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Boy racers in Christchurch - Source: ONE News -
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Christchurch police say they are winning the battle against boyracers, despite angry businesses saying city roads were bedlam at the weekend.
Bealey Avenue businesses questioned whether police were too accustomed to well-publicised boyracer problems, after thousands took to Christchurch streets on Saturday.
They created traffic chaos and gridlocked the city centre in the wake of the annual Rotary car show.
They were furious police described boyracer antics as "acceptable" after being subjected to what one motelier described as the "worst display in 16 years".
But police operations at the weekend were about road safety and proved successful, District Operations Commander Inspector Craig McKay says.
The Rotary event was well run but brought huge number of car enthusiasts into city. They were not the people police were targeted, he says.
"It's those people with illegally modified vehicles who drive carelessly and recklessly."
They were the same noisy drivers that kept people awake at night.
"A small percentage of hardened criminals are causing illegal driving. And when we seize their vehicles they don't have that ability."
Police were sending a strong reminder that they would not be tolerated, he says.
Reports of traffic gridlock of up to two hours were not accurate, he says.
When Christchurch's four avenues were gridlocked cars were put through different routes and traffic was moving within 20 minutes, he says.
Seventy staff were on duty at the weekend and, supported by court bailiffs and New Zealand Transport Agency staff, conducted vehicle inspections and wrote 67 cars off the road. As well, 17 people were arrested for minor offences and more than 300 infringement notices were issued.
On Saturday night, Harper Ave through Hagley Park was at a standstill for nearly half an hour as motorists clogged the road.
An ambulance, lights flashing, became embedded in the traffic and had to be helped through by police.
Confused drivers, some elderly, were told by police to take alternative routes away from the chaos.
One motelier said a large group of boy racers parked outside his business for hours. They invaded his property, smashed bottles, urinated and "yahooed", he says.
However, the absence of any major incidents led police to say the behaviour was "of an acceptable standard".
That infuriated the motelier, who said Bealey Avenue on Saturday night was the worst he had seen in 16 years.
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says he was out with police on Saturday night and they managed the situation well but there was still a boyracer problem in Christchurch.
He says the police comments were in response to their success in heading off planned burnouts and illegal gatherings.
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