Warning as boy racers arrive

Young drivers escaping Masterton to wheel spin their cars are pushing further into rural areas, prompting a warning from police.

Residents living in the Kopuaranga/Mauriceville district and further north towards Eketahuna report boy racers regularly wheel spinning on the sealed roads leaving behind unsightly, black tyres marks and putting themselves and other road users at risk.

Senior Sergeant Warwick Burr, of Masterton police, said police were aware of problems at Double Bridges but it now seemed the irresponsible drivers were pushing further afield.

"If people living in those communities have an issue with them, it becomes an issue for us too," he said.

"We put a lot of resources into trying to stop these drivers and regularly seize vehicles."

Mr Burr said the " key message" was wheel spinning was an "extremely dangerous pastime.

"They can be seriously hurt, or killed and should stop and think about what they are doing."

Mr Burr said if caught the cars would be seized and drivers would face prosecution for sustained loss of traction.

Found guilty they would lose their licence and the legislation allows in some cases for cars to be confiscated and crushed.

People who see or hear cars wheel spinning should immediately report the incident to police and if possible provide registration plate details or descriptions of the drivers.

Mr Burr said reports should be made even if the drivers would have moved on by the time police arrived.

"It allows us to built a pattern on what is happening and where," he said.