Manukau residents back bill to fight street racing

Oil companies were dragged into the debate over boy racer legislation today, after MPs were told some service stations "gleefully" served the illegal racers.

Manukau City mayor Sir Barry Curtis told the law and order select committee petrol stations in his city were failing to tell police about racers.

Up to 300 cars and more than 1000 spectators turned up "like clockwork" to drag race on city streets each weekend, he said in his submission to the committee.

MPs are considering the Land Transport (Street and Drag Racing) Amendment Bill, promoted by Waimakariri MP Clayton Cosgrove.

Boy racers caused social disruption, drove dangerously and cost the city an estimated $500,000 a year in damage to roads, Sir Barry said.

He had investigated whether "certain service stations" had encouraged the police to attend the early morning drag races, he told MPs.

"I'm sad to have to tell you ... not only was contact not sought with the police, but people very gleefully serve petrol and indeed sell oils and other products to boy racers," he said.

Oil was often spilled on roads, so drivers could perform wheelspins in it.

"The clouds of smoke would lead you to believe if you came upon the incident ... that there was a serious house fire or an industrial fire occurring in a residential community.

"The smell associated with it ... really has to be smelt to be believed.

"You've got good ordinary decent New Zealanders living a decent life ... being besieged by these hoons, impacting on the health of babies, and young children, and young people studying."

Chairman Martin Gallagher said committee members might ask advisers to look at the accountability of oil companies.

That investigation could address their "responsibility and ultimate culpability", with Mr Gallagher suggesting a thread of accountability ran to those who headed the companies.

Sir Barry said his city saw the legislation as the only way of combating boy racers, who were well-organised and "arrogant".

"We are witnessing and experiencing the spectacle of boy racers in residential communities of our city on a scale unprecedented in any other part of New Zealand," he said.

"It's got to be stamped out, and will only be stamped out I believe, by enacting the bill."

The bill aims to "combat the problem of illegal street and drag racing and the practice of performing wheel spins and other dangerous stunts on public roads".

If accepted by government, it would create new offences and strengthen police powers to confiscate cars and prosecute offenders.

Anyone racing cars on streets, pouring substances on the road to do skids or burnouts, or doing skids or burnouts could have their vehicle impounded.

The bill is based on New South Wales legislation.

- NZPA