'Cruising' banned in boy-racer legislation

Steven Joyce. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The Government has allowed the banning of cars "cruising" down certain streets and driving while affected by a prescription sleeping pill as a raft of its hardline measures start becoming law.

The anti-boy-racer legislation passed last night was the first of six major law and order bills the Government will push through Parliament under urgency in the next fortnight.

The Land Transport (Enforcement Powers) Amendment Act will allow local authorities to make anti-cruising orders, which prevent "circling designated streets within defined periods of time".

The act also featured the last-minute inclusion of a ban on driving while affected by benzodiazepine, a prescription sedative and anti-anxiety medication that is often used as a sleeping pill.

It was not included in drug-driving legislation earlier in the year, but Transport Minister Steven Joyce has subsequently learned of its dangers from anti-drug campaigners concerned it was excluded.

Mr Joyce said research showed its use could lead to severe impairment in driving ability.

But Act deputy leader Heather Roy disagreed, and said the party would not support that particular part of the legislation.

Mrs Roy, who co-ordinated medical research trials for pharmaceutical firms before entering Parliament and whose husband is a psychiatrist, said benzodiazepine was widely prescribed.

She said it was mainly used by elderly people who needed to sleep "and are not the types to be out speeding around in the middle of the night".

She said Mr Joyce was basing the decision on "very flimsy" evidence. She cited an ESR study that found only 22 of 826 deceased drivers had benzodiazepine in their systems and most of those were also on other drugs.

She said it was putting thousands of users on the wrong side of the law with methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana users.

The act will also: increase the demerit points for novice drivers who breach licence conditions; impose demerits on drivers who use obscure or false plates; double to $20,000 the fine for failing to provide driver details to police; and empower police officers to order a car suspected of failing to comply with vehicle standards off the road for an immediate inspection.

Mr Joyce said the anti-boy-racer measures, which will be used in conjunction with Police Minister Judith Collins' car-crushing legislation, gave the pool a "toolbox" to deal to boy racers.

The Labour Party, which has prevaricated and criticised the boy-racer legislation, will support both bills and the other four law and order bills as well.

The Sentencing (Offender Levy) Amendment Bill, which puts a $50 tax on criminals, is expected to be the first introduced and is likely to be passed at the end of this week.

The two anti-boy racer bills are policies National has come up with since taking power, while the other law and order bills were election polices introduced as part of its "100 days of action".