Cars seized in boy racer crackdown

Police and district court staff have seized nine vehicles and made three arrests as part of a crackdown on boy racers in the Mosgiel area.

Senior Sergeant Darryl Lennane, of Mosgiel, said an operation was carried out on Friday night after police received a number of complaints relating to vehicles drag racing and doing "burnouts" in Dukes Rd.

Seven of the vehicles seized by Dunedin District Court staff throughout the night were as a result of unpaid fines.

One of the drivers was arrested for having outstanding traffic fines of about $43,000, he said.

"A lot of these guys just seem to book it up and they don't care. When we pull them over, they just say 'add it to my tab'."

Other complaints had been received from residents about damage to property in the area, including Dunedin City Council staff having to clean up several recent diesel spills on Dukes Rd, he said.

About 35 vehicles were stopped by police in Dukes Rd during the operation, and 25 of those were inspected for road worthiness by police vehicle inspectors.

About half a dozen vehicles were written off the road by police for vehicle defects and dangerous modifications, with the worst of these found to have had all four suspension springs cut.

Police vehicle inspectors described this modification as "a very big risk", Snr Sgt Lennane said.

Two drivers would face charges of sustained loss of traction, and both their vehicles were impounded by police as a result.

Several arrests were made by police of persons with warrants for their arrest for outstanding fines and failing to appear in court.

Police issued 26 infringement notices for various vehicle defects and driver's licence breaches.

Snr Sgt Lennane said police would continue to closely monitor the area as part of the crackdown on illegal drag racing.

"We've been receiving continuous complaints from residents and businesses in the area for nearly two months, and police have had enough and decided a firm line needs to be drawn."

 

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