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The architect of anti-boy-racer legislation says he would consider strengthening the law - but wants the public to suggest how best to do so.
The "Boy Racer Act", officially the Land Transport (Unauthorised Street and Drag Racing) Amendment Act, was passed in 2003. It made street races and wheel spins illegal, giving police power to impound vehicles for up to 28 days and judges power to confiscate them. Racers can be jailed for three months, or five years if they injure someone.
It was pushed through under urgency after 24-year-old Peeravet Suwannarat and three other Thai students were seriously injured in a crash with boy racers.
It is tougher than similar legislation in Australia, but Labour MP Clayton Cosgrove, who introduced the bill to Parliament, said he would consider re-visiting the legislation to harden it up. "Maybe it could be tougher. I would look at any measure, if people came up with other ideas, to have another go."
However, he thought the legislation was working well. "It's working in varying degrees across the country. But I said when I passed the bill it's never going to be a panacea. It's very difficult to save people from themselves."
He said the act had been a success in Christchurch where boy racer activity had dropped. Cosgrove said knowing their cars might be confiscated had turned many young people away from the scene but there was still a hard core whose attitudes the law couldn't change.
Road policing manager superintendent Dave Cliff said the law was working well. "It gives us good powers to deal with it but... it doesn't necessarily change behaviour."
