Region's boy racers get message ... mostly

A car with a welded diff was one of the most dangerous finds during a police operation targeting illegally modified cars and boy-racer behaviour.
Over the  past three weekends vehicles have been thoroughly examined at checkpoints, resulting in nine ordered off the road and a further five impounded for driving offences.
Senior Sergeant Ian Campion of road policing said the worst vehicle had the diff welded into place, making handling and control difficult, and uncertified lowered suspension.

Motorists were slapped with a pink sticker, ordering their vehicles  off the road, for a range of non-compliances, among them cut springs, noisy exhausts, bald or damaged tyres, dangerous fittings on the dashboard which could cause injury in a crash, and crash damage.
The vehicles  are unable to be legally driven until repairs  are made and a new warrant of fitness issued.
Five vehicles were impounded as a result of drivers doing burnouts, street racing or displaying excessive speed or acceleration.
Operation Smoke, as it was known, also involved a New Zealand Transport Agency compliance officer and bailiffs from the fines collection unit.
Overall, Mr Campion said vehicle standards had improved, with less cars having illegal modifications or noise levels.
Mr Campion said the Western Bay traditionally experienced an increase in boy-racer activity from October onwards, peaking over the Christmas and New Year period.
"It's encouraging that there appears to be a lower number of vehicles out there with serious defects."
Mr Campion said the improvement could be put down to drivers getting the message, not being out and about at the times the checkpoints were set up, or the economic situation meaning car owners had less money to spend on modifying vehicles.
"We'll wait and see over the holiday period," he said.
The drivers of street legal vehicles were rewarded with vouchers from Tauranga McDonald's restaurant.
These vouchers will continue to be issued by police throughout the year.