New laws aim to put the brakes on illegal street and boy racers
Sunday, 11 May 2025
Boy racers have been put on notice: their cars may now be at risk of a presumptive sentence of vehicle destruction or forfeiture, with one minister saying illegal street racing “is not going to be tolerated”.
A sweeping tranche of new laws aimed at putting the brakes on illegal street racing were announced on Sunday morning in Rotorua by Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Transport Minister Chris Bishop.
“These idiots have had the run of our streets for too long,” said Bishop.
“The current laws are not adequate.”
Bishop said boy racers and illegal street racers had become “a significant cause of concern for people in the community”.
Mitchell said communities had been subjected to “obnoxious behaviour, often dangerous”.
“And we’re over it.”
The new offences and penalties will include establishing a presumptive sentence of vehicle destruction or forfeiture for those that flee police, street racers, intimidating convoys and owners who fail to identify offending drivers
Giving police more powers to manage illegal vehicle gatherings by closing roads or public areas and issuing infringements
Increasing the infringement fee for making excessive noise from or within a vehicle from $50 to $300.
“These changes, to be introduced in new legislation in mid-2025, will mean convicted fleeing drivers, boy racers, and people participating in intimidating convoys have their vehicle destroyed or forfeited,” Bishop said.
“The legislation will establish a presumptive court-ordered sentence of vehicle forfeiture or destruction. This means that, if someone is convicted of these offences, courts must order that vehicle be destroyed or forfeited to the Crown to be sold.
“There will be some limited exceptions where the vehicle is owned by someone other than the offender, or if it would be manifestly unjust or cause extreme or undue hardship to do so.”
Mitchell said the bill will give police new powers to manage intimidating convoys and illegal dirt bike gatherings, through the ability to close roads and compelling people to leave or face fines.
The bill will also introduce stronger fines for intentionally creating excessive noise from within or on a vehicle. This will take the police-issued fine from $50 to $300, and the court ordered fine from $1000 to $3000.
“People have had enough of boy racers and their dangerous, obnoxious behaviour. These people drive without regard for the danger and disruption it causes to our communities. They have no consideration for anyone other than themselves,” Mitchell said.
“Anti-social road use and illegal street racing have no place in New Zealand. Our message is clear: if you want drive dangerously, face the consequences.”
News of the crackdown was also welcomed by Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell.
“We want it to stop,” she said.