3 Jun 2009

Car-crushing legislation backed by MPs

6:19 am on 3 June 2009

Legislation which could see the cars of so-called boy-racers seized and destroyed has been overwhelmingly backed by Parliament.

MPs debated two bills on Tuesday night which aim to strengthen the powers of police and the courts to combat illegal street racing.

Both bills passed their first readings comfortably, with the bill allowing for the crushing of repeat offenders' vehicles passing by 112 votes to 9.

Car-crushing is intended to be a last resort and could only be imposed by the courts for a third conviction for illegal street racing offences within a four-year period.

The bills have now been referred to a select committee for public submissions.