Laws designed to combat illegal street racing took effect on Tuesday.
They give police, the courts and local authorities greater powers to deal with so-called boy racers and mean offenders can lose their cars and licences much sooner.
The new laws include the compulsory impoundment of vehicles involved in illegal street racing, and allowing vehicles to be seized and sold to pay traffic fines.
Councils can also introduce bylaws banning the repeated cruising of city streets.
Police Minister Judith Collins says it is a new set of rules from now on, and people who commit three offences within four years, including racing or sustained loss of traction, could have their car crushed.
Some boy racers spoken to by Radio New Zealand say they are being picked on and describe the laws as a waste of time.
Christchurch and Wanganui both intend to introduce cruising bylaws in 2010.
Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws says consultation with the public in his city about this bylaw is well advanced and he hopes to have it passed by February.
