The Christchurch City Council has become the first local body to adopt a bylaw banning cruising on some of the city's streets.
The bylaw comes into effect from 1 July and will take in some suburban streets and all multi-lane streets, including four avenues where boy-racers are a major problem.
Cruising is defined as driving repeatedly along the same section of road, or in a convoy, between the hours of 10pm and 5am.
Breaching the bylaw would result in an infringement fee of $150 or a fine of up to $1,000.
Councillor Bob Shearing says the bylaw will not solve the problem, but it is a huge step in the right direction.
"It is a tool but, even more importantly, it is a message ... to our anti-social road users. We do not want you little so-and-sos here in our city making this noise. We have had a gutsful."
Some councillors were annoyed that they were required to install about 1,000 road signs explaining the ban, which cost about $350,000.
The council is also seeking more support from the Government.
