Proposals to be put to the Council for approval will include:

• A ban on all traffic on certain city streets between 9pm and 5am from Friday to Sunday.
• A by-law that will state that cars cannot be operated on all other streets “in a manner as to cause the vehicle to undergo sustained loss of traction by the driving wheels.”
• No one will be allowed to wilfully pour petrol, oil, diesel or any liquid on a road to be used by a vehicle for burnouts.

A by-law that will bring prosecutions and fines for the offences.

Cr. O’Rourke said many of the hard core of hoons don’t care about the fines they receive now.

He said some owe many hundreds of dollars and often the Courts ruled that the hoons pay $25 a week. “So a few more fines doesn’t matter to them,” he said.

To counter this the sub-committee will also recommend that the Council takes civil action against offenders by way of an injunction.

“If they then continue their burnout activities injunction could be taken against them. An injunction disobeyed could mean imprisonment,” Cr. O’Rourke said.

The City Council has a precedent in the use of injunctions, he said.

It was used in the case of a disruptive person in the City Mall. He was warning about his behaviour and did not stop. An injunction was taken out against the man and he was imprisoned for seven days.

Subject to further discussions, the Deputy Prime Minister, Jim Anderton, has agreed to promote an amendment to legislation in Parliament regarding the possible impounding of vehicles used in burnout activities.

“For example, the person concerned might get his car back only after a month and his costs of impounding of the car have been paid. This will be substantial,” Cr. O’Rourke said.

The Council has agreed to make $50,000 available to assist the provision of a burnout pad at Ruapuna. Details of this proposal are still being pursued, Cr. O’Rourke said.