Fines issued, vehicles impounded after Auckland boy racer 'invasion'

Hundreds of anti-social car users were pursued across Auckland by law enforcement last night, with police issuing numerous fines and ordering multiple vehicles off the road on Saturday night.

Dubbed the "Auckland invasion" by boy racers, the event attracted drivers from Northland and Hamilton to the supercity.

1News spent several hours following the group to locations across Auckland, including Manukau, Onehunga, Westgate, Penrose, and Drury.

Police staff, including the Eagle helicopter, were deployed to each spot and at Westgate, attendees were seen letting off fireworks at an intersection.

Police said more than 2500 breath tests were taken at checkpoints set up, with more than 15 drivers recording excess breath alcohol.

A further 70 infringements were issued, 71 vehicles were sent for inspection, 33 green and six pink stickers were issued, and five vehicles were impounded.

Inspector Regan James said despite the large number of road users present there was no significant disruption to the public.

"Dozens of police units worked hard to disrupt the approximately 200 vehicles participating in the event. We saw some illegal behaviour, including performing burnouts and other driving offences, but our staff did well to monitor and disrupt the group’s plans."

He said police intervention was "strong and quick from the jump".

"We were able to break up convoys and monitor behaviour effectively. We are all too familiar with the havoc this behaviour wreaks in our communities and have been very clear – we have no tolerance for it, I think that was made very clear by our response this weekend."

Drivers 1News spoke to said they felt the Government had not provided them with legal ways to "express their hobby".

"Maybe if the Government provide us with some legal skid pad, then we could just go there and do them legally," one driver said.

"It's a fun hobby, but it's not worth it at the moment," another said.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said at a media conference this morning that boy racers' "days are coming to an end".

"You’ve actually got to be a safe driver. You can’t just end up causing inconvenience and pain and suffering for your fellow Kiwi citizens."

He said the Government had legislation before the House soon that aimed to crackdown on antisocial road use.

"We’ve got some pretty tough penalties coming that way around your cars."

The Government announced a suite of stronger measures in May, including a lower threshold for vehicle destruction and increased police powers.

A presumptive sentence of vehicle destruction or forfeiture would be enacted for those who flee police, street racers, intimidating convoys and owners who fail to identify offending drivers.

This would ensure courts order the vehicle destroyed or forfeited unless it would be "manifestly unjust, or cause extreme hardship to the offender or undue hardship to any other person".

The existing road closure power for police would also be expanded to include all public and private areas accessible to the public by vehicle.

An offence for failing to comply with a direction to leave or not enter a closed area would be established, with an associated penalty of a $1000 fine. The infringement fee for making excessive noise from or within a vehicle would also rise from $50 to $300.