Arrests, seizures as police break up boys’ races across country

Police showed up at boys races across the country last night, issuing hundreds of tickets, towing dozens of vehicles and arresting scores of people.

In Wellington, police said they stopped groups of boys from riding in ten different locations, “meaning they were unable to take part in activities such as skidding or racing”.

Sixty-nine offence notices were issued, two vehicles were towed to the police impound lot and a further four vehicles were seized by bailiffs for unpaid fines.

One person was arrested for “indecent behavior” and twelve vehicles were marked with pink or green stickers.

“The recent behaviour of anti-social road users is particularly concerning and will not be tolerated,” Wellington District Officer Nick Thom said.

“We will continue to attack this behavior until the message gets through.”

An Eagle police helicopter was dispatched to respond to support operations at several locations in the North Island and parts of the South Island last night, police said yesterday.

Canterbury is also seeing a crackdown

In Canterbury, police continued their crackdown on “illegal and dangerous behavior at gatherings of vehicle enthusiasts across the district” in a crackdown dubbed Operation Cartel.

On Friday evening, police arrested three people, impounded fifteen vehicles and issued 260 tickets for offences.

Another thirty-six vehicles had pink or green stickers.

Ten drivers had their driving licenses suspended, two were found to have alcohol in their blood, and one person drove a vehicle even though he did not have a driving license.

Acting Canterbury District Commander Lane Todd said police were “ready and waiting” to take action against the boys involved in the racing.

“We will take necessary action against those who cause damage on our roads and in our communities.”

Police have a busy night in Manawatu

Central District Police also used an Eagle helicopter to monitor boys’ racing events in the Manawatu region.

Seven people were arrested or summoned to court and eight people were charged with excessive breath alcohol consumption.

Five vehicles were towed, fourteen were marked with pink or green stickers, and over 100 offense tickets were issued.

Police said an Eagle helicopter helped police apprehend a fleeing driver who was “driving at an unsafe speed through Palmerston North City”.

The vehicle was traveling along Tremaine Avenue at “more than twice the posted speed limit.”

The helicopter located the vehicle and led police to the address after its occupants fled the scene.

Police responded to the men and arrested them “without incident.” The vehicle was also towed away and the driver, a 20-year-old man, is due to appear in Palmerston North District Court today on charges including dangerous driving, failure to stop and driving with an excessive breath alcohol content.

Inspector Ross Grantham, Manawatu district commander, said district staff had been working through the night to “curb any illegal behaviour”.

“We are the ones who have to visit families and tell them the terrible news about their loved ones who have been involved in serious accidents resulting in injury or death.

That’s what motivates us. We don’t want to be the people who have to deliver this news. It’s absolutely tragic and absolutely avoidable.”

Earlier this month, a passerby was hit by a vehicle in Foxton and had to have his leg amputated. He is still in hospital.

An 18-year-old man from Levin was charged with careless driving causing injury.