Kapiti Mana Police and the Kapiti Coast District Council are expecting a big crowd to attend Saturday afternoon’s ‘Street Racer’ information afternoon in Paraparaumu.
Support from Paraparaumu Airport Limited means that the event will be held from 1pm to 4pm on land at the eastern end of the airport -- accessed off Kapiti Road.
Forty five street racers have so far entered their cars in a ‘Show and Shine’ with prizes for the best vehicles. Specialist police patrol cars and equipment including Highway Patrols, strategic road policing unit patrols, the Booze Bus, radars and lasers will be present along with senior police staff from Wellington District and the Office of the Commissioner. Staff from Vehicle Testing New Zealand, low volume vehicle modification experts and motor trade companies Repco and Mag and Turbo Warehouse will also showcase the information afternoon designed to help street racers know more about the recently introduced legislation.
Inspector John Spence, Kapiti Mana Area Controller, says the event’s focus is on safe and positive driving behaviour plus information about the legislation which came into effect on 2 May.
"The information afternoon is an opportunity for street racers to mix with police, vehicle testing officers, engineers and others involved in road safety and the motor trade to find out what’s legal, what’s not and hear our thoughts about acceptable road behaviours," he says.
The idea stems from a meeting between the street racing fraternity and police which was organised by Cr Kathy Spiers in conjunction with Sue Johnson, the Kapiti Coast District Council’s Road Safety Co-ordinator, the night the legislation came into effect.
Those present wanted to find out more about vehicle modification standards and the effect of vehicle impoundments. Eighteen vehicles have been impounded in the Wellington District.