14 May 2002 Media Statement

Government moves on illegal street racing issue

MP Clayton Cosgrove’s Land Transport (Street and Illegal Drag Racing) Amendment Bill was introduced to the House as a government Bill today.

Associate Transport Minister Judith Tizard led the debate in the first reading of the Bill, asking for Parliament’s support to give Police more tools to deal with the problem of illegal street racing in Auckland, Christchurch and wider New Zealand.

“We’ve come to a point where people will not put up with this any longer. Clayton Cosgrove has listened to the call of his community. I asked him to talk to the Auckland Mayoral Forum after concerns they raised last year. He has done that. He has consulted with the community on a wide scale on this legislation.

“This is an example of the House working in a constructive, cooperative way and particularly an example of a good local MP taking an issue which is not just of local but of national concern … to Parliament,” said Judith Tizard, who is also the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister with Auckland Issues.

Judith Tizard says Police and the Land Transport Safety Authority have given ample opportunities for people to check the safety of their vehicles, and many car owners have gone out of their way to do so. However, others have not.

“These are people who are not prepared to accept the law. The problem has become a real fear in many areas. They have mobile phones, they are listening to police radios, they are able to move extremely quickly.

“I want to compliment the Manukau City Council and Mayor Barry Curtis who has gone out of his way to provide venues for people who have … souped up their cars and want to race each other or just to ruin their tyres on roads that have had diesel spread on them, and I must say I find that particular pastime completely incomprehensible.

“I don’t dignify them by calling them boy racers because many of them are not boys and I don’t think we should give them any title which glamorises the pastimes they’re indulging in.”

[NB: Check speech quotes against Hansard]

ENDS

© Scoop Media