New legislation to deter boy racers and give police stronger powers to crack down on them is going through Parliament at the moment.
The Anti-Social Road Use Legislation Amendment Bill will create new offences and penalties for dangerous drivers and will make it easier for their vehicles to be seized or destroyed.
Anti-social road users are those who fail to stop for police while speeding or driving dangerously, participate in unauthorised street racing, do burnouts, carry out intimidating convoys and unlawful dirt bike gatherings or cause excessive noise by taking part in siren battles.
Watt said it was a “good piece of legislation”, which, importantly, gave police powers to shut down certain areas and roads to prevent them from being used for these activities.
“As we understand the proposed law, the ability to assess, predict and then put in place a plan to close down certain areas will have a positive effect on ensuring events such as these are stopped in their tracks before they can have a negative impact on public safety.”
The biggest challenge for police, though, was changing the mindset of people attending these events, he said.
“They simply don’t realise the risk they are putting themselves and other general members of the public at risk and in harm’s way.”
It was “so disappointing” when people attending the events themselves were hurt.
In March last year, emergency services were delayed in reaching a man who had been struck by a car doing burnouts because attendees to the Waikanae event blocked them from getting to him.
In Levin in May, five bystanders were hit by cars at another boy-racer meet, including one young woman whose legs were run over.
In 2024, a teenager even lost half of his leg after being hit by a car doing burnouts.
“Everyone always says, ‘it’s never going to happen to me,’ until it does,” Watt said.
“There’s a lot of families out there that are still grieving because of prior decisions made by people behind the wheel.
“That will continue to happen until we get that mindset change and people realise you’re literally putting your life and potentially someone else’s life at risk.”
Manawatū area commander Inspector Marty Gray said the safety of officers was paramount when attending these events, and that the “violence and aggressive behaviour on display” was “absolutely unacceptable”.
Two police vehicles were damaged by projectiles thrown from a crowd on State Highway 1 near Rongotea Rd. Photo / Supplied
Officers had a full suite of tactical gear and options available to them and were “very well-trained”.
Regardless of this, “they shouldn’t have to be put in positions where they have to tolerate that type of behaviour . . . it’s just, essentially, violence.”
Last night, police had projectiles thrown at them, he said.
Gray said he had concerns about the escalating level of aggression anti-social road users were showing cops, but they anticipated a level of violence and prepared for it accordingly.
“We prepare for the unexpected, but we’re not sure what will come at us.
“I’m very proud of my officers. It’s another example of them putting themselves in harm’s way to make sure the rest of New Zealand is safe.”
Before the planned event around the rural outskirts of Palmerston North and Horowhenua over Saturday night, police launched Operation Golf to disrupt dangerous and anti-social driving before it could escalate.
Gray said staff from Wellington, Whanganui, and Manawatū worked together to target last night’s event.
Police launched Operation Golf in order to disrupt dangerous and anti-social driving activity before it could escalate. Photo / Supplied
“A significant amount of resource was put into this operation, and I also want to thank the many people who made reports to police. Those reports helped us to track the group and stop them before they could set up somewhere as one large group.
“It allowed us to successfully interrupt multiple gatherings and remind participants they’re not welcome here. We’ve seen the damage and distress these people inflict on our communities and we’re not having it.”
While final enforcement numbers were still being confirmed, initial results included 48 infringements issued, seven vehicles ordered off the road, seven vehicles impounded by police, and two vehicles impounded by court bailiffs, with multiple driver licence suspensions.
“Those involved in this activity can expect ongoing, co-ordinated responses and a continued zero-tolerance approach from police,” Gray said.