16 August 2002

Council Gets Tough On Boy Racers

Auckland City’s get tough policy on boy racers has gone up another gear with the council enforcing night-time and early-morning no stopping zones in the streets of the Domain.

The move follows the successful joint operation between the council and police to remove the boy racers from Quay St. Some of the boy racers have been congregating at the Domain and causing problems.

A special joint committee of the council’s Law and Order, Transport, and City Development committees yesterday (Thurs) agreed to a three-month trial to enforce night-time no stopping restrictions in the roads at the Domain which are becoming regular haunts of the boy racers.

Council and police report increasing anti-social behaviour in the streets around the Domain. Closing the streets at night-time has been considered, but is not a viable option.

The night-time restrictions will not apply to resident organisations who have functions at the Domain. The joint committees were told police would use common sense and discretion in enforcing the restriction.

Inspector Brett England, the Auckland Central Area police controller, told the committee the police already worked with the council’s parking officers and had been successful in eliminating the problem from Quay St.

He acknowledged concerns from some committee members of police resources being able to enforce the new restrictions, but said as it would initially be a specific project, resources would be made available.

Councillor Noelene Raffills, the chair of the council’s Law and Order committee who chaired the joint committees meeting, says the restrictions are necessary to control the hoon behaviour of the boy racers and would be enforced immediately.

“We want to get on and give them a blast,” says Cr Raffills, “let’s make them realise we’re serious right from the beginning and get a new way of behaviour from these people.”

Cr Raffills says the trail will target the roads around the domain most affected by the problem, but council has the ability to extend the restriction to other roads throughout the Domain if needed.

She says there is ample protection for residents and organisations who have functions at the Domain to continue their activities as usual.

“The police will obviously use their discretion and common sense and law-abiding members of the public who may be driving through the Domain to look at the view will not be specifically targeted by the police,” says Cr Raffills.

“Common-sense will apply. This is a specific initiative to solve a particular problem.”

The parking offence of stopping in a No Stopping area carries a $40 fine.
ENDS

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