Antisocial driving: Car ban proposed for Waikato trouble spots

There has been nn increase in late-night antisocial driving behaviour in the Waipā region.

Moves to crack down on antisocial driving in parts of the Waikato region are shifting up a gear as the Waipā District Council seeks feedback on its plans to ban vehicles from certain rural and industrial roads overnight.

An increase in late-night antisocial driving behaviour has prompted the council to propose a light motor vehicle prohibition under its Public Places Bylaw.

This would give police more powers to take action in problem areas, the council said.

Rural residents, property owners and businesses on roads where prohibition is proposed were invited to have their say.

The proposal would ban light motor vehicles (less than 3500kg) such as cars, utes and vans, from operating on specific rural roads and in industrial areas between 9pm and 4am, seven days a week, while protecting vehicle access for residents and visitors.

The roads, identified after research into occurrence and consultation with police, are:

Cambridge-Maungatautari wards

• Gudex Rd
• Appleby Rd
• Wells Place – from Waikato Expressway to Moemoea Place

Te Awamutu-Kihikihi wards

• Bond Rd industrial area
• Harrison Drive industrial area
• Bank Rd (Lake Ngā Roto)
• Puahue Rd-Parklands Rd-Chamberlain Rd loop
• Arapuni and Bulmers Landings area

Pirongia-Ōhaupō wards

• Hamilton Airport area
• Rukuhia area

Waipā District Council transportation manager Bryan Hudson said if the prohibition was adopted, police would have greater ability to issue fines and warning notices.

“At the moment, unless antisocial drivers are caught in the act or can be identified in videos or photographs, police have advised us they can do very little. We must do something to support them, and this is a good start,” Hudson said.

“We know the roads proposed for prohibition are not the only roads where antisocial driving is an issue, but they are the most practical and efficient in terms of enforcement.

“We encourage residents affected by this antisocial driving behaviour to keep reporting instances to the police at the time it is happening. This will help us to continue to work with our communities in these areas.”

Residents, property owners and businesses in the identified areas have until Friday, November 10, to have their say.

If approved, the prohibitions are likely to be in place in early 2024.

Earlier this year the Te Awamutu Courier reported Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan as saying people in rural areas had had a “gutsful” of burnouts, noise, excessive speeds and property damage.

Mike Montgomerie, of the Maungatautari ward, said “our rural roads are currently being treated as a racetrack”.

O’Regan said: “There’s rubber left behind plus bottles and rubbish. We’ve had examples of stock being terrified and residents being intimidated. Some people have frankly felt terrorised.”

“Unless antisocial drivers are caught in the act, or can be identified in videos or photographs, police have advised us they can do very little. That’s just not good enough. We have to do something to support them and this is a good start.”

Council staff advised elected members earlier this year a ban was viable for only some types of roads in the districts. A ban would not work in residential streets with “legitimate” night traffic and on-street parking, long roads with multiple entry and exit points, or on state highways where the council had no authority.

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