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Boy racers in Christchurch - Source: ONE News -
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The Police Minister believes boy racers who break the law should have their cars crushed.
Judith Collins' call comes after a police sergeant was shot at and patrol cars damaged during an illegal gathering of boy racers in Wigram on Friday night.
Collins says boy racers in Christchurch are ignoring the law and getting away with it.
She is due to meet with Police Commissioner Howard Broad to discuss the problem and what action to take.
Collins would like to see the cars of repeat offenders crushed if they do not pay their fines.
However, acting national manager of road policing, Inspector John McLennan, says law changes will not help police control the boy racer problem.
He says the laws around the issue are not too bad, but much of the time police do not have the resources to stop the sheer volume of vehicles that are involved.
McLennan says care also has to be taken legally, with police
having to be careful with how far they can go before infringing on
people's rights.
He says someone has to commit an offence before police can take
action.
What do you think should be done about boy racers? Share your view on the messageboard below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentMRV said on 2009-02-03 @ 23:30 NZDT: Report abusive post
If racers race on the roads and needlessly endanger innocent lives then the cars should be crushed. The argument that owners will run holds no water, once the owner is identified then the car will be found sooner or later if there is some good analysis done.
andywams said on 2009-02-03 @ 17:13 NZDT: Report abusive post
This is going to be a problem for a long time and it is definitely going to get worse if nothing is done about it. Why not make all learners only drive a 1300cc motor vehicle until they have there full so they can get a taste of how to drive normally and fit in, just like motor cyclists can only ride 250cc's. How many families must still be destroyed before someone will stand up and say enough is enough. Normal people want law breakers to get punished, it is what keeps the balance. Good luck
doITlegit said on 2009-02-03 @ 16:14 NZDT: Report abusive post
I asked members of this culture what they would do if they were getting pulled over after racing. over 80% claimed that they would run and take the risk of imprisonment just for a chance to keep thier car. A few of these cars have more power than your average super car. making this very dangerous for members of the public. Judith Collins is on the right track. but is taking the wrong approach and I believe She will cause more problems that solutions.
Alexander Wallace said on 2009-02-03 @ 15:56 NZDT: Report abusive post
1950 I had a 1936 MG Midget, 1,098cc. Twin SU. Ragtop. Burgess muffler silencer. OHV head shaved 3/32 inch. Compression ratio 1:7. A 1.5 inch tail pipe was silenced by bunging a potato up it. Injection of builders expanding PU foam might do now. Newtons Third Law of Motion = Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Talk to those who draw attention to themselves? Wrenched awake at 3 am I doubt if I could be coherent. Crush em? No, concrete upright in the ground like tombstones. Grieve for Graveyard Growlers.
TORSENLSD said on 2009-02-03 @ 15:07 NZDT: Report abusive post
Crushing boy racers cars will not help because 1. how do you identify a boy racer from a car enthusiast who may get a speeding ticket or two. 2. The boy racers who actually do burnouts and skids don't give two sh!ts about their car anyway so why would crushing their car make them think twice - they proberbly bought it for a box of beers and $5 anyway. 3. Insurance companys and finance companys won't approve for obvious reasons.