The Government has delivered on its commitment to crack down on boy racers, fleeing drivers, and other antisocial road users, with Parliament passing the Antisocial Road Use Legislation Amendment Bill, Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt present, the consequences for antisocial driving behaviour have not been strong enough to deter this appalling behaviour. Communities across New Zealand have been forced to put up with illegal street racing, burnouts, fleeing drivers, intimidating convoys, disorderly dirt bike gatherings and siren battles for far too long,\u201d Mr Bishop says.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew Zealanders have had enough. These activities put participants, bystanders and Police at risk, disrupt neighbourhoods, and create fear and frustration for law-abiding Kiwis. This law sends a very clear message: if you use our roads to intimidate or endanger communities, there will be serious consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new offences and penalties include:<\/p>\n
Establishing a presumptive sentence of vehicle destruction or forfeiture for those that flee Police, street racers, intimidating convoys, and owners who fail to identify offending drivers
\nGiving Police more powers to manage antisocial vehicle gatherings by closing roads or public areas and issuing infringements
\nIncreasing the infringement fee for making excessive noise from or within a vehicle from $50 to $300<\/p>\n
\u201cThese changes mean convicted fleeing drivers, street racers, and people participating in intimidating convoys can expect to lose their vehicles through destruction or forfeiture, unless limited exceptions apply,\u201d Mr Bishop says.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe legislation also ensures penalties for excessive vehicle noise better reflect the impact this behaviour has on communities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Minister Mitchell says the new law gives Police stronger tools to respond to antisocial road use and protect communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor too long, the consequences haven\u2019t matched the harm being caused. This law backs Police with the powers they need to manage antisocial vehicle gatherings and ensure repeat offenders face meaningful consequences,\u201d Mr Mitchell says.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople have had enough of this dangerous, obnoxious behaviour. Excessive noise, siren battles, illegal street racing and fleeing Police is not harmless fun. It is intimidating, disruptive, and places people at risk.<\/p>\n
\u201cAntisocial road use has no place in New Zealand. Our message is clear: if you choose to engage in this behaviour, expect serious and lasting consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Bill was recommended for passage by the Justice Committee following public submissions from councils, community groups, businesses and individuals.<\/p>\n
Importantly, the legislation includes safeguards to ensure penalties remain fair and proportionate, and does not target lawful car enthusiasts or legal motorsport events.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis law is tightly focused on illegal behaviour,\u201d Mr Bishop says.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur message is simple: if you want to drive dangerously and intimidate communities, face the consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n
Notes to editor: <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Most changes will come into effect in six-months\u2019 time. This transition period allows for changes to be circulated with frontline staff and for judiciary and legal stakeholders to be able to the operationalise changes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Government has delivered on its commitment to crack […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":3093,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_10164628679967220_110360201440802":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5889,"url":"https:\/\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/?p=5889","url_meta":{"origin":6338,"position":0},"title":"Government takes next step to correct historic wrong","author":"","date":"23\/06\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Te Here \u0101 Nuku (Nelson Tenths) Bill is being intro\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u7c7b\u4f3c\u6587\u7ae0","block_context":{"text":"\u7c7b\u4f3c\u6587\u7ae0","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SNyaVCNZZf-e1777865245464.jpg?fit=245%2C217&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5973,"url":"https:\/\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/?p=5973","url_meta":{"origin":6338,"position":1},"title":"Smoother, safer roads delivered","author":"","date":"25\/06\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Government\u2019s focus on improving roads across t\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u7c7b\u4f3c\u6587\u7ae0","block_context":{"text":"\u7c7b\u4f3c\u6587\u7ae0","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SNyaVCNZZf-e1777865245464.jpg?fit=245%2C217&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10883,"url":"https:\/\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/?p=10883","url_meta":{"origin":6338,"position":2},"title":"A more practical planning system for food and fibre production","author":"\u7f16\u8f91\u90e8","date":"19\/08\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Government is making targeted changes to the n\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u7c7b\u4f3c\u6587\u7ae0","block_context":{"text":"\u7c7b\u4f3c\u6587\u7ae0","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SNyaVCNZZf-e1777865245464.jpg?fit=245%2C217&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6438,"url":"https:\/\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/?p=6438","url_meta":{"origin":6338,"position":3},"title":"\u65b0\u897f\u5170\u653f\u5e9c\u6539\u9769\u4ea4\u901a\u89c4\u5219\uff1a\u513f\u7ae5\u53ef\u5728\u4eba\u884c\u9053\u9a91\u8f66\uff0c\u7535\u52a8\u6ed1\u677f\u8f66\u53ef\u4f7f\u7528\u81ea\u884c\u8f66\u9053","author":"\u7f16\u8f91\u90e8","date":"03\/07\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"\u65b0\u897f\u5170\u653f\u5e9c\u5ba3\u5e03\u4e00\u7cfb\u5217\u4ea4\u901a\u89c4\u5219\u6539\u9769\uff0c\u65e8\u5728\u8ba9\u9053\u8def\u66f4\u52a0\u5b89\u5168\u3001\u89c4\u5219\u66f4\u52a0\u6e05\u6670\uff0c\u5e76\u9002\u5e94\u73b0\u4ee3\u51fa\u884c\u65b9\u5f0f\u3002Chris \u2026","rel":"","context":"\u5728\u201c\u65b0\u897f\u5170\u534e\u4eba\u6bcf\u65e5\u8d44\u8baf\u7f51\u201d\u4e2d","block_context":{"text":"\u65b0\u897f\u5170\u534e\u4eba\u6bcf\u65e5\u8d44\u8baf\u7f51","link":"https:\/\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/?cat=26"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/BISHOP_Chris_-_Hutt_South_cropped.png?fit=220%2C285&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10818,"url":"https:\/\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/?p=10818","url_meta":{"origin":6338,"position":4},"title":"Te Here-\u0101-Nuku (Nelson Tenths) Bill passes third reading","author":"\u7f16\u8f91\u90e8","date":"18\/08\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Te Here-\u0101-Nuku (Nelson Tenths) Bill passed its thi\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u7c7b\u4f3c\u6587\u7ae0","block_context":{"text":"\u7c7b\u4f3c\u6587\u7ae0","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SNyaVCNZZf-e1777865245464.jpg?fit=245%2C217&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10884,"url":"https:\/\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/?p=10884","url_meta":{"origin":6338,"position":5},"title":"Achieving competitive urban land markets in new system","author":"\u7f16\u8f91\u90e8","date":"19\/08\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Achieving competitive urban land markets in new sy\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u7c7b\u4f3c\u6587\u7ae0","block_context":{"text":"\u7c7b\u4f3c\u6587\u7ae0","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SNyaVCNZZf-e1777865245464.jpg?fit=245%2C217&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SNyaVCNZZf-e1777865245464.jpg?fit=245%2C217&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6338","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6338"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6338\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nzchinesedailynews.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}