Burnout gran says six-month driving ban unfair

Police nabbed Lee Smith after she did a 9m burnout. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today

A 50-year-old Napier grandmother known as "Mumsy" to boyracers says her disqualification from driving for six months after being caught doing a burnout is "over the top".

Lee Smith, of Napier, pleaded guilty in the Napier District Court to one charge of sustained loss of traction.

And she said the 9m smoking burnout had reflected badly on her "mates" in the boyracer scene.

"I let a lot of people down, including the boyracer scene, and I apologise to them. It gets a bad enough rap without me doing something stupid as well."

At 2.20am on November 11 last year, Smith was sitting in her Mitsubishi FTO sports car in the Domino's Pizza carpark on the corner of Heretaunga St West and Tomoana Rd in Hastings.

The carpark is a popular hang-out for boyracers and there were four other cars in the parking lot at the time.

Smith accelerated quickly, causing the wheels of her car to lose traction for five seconds, and a large plume of smoke was emitted. The burnout left a 9m black tyre track.

Unfortunately for Smith, her burnout was spotted by police.

Defence lawyer Michael McAleer said "she is incredibly embarrassed at her age facing this charge".

Smith told Hawke's Bay Today she was "letting off steam" after finding out about a car crash near Meeanee which involved her friends.

"As I took off, I felt it going down and, to my detriment, I did not stop it and I've driven a car long enough to know what to do."

She said she was "ashamed" of what she had done. But she felt the mandatory six-month disqualification was harsh.

"Six months is what someone gets who drinks and drives."

Smith said she had had a spotless driving record with "not even a speeding ticket".

"Compared with a drunk driver or a speeding driver I got penalised more."

Smith started cruising with boyracers between five and six years ago and described them as "good kids" and "car enthusiasts".

She said her conviction would not stop her cruising on a Friday or Saturday night.

Several boyracers had already let her know they would drive her next time.

Judge Tony Adeane also fined her $300 with court costs of $130.

"This was the sort of behaviour we encounter with immature young men," he said.

"I would not have thought you would be doing burnouts in your FTO at your age."