5. DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East) Link to this
to the Minister of Transport
What measures is the Government taking to curb illegal street racing around New Zealand?
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Transport) Link to this
Yesterday the Prime Minister, the Minister of Police, and I unveiled new legislation to help combat illegal street racing. The Land Transport (Enforcement Powers) Amendment Bill will ensure that the penalties for this antisocial behaviour are a strong deterrent to repeat offending. The Vehicle Confiscation and Seizure Bill allows the police and courts to target those repeatedly committing offences, even in someone else’s car. These two laws will target the things illegal street racers value the most: their cars and their drivers’ licences.
The new legislation will allow local councils to create by-laws preventing cars from repeatedly cruising city streets in a manner designed to bring attention to the power and sound of the vehicle—much like the power and sound of the vehicles opposite. I am sure this will come as a great relief to the residents of the four avenues in Christchurch. The legislation includes tougher penalties for noise offences, failing to give driver details, licence breaches, and registration plate offences. In addition, my colleague the Minister of Police has also introduced legislation to target the worst offenders by taking away their vehicles permanently.
Nicky WagnerThe overwhelming reaction to the proposed bills has been positive. The only negative feedback I have had is from the illegal street racers themselves. The police have said that this new legislation will make a significant difference to the problem. The Automobile Association has welcomed the legislation, saying: “The legislative changes will send a very clear message to illegal street racers”. The Mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker, called the draft legislation “a big step in the right direction”.
Amy AdamsHow are the enforcement penalties designed in the Land Transport (Enforcement Powers) Amendment Bill?
One of the main focuses of the bill is on a greater use of demerit points as penalties. We are introducing demerit points for noise offences, licence breaches, and registration plate offences, and increasing demerit points for graduated licence breaches. This is because it is clear that illegal street racers have not been paying their fines, so the focus will become one of removing licences and/or the vehicle.