The Government is turning up the heat on boy racers and fleeing drivers with a suite of stronger measures to deter anti-social and intimidating driving.

“At present, the penalties for anti-social or intimidating driving behaviour aren’t strong enough to deter this appalling behaviour,” Transport Minister Chris Bishop says.

“Police reporting shows that some types of anti-social road events are actually increasing in frequency. We’re saying enough is enough.

“Kiwis are sick of seeing these idiot drivers putting everyone around them at risk, so we’re taking action through a range of much tougher penalties.”

The new offences and penalties will include:

• Establishing a presumptive sentence of vehicle destruction or forfeiture for those who 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 says.

“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.”

Police Minister Mark Mitchell says 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,” Mitchell says.

“These people drive without regard for the danger and disruption it causes to our communities.

“They have no consideration for anyone other than themselves.

“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.”