Major flaws in the new "Boy Racer" law
I must say, I am amazed at the stupidity surrounding some of the laws in the process of being introduced here in New Zealand surrounding “boy racers” - Full article here http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2446391/New-laws-this-year-to-crush-cars.
“Street racing includes sustained loss of traction, noisy vehicles, and operating vehicles in an anti-social manner.”
One has to wonder about who decides what is acceptable and what isn’t, is the the police? Then what training/tools will they get to determine if a car, is say, too noisy? I have a big bore exhaust on my car, and I know that it is below the current noise law in New Zealand (96 decibels), but how would you prove that to the officer that has just pulled you up? Sure, I have a silencer for it, but really, look around, no one uses them, and why would they? You don’t speed $100’s to shove something in the end which makes it sound terrible.
Sustained loss of traction is fair enough, as it is normally done on purpose, but what’s sustained? More than 5 seconds? 10? And where? I can imagine say a driver of a family wagon accidentally putting their foot down a tad to much in the wet at a traffic light having their car impounded.
“The new laws will also provide local councils with the power to draft bylaws outlining "anti-cruising" areas, banning boy racers.”
So the tax payer is dishing out more money (in a recession) to stop people from driving around, effectively, in circles. Where is the fairness in this?
Sure you might say that the “boy racers” shouldn’t be driving around there in the first place, but where else are they going to go? They’re already banned from being able to meet anywhere. So they just cruise around the city streets. Of course, some are stupid, and do things they shouldn’t, but the majority I see here in Wellington on a Friday or Saturday night in Courtney Place just drive up and down, sticking to the speed limit and letting people cross at crossings. There doesn’t seem to be much wrong with this to me. Maybe I’m missing something?
I must also question what makes a boy racer. Everyone seems to have different views on it. The police and law makers seem to think that it’s anyone who has touched anything since it’s left the factory.
Sure, I drive around in a car with aftermarket parts and a big bore, but I don’t consider myself a boy racer. Why? Simple, I have never, nor will ever, race my car. I don’t go out the Hutt on Thursdays, I don’t drive up and down Courtney Place all night, and I don't “cruise” around. I, for the major part, drive my car from A to B. But of course, because of the modifications, and the fact I’m a young guy, people jump to the conclusion of boy racer. Which I think is a little unfair on the bunch of people that enjoy working on cars but don’t take part in the whole boy racer scene.
A few other points
- Courts can order destruction of cars involved in three illegal street-races or burnouts in four years.
Based on what? The car? Or the person? Because if it comes down to the number plate on the car, there’s going to be a lot of problems, especially if the car is sold and the new owner isn’t fully aware of the cars history.
- Destruction orders can apply even if the car is owned by someone else.
Does the owner of the car get a chance to challenge this? What if their kids run off with the car one night and it gets impounded. Or the car is stolen?
- Police get new powers to remove learner and restricted drivers from the road if they breach their licences, including seizing ignition keys and immobilising cars.
Signs of desperation. Maybe better education is need around why there are the different stages of licensing? Try and find me a person on their restricted license who hasn’t driven after 10 or with passengers.
- Fines for breaching licences reduced from $400 to $100, but demerit points raised from 25 to 35 seen as a greater deterrent.
And they think its going to stop people driving illegally? Really? They’re dreaming. I know of plenty of people who drive around with people when they’re not supposed to, or in hours they’re not supposed to, without a single care in the world.
- Tough new penalties for failing to stop, with a third offence resulting in a year's loss of licence and mandatory jail of up to three months.
Ouch. Seems a little extreme for not stopping at a sign. I know they’re there for safety blah blah, and I know you’re meant to stop, but some stop signs are in the stupidest of places. I used to travel through one daily where it made no sense to stop at all. And on the very odd occasion someone did actually stop at it to follow the rules, it was nothing for someone to nearly go up the back of them.
That’s not to say all stop signs are like that, but that’s not the point.
I hope like hell some of these laws don’t go through. Or there goes yet another part of our freedom. Give boy racers some where to go, and they will get out of the cities/towns. Simple. Make them sign a dotted line saying its their fault if they crash. And leave the common car enthusiast to enjoy driving without the annoyance of being treated as a boy racer.
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