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Illegal boy racing on the streets of New Zealand - Source: ONE News -
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In Christchurch, a reluctant hotbed of boy racer activity, a move announced by government is being embraced by businesses and residents who feel they have been victimised by them for too long.
When the boy racers are out in force it's hard to miss. They do circuits around the four avenues, in their droves, endlessly into the night.
Under the new legislation, local councils can create bylaws to stop such 'cruising'. Something the residents hope will finally make them feel safer, and give them a decent nights sleep.
Residents along Bealey Ave have borne the brunt of boy racer activity in the city for years. At weekends, if they have managed to get any sleep with the noise from the street, they wake to a mess of broken bottles, smashed signs and graffiti.
While it comes as good news to many that police now have increased powers, they are too scared to speak publicly for fear of retaliation.
In fact some Christchurch residents say they fear the dark.
"I didn't want to be identified, the congregation of the boy racers outside exceeds 40 cars at times at the lights, the last thing I need is someone to know where I live and to target us," one resident says.
She rings police up to three times some nights.
"I see absolutely no reason why people who hoon around intimidating people, breaking speeding and noise laws, why they should be allowed to get away with it," she says.
One local says they have added a barbed wire fence to give extra security. He likes the thought of boy racer cars ending up in the crusher.
"The ultimate of crushing a car is really the only thing that'll shock them becauset their car is the only thing they have any feelings for," says Peter Rigg.
Boy racers certainly don't share his view.
"I think it's a bit over the top eh, I don't know, it's just having some good fun," says one boy racer.
The catalyst for these tougher laws was a boy racer ambush of a police officer early this year.
"The threat to the illegal street racers, the thing they fear most, is loss of license and loss of vehicle and this legislation covers both," says Canterbury District Commander, Dave Cliff.
With new penalties designed to hit racers where it hurts it's hoped disruptive scenes will become a distant memory.
