Fatal night reminder of need for 'Boy Racer Bill'

Christchurch streets were blocked by hundreds of boy racers on Saturday night, with one person killed and two seriously injured in accidents, prompting United Future's Marc Alexander to say the 'Boy Racer Bill', already hastened by United Future's backing, can't come soon enough.

"These thugs-on-wheels have plagued our communities, polluted our neighbourhoods and tormented the public for too long," Mr Alexander, the party's law and order spokesman, said.

"The cars are bad enough, but the behaviour of the spectators, the drugs and drink, the willful public damage and the stench of burnt rubber has got to end, to say nothing of the safety issues for the public and the racers."

The Land Transport (Street and Illegal Drag Racing) Bill is already being fast-tracked, thanks to United Future's backing.

"Labour's Clayton Cosgrove initiated the Bill, and United Future has been involved all the way along and we're glad to give it the final push into law.

"In fact, as deputy chair of the select committee working on the bill, I can honestly say we've given it the teeth it requires to fulfil its intent," Mr Alexander said, referring to changes allowing more workable impounding of offenders' vehicles.

"These road hogs will lose their cars as well as their pride, and the public will regain our streets again."

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