Handbrake pulled on street racers
With a flick of a finger the number plate turned over, disguising the car’s identity.
But it was too late, with the illegal modification on the low-slung Japanese import triggered by a curious cop instead of its harddriving owner as the car was dragged onto the bed of a tow truck and carted away in a dawn crackdown on illegal street racing.
The mix of lowered racers and muscle cars made up the predictable haul of vehicles impounded when police executed several search warrants in the region early yesterday morning.
The mission was the first phase of Operation Shadow, with a new police team set up to target illegal street racing gaining traction.
While the beeping of reversing tow trucks on suburban Hamilton streets might have been a welcome sound for some, for others, it was a crushing blow.
Five vehicles were impounded. The early morning visit took some by surprise, with parents in pyjamas startled by police appearing on their doorsteps, while others tried to quickly think of reasons why their vehicles shouldn’t be impounded.
But up on the tow truck they all went, with cars of all shapes and sizes seized, including newer model muscle cars as well as stereotypical street-racing cars, complete with bald tyres and dodgy modifications.
Operation Shadow was first set up in March 2019. A new team was formed in March 2021 to work within the operation in response to a string of incidents.
In the most recent, on March 14, police were called to a gathering of people watching a driver doing burnouts on a rural intersection northwest of Morrinsville on Tauhei Rd.
Videos of the encounter, provided to Stuff, showed a man being carried on a police car’s bonnet for several metres, and angry people surrounding the police car, kicking it.
Late last year a man who lives near a car meet hotspot on the edge of Hamilton admitted firing at eight vehicles with a .22 rifle over a period of two months.
At the time, drivers reported being narrowly missed, while residents described Rukuhia roads as black with skid marks after weekly boy racer meets attracting hundreds.
Waikato road policing manager Inspector Jeff Penno said the vehicle seizures yesterday were carried out across Waikato and Ta¯ maki Makaurau using search warrants obtained through information provided by members of the public.
Staff members had worked that information up to a level where they were able to get the warrants, and seize the cars.
‘‘We really value the information we get from the public and I encourage anyone who sees illegal and dangerous actions to come to police,’’ Penno said.
They had a staff member dedicated to working through calls around street racer activity, and Penno said all members of the public were now eyes for the police when it came to such activity.
‘‘Anyone who sees you, any member of the public, are the eyes for the police, and we will take enforcement action.’’
The seized cars would be impounded for 28 days, while the owners were also given an order stating they legally had to give police the identification of the person who had been driving at the time of the reported incident.
One of the vehicles seized was kitted out with a hinged number plate, which is illegal.
This design means the number plate cannot be seen when the car is travelling at speed, as it flaps in.
‘‘That hinged number plate shows their pre-intention to offend and avoid apprehension,’’ Penno said.
‘‘We have no issue with car enthusiasts and their passion, that’s not the issue.
‘‘Our concern starts when they do high-risk driving and the thousands of dollars worth of damage done to the roads.’’
Anyone who witnesses any antisocial or illegal driving can call police on 105 or give information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.