FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday 2 February

The government's planned crackdown on boy racer thugs should start by dealing first with noisy exhausts.

For years, New Zealanders have been terrorised by the roar of modified exhausts in neighbourhoods and towns all over New Zealand. The urban terrorism is at its worst in many central city areas, creating nightmares for hotels and restaurants as well as many homeowners. In recent weeks, one Christchurch hospital has begun moving patients to avoid the stress of weekend noise from boy racer exhausts.

New Zealand lobby group Noise Off says police accept that a booming muffler has become a badge of honour for boy racers. It is the symbol, and the single biggest cause of offensive boy racer behaviour.

Spokesman Jonathan Gillard says despite pleas from thousands of New Zealanders, the previous government failed to act on the exhaust issue. Boy racer behaviour is now spiraling out of control. It is damaging to New Zealand business and New Zealand tourism. And it is transforming New Zealand's international image into something more like the Wild West.

ENDS

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