Key Notes: Tackling Boy Racers

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04 December 2009
Key Notes: Tackling Boy Racers

Topics this week include our new laws to tackle boy racers, the SmartGate opening at Auckland Airport and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. I also update readers on school broadband, the changes to Auckland’s governance, and our plans to improve healthcare.

Tackling Boy Racers

At midnight on Monday, two new street racing laws came into effect. These give police, the courts, and councils new tools to crack down on boy racers.

They allow repeated “cruising” of city streets to be banned by bylaws. They introduce demerit points for noise offences. And they give the police new powers to impound, seize, sell, or crush the cars of repeat street-racing offenders.

These new laws send a strong message that we won’t tolerate dangerous, disruptive, and anti-social behaviour on our streets. They are part of National’s focus on making our communities safer for families.

Improving Trans-Tasman Travel

Yesterday I tried out the new SmartGate at Auckland International Airport. It’s a pretty neat piece of technology.

I swiped my e-passport at a kiosk. The kiosk used a camera and face recognition software to check my identity. Once it was happy that I was who my passport said I was, it opened the gate to let me through.

SmartGate will make travel easier and faster for people crossing the Tasman. Instead of having your passport checked by a Customs officer, SmartGate will confirm your identity and let you get out of the airport more quickly. This will allow Customs officers to focus their efforts on higher-risk passengers. SmartGates will be up and running at Wellington and Christchurch airports next year.

Strengthening Links in the Commonwealth

On Wednesday night I got back from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Trinidad and Tobago.

Highlights included an audience with the Queen, and toasting Her Majesty at the formal dinner. I told her how much New Zealanders are looking forward to welcoming Prince William here in the new year.

I also had the chance to sit down with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. We had a very good discussion about how we can work towards a free trade agreement between our two counties.

CHOGM had a major focus on climate change. Many of the Commonwealth’s 54 countries have large agricultural sectors, and it was good to discuss our plans for a Global Alliance to research how to cut agricultural greenhouse emissions. National is focused on balancing our economic opportunities with our environmental responsibilities, and we see the Global Alliance as an important way of boosting food production while cutting emissions from farm animals.

Commonwealth countries will make a big contribution to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen later this month. Since CHOGM, I’ve announced that I’ll be attending the Leaders Meeting at the end of the conference.

Boosting Broadband in Schools

Another 100 schools are set to get Information and Communications Technology (ICT) upgrades. The upgrades are the latest round of our $150 million boost for high-speed broadband in schools, which is part of the Government’s $1.5 billion broadband investment. Over the next six years, up to 2000 schools will be upgraded. This will give teachers and students in almost every classroom in New Zealand the capability to access ultra-fast broadband.

Making Auckland Greater

Yesterday, the Government released decisions on the final piece of legislation to complete the changes to Auckland’s governance, and establish the Auckland Council. Earlier legislation laid out the structure of the new council and the Local Boards, and defined the powers and roles of the mayor, councillors, and local board members. This bill sets out the nuts and bolts of how the Auckland Council will work. A select committee will hear public submissions on these changes in the New Year.

Giving Doctors and Nurses More Say in Running our Hospitals

We’ve previously announced that the Government is establishing a new National Health Board. The board will work to improve frontline health services and get better value from the $10 billion in public funding that our 21 district health boards spend on hospitals and primary care. This week we announced that seven of the 11 members of the board will be doctors and nurses. We believe that giving clinical professionals more say in how our health system operates will help improve frontline health services for patients, and provide better healthcare for all New Zealanders.

Blogging National MPs

Several National MPs are blogging on issues and events in their local communities at a new website, www.nationalmps.co.nz. I’ll be blogging about some of my activities in Helensville. We welcome your comments.

Best wishes,

John Key
Prime Minister
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Tackling Boy Racers

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#1 - Alan Byde 2009-12-04 20:17 - (Reply)

Boy racers and rowdy exhausts. There were times in the last six years in Picton that I despaired of having a good night's sleep. Our house is on the only road Picton to Waikawa Bay. I complained a few times to the Police re: rowdy exhausts at 2 am. I spoke to the garage which does my WoF. They said, just over a year ago, it will fade away within a year. If we have a noisy exhaust we can pass the rest of the car but not the exhaust. For that they must go to the police garage in Nelson. That gets their attention. It seems to be working. I get a good night's sleep regularly now, howling Hoons muted. Many thanks.

#2 - Cary Gollop 2009-12-04 21:21 - (Reply)

This is in reply to your penultimate section:"Giving Doctors and Nurses More Say in Running our Hospitals: "We've previously announced that the Government is establishing a new National Health Board. The board will work to improve frontline health services and get better value from the $10 billion in public funding that our 21 district health boards spend on hospitals and primary care. This week we announced that seven of the 11 members of the board will be doctors and nurses. We believe that giving clinical professionals more say in how our health system operates will help improve frontline health services for patients, and provide better healthcare for all New Zealanders." I think that it is high time medical professionals were given more power to guide our health system. I applaud this initiative vigorously. However what strikes me first and hardest about this move is how different it is from the National Government's approach to education. The testing introduced by this National Government that you lead was forced through the clenched teeth of the teaching profession. Not only was it given no say in whether or not this was a good idea, it was roundly ignored. I assume that you are neither a doctor nor an educationist. Neither am I, nor have I ever been. But if it makes sense to empower medical professionals in the delivery of medical and health systems (and it does to me) then it would equally make sense to do something similar in education. It has not happened. Am I wrong?

#2.1 - David White 2009-12-05 09:05 - (Reply)

Teaching "professionals" don't deserve to be listened to. While health professionals are committed to serving for the best interests of their patients, teachers and principals put their own interests ahead of those of students and students' parents. Keep up the education reforms! Re Commonwealth... Please do not sign anything at Copenhagen. There is too much at stake, resting on too much uncertainty. And most of it is OUR money and OUR sovereignty. Do not sign it away.

#2.1.1 - Alan Byde 2009-12-05 16:07 - (Reply)

Who is a teaching professional? Those who do it or those who talk it? I was a teacher, UK, 1966-1968 when I became a youth worker in Outdoor Activities. If a youngster did something daft on the water they were instantly cold and wet all over and sometimes in danger of death. I rescued scores and they were grateful. A great aid for accelerated learning, should be in the classroom but I fear Political Correctness will prevent it. 1967 our Union advised male teachers not to be closer than arms length to any child. I knew then the game was not worth the effort. A male teacher now is suspected, corrected, defied, attacked his car keyed. That is why I took up martial arts for two years. Youngsters knew and didn't test my limits. Superior educationalists in UK or NZ who are conspicuously absent from the chalk face will direct the poor mug in charge of 30 energetic youngsters the proper procedure in any circumstance. By the time he has consulted his rule book there's a knife in his ribs. I ran a youth club where I had five assistants and we disarmed the bovver boys at the door on Friday nights. The amplifiers made my shirt tremble fifty yards away on hot summer nights. We had 200 most nights and they were there because they wanted to be there. Political Correctness fails "Education". Educated people are difficult for Governments to control, discussion is better than war. Better to inflame the mob than have a convincing case. Truman, the President who dropped the Bomb, said of policy "If you can't convince 'em, confuse 'em." Our leading Educationalists have done a great job with Truman's advice.

#2.2 - Molly Wroe 2009-12-05 10:35 - (Reply)

It's about time that the professionals have more say in the delivery of medical and health systems. The allocated dollar has gone to the pen pushers for far too long. Nurses have only recently gained pay parity, they work so hard and keep the place together 18 yrs ago at Waikato I watched $90.00 a roll wallpaper go up in the pen pushers offices and more. I had to work 1/2 a day for no pay Our Charge Nurse lost $7,000.00 per year as well as the other Nurses cuts to their wages all to help keep the place going and not one more customer came through those doors, the money never came down to the working of the Hospital. Well done, we cannot do without these wonderful dedicated people look after them.

#2.2.1 - Ian 2009-12-17 15:43 - (Reply)

Molly, the whole idea of 'managerialism' in health was a response to REMOVE power from clinicians as many (still to this day) do not understand efficiency or effectiveness. Nor does Tony Ryall - spending money to 'fix' or 'cure', rather than prevention is folly. It was a right wing ideology from the UK; the number of 'analysts' are a result of the need to report 'targets' for political gain. The public need to think of people like they do cars - if you do the regular servicing, put in quality fuel and don't put the vehicle under excessive strain, it will last a long time. Fill it with the wrong fuel, overload it (obesity) and don't do preventative maintenence and it will soon break down. Unfortunately Mr. Ryall is investing in reprairs rather than servicing! (note to admin - [snipped])

#3 - Hamish 2009-12-04 23:59 - (Reply)

Hi John, I wrote to Judith Collins expressing my concern about the anti cruising section of the boy racer laws. I haven't heard back from her, so now I'll bring my concerns to your attention. This section of the law is an ass. Its badly written, and is unfair to basically ban an individual from a road due to the type of car they choose to drive. No other section of the community faces such restrictions. Not even gangs. The law is so badly written that buses, any car with a spoiler or other suggestion of speed, police cars, and any vehicle that has any mention of engine size could fall foul of this section of the law. I urge you to immediately change this section of the law. I cannot believe National produced and voted for such a primitive law. It is a bad law, and I think you know it John. Take for instance a car club I belong to called Tpyspeed, we're a club that likes anything to do with toyotas, based upon an online forum with advice on anything from how to change your spark plugs, to what turbo would be best for your 8 second drag car. We have groups that meet up regularly around the country, and talk about cars, and go for drives together, any illegal activity is frowned upon, and offenders have been reported to the police. Under this barbaric section of the law, any car carrying a toyspeed banner, could if it drove up a designated street a couple of times, even if looking for a park, be fined for breaching the anti cruising bylaw. This is clearly unfair. A sign such as toyspeed could be used by an officer of the NZ Police as an excuse to pull over a driver and fine them under this law. You may say that you expect the police to exercise better judgement than that, but in reality, anyone who has driven a 'boy racer' car knows either personally or of someone who has been pulled over and hassled by the police, who frankly struggle with the knowledge of vehicle law. Cars that are fully LVVTA certified have been pink stickered by officers who do not know the law, there is no recourse for the person who this happens to, and it costs them $200 to get the sticker removed. This is clearly unfair. All boy racer laws need to be objective not subjective, as unfortunately the Police are either to pressured, or do not receive enough training to know about the laws and apply them in a fair manner. For example, my car has factory twin exhausts, and the exhausts are completely standard, I have been pulled over and told my exhaust is too loud, and its modified, and threatened with being pink stickered. Is this fair John? What happened to innocent till proven guilty? What happened to fairness? Some officers are really excellent, and will even talk cars with you, others it seems are on some sort of power trip. You cannot let these officers be given the power to decide who is cruising or not. Cruising should not be a crime. If you do not change the law to remove the anti cruising legislation I will begin a campaign of contacting the police, and demanding they ticket buses in Dunedin if the DCC implements the bylaw, as buses rev their engines to get going, and make a noise that clearly brings attention to the size of their engines. Then John you can explain to the people of Dunedin why they have no buses for public transport. You'll also have to remove the signage and lights and sirens from police cars, as well as debadge them, as these bring attention to the power of police car engines. You also will have to debage the Crown limo fleet, as the BMW logo's and the model badges bring attention to the size and power of them. BMW is a well know racing brand, and it could easily be argued that this constitutes bringing attention to the car. John I'm not saying that this will all happen, but I am just pointing out the pitfalls of this badly written section of the law. You have the political capital to change it, please do so. I shouldn't have to avoid driving my car into town, purely because of my choice of car. What's next banning red cars, as they are most represented in crash statistics? By all means crack down on noisy exhausts, but make the standard objective, and make the test easy and repeatable. Buy the police db meters, and make them test exhausts against a standard test. Then its fair for everyone, the motorists, and the residents. Also I note that in current legislation, the noise limits for exhausts don't apply to trucks or motorbikes. Did you know that Harley Davidson motorbikes regularly produce readings of over 105 db, when the limit for cars is 90 db? Why are Harelys exempt from the laws? The motorsport regulations for NZ have a limit of 95 db at full throttle when passing, this is not that loud, why not adopt this as the standard for road use giving everyone 1 standard to aim for? I just ask John that you are fair to all groups. Boy racer's aren't evil. I have a degree, I'm almost finished a second, I work, I'm a father, and I just happen to like cars, why should that be a crime?

#3.1 - Mark 2009-12-08 14:44 - (Reply)

Excellent comments Hamish and I absolutely agree. I too am a car enthusiast (though I prefer Hondas!) and have been unfairly stereotyped as a 'boy racer' simply because my car is modified. Though fully legal, it is quite obvious what some (and I must emphasise the some) police think as I am regularly pulled over to have my car quite unfairly scrutinised. I have a modified exhaust too, and though it may be louder than some standard exhausts it is nowhere near as loud as a Harley, a bus, a truck or many modified vehicles. I believe outlawing 'cruising' to be a breech of our fundamental rights. With a road legal car, and breaking no road rules (other than this ridiculous new law) it is simply wrong to allow police to just decide on a whim that one is 'cruising' and therefore breaking the law. There are far more pressing issues to deal with in this country, let's focus on things that actually matter and stop persecuting innocent car enthusiasts. Of course there are those idiots who endanger all of us on our roads (distinct from those who just 'annoy' some grumpy folk who do not know the meaning of tolerance) and they should be dealt to accordingly, however this group would also include many drivers, not just those who like 'boy racer' cars. Middle aged Holden drivers and their ilk are often the worst offenders in terms of speeding and dangerous driving. This is one of the first decisions made by our current govt that I strongly disagree with, which is a shame as I am a National Party member though I know my opinion will be disregarded.

#4 - John Chant 2009-12-05 09:35 - (Reply)

I cringe at the expression "boy-racers" as it suggests they are just naughty children and does not reflect their true status as road criminals. Let's call these anti-social hoons what they are and drop the stupid "boy-racer" expression. I'm sure the citizens of Christchurch would wholeheartedly agree. I believe the 3-strikes and you are crushed will prove totally ineffectual and only serve to frustrate the police who are expected to nail these miscreants. The no-tolerance "broken windows" approach might be more effective. It seems to work in the States.

#4.1 - Mark 2009-12-09 12:44 - (Reply)

I cringe at attitudes like yours John Chant. Not all 'boy racers' are road criminals as you put it. Some, if not most, are law-abiding citizens who just happen to love cars and driving. It's attitudes like this that bring about unfair stereotypes, which in turn can lead to ridiculous laws such as these new 'boy racer' laws which can also punish those of us who do not deserve it. I have what most would consider a 'boy racer' car though I am no criminal. I have been driving for ten years and have not had a single ticket for any traffic infringement. I am a responsible, courteous, and all round good driver. I for one do not appreciate being stereotyped like this.

#5 - Des Adams 2009-12-05 09:45 - (Reply)

Hi John I note that there are no pharmacists on your National Health Council. When you consider that the pharmacist is the interface between the prescriber and the patient for medication utilisation, and that $1.1billion is spent in Primary Care on medication there is a valuable resource that you may be overlooking. Kind Regards Des Adams

#6 - Richard Cregoe 2009-12-05 17:05 - (Reply)

Boy Racers: Thanks for the e-mail,Totally agree with your comments, only problem is that it has been transmitted twice, once at 7.34 on 4/12/09 and again at 12.51 on 5/12/09. Once is fine thanks Richard Cregoe [Admin: Thanks for letting us know. We're investigating that.]

#7 - Kelvin Robertson 2009-12-06 08:27 - (Reply)

The ICT upgrades in Schools do NOT ensure ultra-fast braodband but are ONLY upgrades to INTERNAL cabling structure. While its a step in the right direction, learned this only once we'd signed up to the upgrade. Kelvin Robertson, IT Coordinator at Maniototo AS

#8 - Brian Main 2009-12-06 18:15 - (Reply)

Will reference to "boy races" and young drivers in general. Some of the best drivers that i know are teenagers. Instead of raising the age at which someone can gain a license, can I suggest that you keep it at 15, but if a teenagers commits any driving offense at all then their license be removed and that they cannot reapply for one until the are 20. In addition, force all drivers to have at least Third Party insurance. Do these two simple things and you will see a dramatic change it the general behavior of teenage driers and the good drivers amongst them will not be punished for the sins of the rest. Regards Brian

#8.1 - Alan Byde 2009-12-07 11:57 - (Reply)

Young drivers have ace reflexes but may not know what to do with them. Maturity helps. BBC B&W TV UK, 60's Prog to show how drink adversely affects driving skill. Six drivers, three sober, three drinking double gin after each trial, parking between markers etc. After third trial the jovial drunks team had top scores. All mature adults. One off priceless moment. David Dimbleby snr was the embarrassed presenter. Not repeated.

#9 - Damyon New 2009-12-31 01:34 - (Reply)

hey i am 19 years old me and my partner brought a 1993 mazda lantis real nice car not modified at all in anyway... whilst having that car i never got pulled over as soon as i got rid of it and brought a car that only had a profetionly painted bonnet i got eyed out and pulled over. i asked the police officer if he pulled me over because i was young or because of my bonnet.. he replyed , "this is a routien chech thats all" you dont look for cars when its a routien check you simply pull over anyone anywhere anytime you dont stare down a car and then pull them over. so we are getting targeted. i have been with my partner for 3 and a half years and still got a fine for having a passanger.. something needs to be done when legal cars are getting pulled over all the time because of police superstitoin

#9.1 - Alan Byde 2009-12-31 21:52 - (Reply)

The way to customise your car so as not to attract attention is to buy a bog standard as-built not OTT sporty motor and keep it clean. Clutch and stick change beat an auto box, use two feet to do three jobs, racing change, down a cog, easy into bends, fast out when you can see. ABS saved my life once. Brakes & tyres in good fettle. Suspension as built, dampers new or newish. A sloppy rebound is a give away. Lowered motors, flame decals and boot wings demand attention. They don't improve adhesion until you are doing the ton in MPH. What we called all blow, no go. Army field craft improves invisiblity. Use your mirrors at the end of every straight. Have good peripheral vision, eyes back of your head to see police, tough if unmarked. Was I a boy racer in 1950? Yes. The human mind learns by its own mistakes. All young people are immortal until the immovable object corrects that faulty opinion. The best way to attract attention ("Look at ME mate!") is be rowdy in a mob. If you are going to push it, know the road, the car and yourself. If you attract attention ask yourself, why? I reckon Damyon New is on the way to a good result. Be lucky.

#9.1.1 - Damyon New 2010-01-05 17:43 - (Reply)

i didnt buy the car to say "LOOK AT ME" i know it atracts attention and my car is as tidy as they get... i know the road code and expectations thjat does excuss the police from what i call ageism. yea boy racers are young and stupid, im young but not stupid. i stick to law i dont go to skids or anything like that.. so they should target the cars that are putting people in emediate danger or harmfullness. E.G: untidy car = no wof or no reg, car speeding= sum1 getting hit. i wasnt speeding i wasnt doing anything dangerouse or self harmfull.. so ageism is the only thing i can call it when the other day i seen a boy racer car speed at least over 10 kmh over the speed limit right past a police patrol car. the driver looked about 30 or 35 give or take a few years. he didnt get pulled over so explain what is going on if you have all the answers.. PLEASE

#9.1.1.1 - Alan Byde 2010-01-07 14:46 - (Reply)

Damyon, thanks. Weld Pass, 2008, my car straddling centre dotted white line. Tight left hairpin ahead, clear road, reduce tyre scrub, go wide. Illegal in NZ, OK in UK. Fine $150. Wrote to MP asking if the road is so dangerous there why did policeman lurk with a camera? Far better warn this errant Pom with double yellow lines. I asked what was the take for 2008 only there in all Marlborough? $81,000. In 2009 double yellow lines appeared. Fines go half to Govt, half to District Council, nothing to Police. Respectable police have a terrible job to do but revenue gathering is not, so far as I know, on their oath of office. Police do not now lurk at that corner. Eye catching cars invite inspection because they are eye-catchers. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it could be a duck. That's why you are subjected to the indignity of being stopped repeatedly. It isn't the Police that cause the problem, it's those who don't take the care that you do. That problem passes with the years. Be lucky, live long, pay taxes, be a slave like me. Google "Mary Croft" and read it, that's my advice. It could change your life.

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