Zero tolerance for boy racers in Rotorua

Two police cars were damaged and 31 people were arrested in Rotorua overnight as a result of a ‘boy racer’ gathering in the city. <<sub: overnight Friday 18/Saturday 19 September>>

 

Arrests were made for a variety of offences, including breach of liquor ban, drink driving, unpaid fines, driving while disqualified, possession of meth and sustained loss of traction.

 

The gathering was originally touted as a peaceful “park up” to protest against pending legislation, and follows an earlier protest in Hamilton. The organisers of the Hamilton event had distanced themselves from the Rotorua park up.

 

The park up attracted approximately 230 cars and around 900 people to a central city carpark. However, the group then moved south of the city, allegedly for drag racing and skids.

 

Rotorua Police were onsite in the central city, and say the boy racers were well-behaved at this point, but they started throwing bottles at police cars and verbally abused officers when they arrived at the drag venue.

 

No arrests were made as the offenders were not able to be identified.

 

The boy racers then moved back to the carpark in the central business district where Police checked every car and driver, and further arrests made.

 

Senior Sergeant Denton Grimes says Rotorua Police have a zero tolerance for unruly boy racer behaviour in the city.

 

“Typically, boy racers say they are a peaceful group, abiding by the law and just want to have a forum to be passionate about their cars.

 

“This is just not the case, as highlighted in their behaviour last night. It was totally unacceptable and disgraceful that the Police were subjected to this behaviour,” says Senior Sergeant Grimes.

 

“They put themselves, their passengers and more importantly, members of the public at risk. In addition, it takes police away from other jobs and areas where we are needed and this has a further impact on the community.

 

“The message is simple, this type of behaviour and lack of respect to laws and regulations will not be tolerated by Rotorua Police. We will continue to target the ‘Boy Racer’ community and adopt a firm, professional and no discretion approach to influence their attitude and behaviour.”