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Home / New Zealand

Residents rally to banish boy racers

By Alisa Yong
Wairarapa Times-Age·
28 Sep, 2015 06:15 PM3 mins to read

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SCARS: The ugly aftermath of boy racers. PHOTO/FILE

SCARS: The ugly aftermath of boy racers. PHOTO/FILE

Working with car clubs, opening a burn-out pad, and offering free warrant inspections and safety education are just some of the options being discussed by Masterton Neighbourhood Support members keen to get boy racers off the streets.

About 30 Masterton people met with representatives from police, Masterton District Council and Wairarapa youth council at the Frank Cody Lounge on Thursday to discuss how to overcome speeding, burn-outs and congregations of boy racers in the town.

Ross Turley, who lives in Villa St, said his main concern was the safety of residents, particularly children, with some boy racers on his street clocked at 130km/h.

"It's basically used as a drag strip. They seem to just take off at the intersection and it's just flat out."

Richard Johns, of Wainuioru, said large numbers of boy racers sometimes met near the Brancepeth Bridge and he was worried about what would happen if there was an emergency.

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"We have congregations of over a 100 cars turn up and camp on the road and block the road.

"It's just disgusting."

Other residents from Loop Line, Manuka St, Harley St, Titoki St, West Bush Rd and Oak St said they were frustrated by cars being driven through fences, late night burn-outs and excessive speed.

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Some raised questions over police resources and how often boy racers could be prosecuted.

Police youth and community services manager Sergeant Ian Osland said getting the number plate was essential, with legislation allowing police to pursue the registered driver.

"If we can get a number plate, we've got a good chance. Without that it's pretty hard.

"Once we get all that sort of information then we can look at the prosecution aspect and if we've got a good eye-witness ... then there's definitely enough for the prosecution."

Police could lobby for a number plate recognition machine to be deployed in Wairarapa, Mr Osland said.

Mayor Lyn Patterson said young people who did not know the roads and driving at high speed were "an accident waiting to happen".

The council was looking at making changes to some roads but there was a risk changes could create new problems.

"Sometimes you think you've got a solution but it just creates another issue ... you move the problem, so there's no easy solution."

Mr Turley, a warrant of fitness inspector, said one solution could be to give free warrant inspections combined with safety education programmes to young drivers.

Glenda Seville from the youth team at Connecting Communities suggested car clubs could take a leading role and mentor boy racers.

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"They are the kind of people who have trailers and have the knowledge and the skills and should be encouraging young people to do the right thing."

The lack of a designated place to do burn-outs was also an issue that needed to be addressed.

Neighbourhood Support co-ordinator Heather Wilson asked for volunteers so ideas discussed at the meeting could be investigated.

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