Transport Minister Chris Bishop. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The government has announced harsher penalties for boy racers and fleeing drivers, as it tries to clamp down on anti-social road behaviour.
New legislation is proposed to target drivers who don't stop for police, while speeding or driving dangerously, those taking part in unauthorised street racing or doing burnouts, intimidating convoys and unlawful dirt bike gatherings, or those who cause excessive noise by having siren battles.
A presumptive sentence of vehicle destruction or forfeiture for street racers, those fleeing police, convoys and vehicle owners who fail to identify offending drivers is expected to be set.
Vehicle owners who fail to immediately provide information on a driver who has used their vehicle to flee police will also face a court-ordered fine of up to $10,000.
Infringements for making excessive noise from a vehicle will also increase from $50 to $300. The court-ordered fine will increase from $1000 to $3000.
New legislation will target street racing and other unlawful gatherings. Photo: Police/Supplied
The new penalties give police more ability to manage illegal vehicle gatherings by closing off areas and issuing infringements.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop said New Zealanders were sick of seeing "idiot drivers" putting the community at risk.
"At present, the penalties for anti-social or intimidating driving behaviour aren't strong enough to deter this appalling behaviour," he said.
"Police reporting shows some types of anti-social road events are actually increasing in frequency. We're saying enough is enough."
Bishop said the changes would be introduced in new legislation, expected mid-2025.
"The legislation will establish a presumptive court-ordered sentence of vehicle forfeiture or destruction," he said. "This means, if someone is convicted of these offences, courts must order that vehicle be destroyed or forfeited to the Crown to be sold."
Police Minister Mark Mitchell said anti-social behaviour on the roads and illegal street racing had no place in the country.
"People have had enough of boy racers and their dangerous, obnoxious behaviour," he said. "These people drive without regard for the danger and disruption it causes to our communities.
"They have no consideration for anyone other than themselves. Our message is clear - if you want drive dangerously, face the consequences."
Mitchell told RNZ boy racers were a big drain on police resources.
"They've been running big operations against these boy racers," he said.
"This is covering illegal street racing, intimidating convoys, unlawful dirt bike gatherings, and siren battles as well, all of which police have to deal with now, but they don't have the powers that they really need to be able to clamp down and send a real deterrent effect out there, and that is why we've given them much stronger powers to be able to deal with it, and the courts as well."
Mitchell hoped the legislation would have a big impact.
Labour calls 'distraction'
However, Labour Party police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said the government's announcement was a distraction from changes it made to pay equity laws this week.
The law change, rushed through Parliament under urgency, means 33 claims - representing thousands of workers - must be restarted.
Just giving police more powers was not enough, Andersen said.
"This government is using it as a distraction from the fact that they have taken away from working women and also that they're failing to get on top of methamphetamine and organised crime.
"This government has had more success in crushing the rights of working women than it has ever had in crushing cars."
More police officers would be needed to make the new legislation work, Andersen said.
"We know that having the frontline well resourced and able to respond quickly is the best way to get on top of boy racer activities.
"Just giving the police more powers is not enough," she said.
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