaw include:
All multi-lane roads under the control of the council.
All of Main Rd (from Ferry Rd to Marriner St, in Sumner).
All of the Esplanade.
The single-lane portion of Deans Ave.
Manchester St (between Bealey Ave and Moorhouse Ave).
Rossall St. Helmores Lane.
PENALTIES
Breaching the cruising bylaw can mean a fine of up to $1000, or an infringement fee of $150.
- © Fairfax NZ News
Sponsored links
Newest First
Oldest First
This bylaw is a joke! its not going to stop boyracers and to the 'anti bogan snob' who said we are all 'unemployed drips' u obviously have no idea at all what you are on about. most of the people i know from laps are either happily employed (how else do u pay for a 20 grand car) or at university being educated. If boyracers were left alone like they used to be none of the problems would happen. its Bob and morons like you that have no idea what is actually happening because have you ever been out????no, you just sit at home and complain. and as for argueing a case, i know people from uni studying law that are out lapping on fri and sat nyt, and from your mis informed post i can see they would argue a case a hell of alot better than you. :)
this new bylaw will only cause more problems. The rules that have come in in the past havnt stopped boy racers but only provoked them more.The people laying the complaints at the moment are hotel owners and residnts that live on fitzgerald avenue, bealy avenue and parts of deans avenue. This new bylaw is only going to cause complaints from more residential areas. Boy racers will not give in they will just move on
what will the car loads of "young" people do once this law comes into play and they want to have a night out with their mates? they will go into town,drink more, party more, drink drive more ,do more burnouts in more areas,litter bottles and fast food rubbish in more places,create more widespread noise,get into more police chases ,probably killing more innocent people just because the police decide that they want to target this car load of "young" adults for the hell of it,and so the "young" adult driver will decide he wants to evade the police for the 'hell' of it because he is being harassed.its not like the police can even hope to keep up with half the cars on the road today anyway,and alot of "young" drivers out there are more skilled,sensible and logically orientated (ie they understand the physics behind how a car handles in a particular condition) than the police anyway so why chase them again and again at high speeds? all for what ? so more people can die? all because the police harass a 'young' driver with a Japanese import.and why not keep the issue contained instead of creating widespread havoc which the police wont be able to handle? at the end of the day its going to cost tax payers a whole lot more to pay for the police's destroy all boyracers scheme than to provide a regular alternative such as Ruapuna .
Are they going to prosecute the cars or the drivers? If a car is driven around a circuit once and a new driver takes over and they repeat the circuit is this an offfence under the new laws? The car might have gone around twice within the specified period of time but the person in control hasnt. Can the driver be charged or is the actual car at fault? I think this law is is nonenforceable a bit of joke really just like most of Bobs egotistical ideas.
Are they going to prosecute the cars or the drivers? If a car is driven around a circuit once and a new driver takes over and they repeat the circuit is this an offfence under the new laws? The car might have gone around twice within the specified period of time but the person in control hasnt. Can the driver be charged or is the actual car at fault? I think this law is is nonenforceable a bit of joke really just like most of Bobs egotistical ideas.
Not everyone wants to go to bed at 10pm. Not everybody has a nice 9 - 5 job where they get to sleep at regular hours. 10pm - 5am is peak hour for a lot of shift workers for example.
This 'get in your bed' attitude is what gets me annoyed about Christchurch. I meet tourists who look at me like I can't understand what they're saying when I have to tell them everything shuts at 9 or 10. Please enrol to vote in local body elections. :)
Oh give it a rest. The boy racer defences are almost moronic but its no real surprise considering these guys and girls are mostly unemployed or manual workers. You cant expect these drips to argue a case.
Police will not issue a notice to an obvious family 'cruising for a park'.Grow up, this argument is redundant! They will only issue to obvious bogans in modded buckets who the Police at their discretion will suss out whats going on. Hey if you feel you were wrongly targeted appeal it in court!
Bring on the day when any exhaust from a car or motorbike must not be heard from 5 metres away! Why force your desire to have a loud sound from your cheap bucket of rust on all the rest of us enjoying the fresh air and scenery or reading the paper in our own backyard! Selfish kids.
I'm a kiwi visiting Northern Ireland and uninsured cars with problem drivers are crushed immediately! no second chances and problems here with boy races...bring it on NZ!
This is pathetic means, we will just cruise around neighbor hood then. It will disrupt even more. Good job
Shake-up heading in EQC's direction
Quakes blow Wellington's benchmark
St George's contract to CDHB may lapse
Neighbourhood teams get close to public
Recidivist drink-driver attacked two police
Mine safety refuge 'highly inappropriate'
Brownlee turns up heat on council over rebuild
Prostitute problems spark council action
Candidates wait for final vote tally
Avonhead liquor-store plan draws opposition
Plucky mother intent on recovery
City council issued building permit for flawed design
Limbo land shrinks as properties red-zoned
Dead man in mine apparently collapsed
Civic spirit helps Lyttelton rebuild
City needs cohesive leadership
Sexual attacker helped woman shift
Woman's death lifts earthquake toll to 185
10,000 aftershocks and still no end in sight
Police U-turn on speeding tolerance
Great white no danger - dive firm owner
Hundreds newly red-zoned but many in limbo
Traffic 'chaos' warning for commuters
Plucky mother intent on recovery
10,000 aftershocks and still no end in sight
Log-death boy 'adored by everyone'
Limbo land shrinks as properties red-zoned
Civic spirit helps Lyttelton rebuild
Hundreds newly red-zoned but many in limbo
Horse chasing dog stops cricket match
Dead man in mine apparently collapsed
Do you cycle in Christchurch?
At least they are trying to do something. I live in Avonhead and for some stupid reason seem to love racing up and down my street and going round the roundabout "burning rubber". It wakes you up at all time of the night and is bloodly annoying.