Christchurch boys in blue thwart boy racers

Saturday, 29 December 2018

A much-hyped boy racer event in Christchurch appears to have been thwarted by police.

Boy racers had hoped that up to five thousand people would attend the Aves Invasion in Christchurch on Friday night, but police played down the event, claiming about 100 people turned up.

A police spokeswoman said there were no arrests, but could not provide information on how many tickets had been issued.

**READ MORE:

* Thousands of boy racers expected at 'Aves Invasion' in Christchurch

* Positive results from traffic light trial to stop boy racer noise in central Christchurch

* Boy racers damage police car after blocking access to Christchurch road

* Christchurch police look to crack down on boy racers in the inner city**

But Stuff observed hundreds of boy racers gathering in the city centre on Friday night.

About 9pm, boy racers gathered on the four avenues in central Christchurch, waiting for a message on Snapchat to discover where the group would congregate. 

The first message came through at about 9.30pm - meet at a truck stop further out of the city in Wigram. 

The cars headed to the location, lining the streets of Christchurch and creating a late night rush hour in the city.

But the boy racers were thwarted. Waiting for them at the truck stop were four unmarked police cars.

As soon as the racers arrived, the police turned on their lights and blocked the entrance.

The stunned boy racers could not gather at their chosen rendezvous.

So another Snapchat message came through - the next stop would be Bealey Ave.

The streets were once again busy. Exhausts were pumping, drivers and passengers were yelling, and music was blaring.

But police were never far behind, so the boy racers had to message each other with alternative locations like Main North Rd, Kainga and near the airport, 

Inspector Ashley Tabb of Canterbury road policing played down the event.

'Several Police staff were in attendance in the area to keep an eye on any activities thought to be illegal and enforcement action was taken where offences were identified,' he said.

'Police have no tolerance for this type of behaviour and people who use public places as race-tracks. So think very carefully if you don't want to lose your licence or your vehicle. Nobody likes anti-social road-users.'

'Police will continue to do everything we can to dampen down any illegal driving activity whenever and wherever we come across them.'

The boy racers plan to gather once again in Christchurch tonight.

'Our meets were rolled,' a boy racer post on the Facebook event said on Saturday morning.

'Have something sussed under my sleeve for tonight!'