Council backs boy racer bill

Council backs boy racer bill

Horowhenua District Council is “strongly” urging Parliament to fast-track new laws aimed at cracking down on anti-social behaviour with vehicles.

The region has been victim to some of the worst offending of so-called “boy racers” – two big incidents in Levin in as many years left police officers injured, bystanders hospitalised, and residents terrified.

In a formal written submission, the council is supporting proposed changes in the Antisocial Road Use Legislation Amendment Bill, seen as essential to protecting both police and the public. The council says the proposed changes would give police the tools they urgently need to prevent similar events from spiralling into violence.

In June 2024, Levin was brought to a standstill when more than 200 vehicles flooded the town without warning. State Highway 1 was blocked and fireworks and rocks were hurled, injuring police.

A similar gathering in May this year (photo above) involved the Armed Offenders Squad and Eagle helicopter. Fireworks were again thrown at police, and a car was used aggressively against police as they tried to disperse the crowd.

In the submission, Mayor Bernie Wanden says these events show why strengthened police powers are necessary.

“These situations are unacceptable for our community,” he says. “We strongly support the measures in this bill.”

The problem wasn’t just in Levin – he noted similar incidents in New Plymouth, Manawatū, Wellington and the Hutt Valley – but “being central to these areas, Levin has been a congregation point”.

Bernie says no community should be exposed to that level of anti-social behaviour and he wants police to be able to stop similar gatherings before they spiral.

“If police had the power then to close the roads before those people arrived, there would very likely not have been the violence, injuries and damage that occurred,” the submission says.

The council is fully endorsing the bill, arguing that it would provide police with “a more comprehensive response” to prevent disruption and violence.

It wants police to have the authority to temporarily close an area of road, introduce tougher penalties and infringements, and outlaw “frightening and intimidating convoy”.

Meanwhile, the council also welcomes the bill’s application to beaches, which are legally public roads, and where there has been an increase in dangerous behaviour.