Boy racer offences have dropped significantly in Otago and Southland since the introduction of street racing legislation.
Figures released to the Otago Daily Times show street racing offences for the southern district went from 216 in 2009 to 136 in 2012.
Nationally over the same period, offences went from 2738 to 1759, a 35% drop.
However, Police Minister Anne Tolley said the numbers were ''still too high''.
''This legislation and the vigilance of our Police is having a real effect in reducing offences and repeat offenders, and lowering the risk of injury to innocent people and the boy racers themselves.''
That legislation includes the Sentencing (Vehicle Confiscation) Amendment Act and the Land Transport (Enforcement Powers) Act.
When a person has been convicted of three street racing offences within a four-year period, the court has discretion to order the confiscation and/or destruction of a vehicle involved in the offending. Only 172 offenders were on two strikes, and 10 drivers had three convictions.
To date, only one car had been crushed, which occurred at a Lower Hutt scrap metal yard last year after its owner was convicted of his fourth driving offence.
However Mrs Tolley said the crushing of cars was not the aim ''It is an effective deterrent, alongside good police work, to reduce tragic deaths and injuries on our roads, and to stop lives being ruined.''
