14 Mar 2013

Boy racing offences down by 30% after law change

6:51 am on 14 March 2013

The Government says illegal street racing offences have dropped by a third since it introduced a law that allows the courts to seize and destroy cars.

Police Minister Anne Tolley says there were about 1000 fewer offences in 2012 than in 2009, when the law came into effect.

Mrs Tolley says road deaths among 15 to 24-year-olds dropped from 105 to 65 over the same period.

She says the law is an effective deterrent but the number of offences is still too high.

So far, just one car has been crushed, although judges have granted destruction orders for another two.

The legislation also introduced demerit points for noise offences and allows councils to pass by-laws banning drivers from cruising the streets.