Council to consult on new Cruising Bylaw

A proposed bylaw that would prohibit "cruising" in some of Christchurch's streets was approved for public consultation by the Council today.

A newly created bylaw-making power, introduced by the Land Transport (Enforcement Powers) Amendment Act 2009, enables the Council to make bylaws for controlling, restricting or prohibiting cruising specifically.

The proposed Cruising Bylaw 2010 will prohibit cruising on all multi-lane roads (including the four avenues), on the whole of Main Road (from Ferry Road to Marriner Street, Sumner) and all of Esplanade, Sumner under the control of the Council on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights each week, and on the night before a statutory holiday. The prohibition will operate from 10pm to 5am on each of those nights.

Cruising is defined in the Land Transport Act 1998 as driving repeatedly in the same direction over the same section of a road in a motor vehicle in a manner that—
(a) draws attention to the power or sound of the engine of the motor vehicle being driven; or
(b) creates a convoy that—
(i) is formed otherwise than in trade; and
(ii) impedes traffic flow

Christchurch Mayor, Bob Parker says: “Christchurch has been in the international headlines with the boy racer issues despite it being a far safer city than other large urban centres in New Zealand.

“We pushed central government for legislation on the boy racer issues and they have given us some tools. This bylaw is part of the solution for the problem, at the centre of which is the racing/cruising mentality.

“It is not a silver bullet. It is just one more part of a multi-faceted solution that is needed to improve the lives of ordinary residents in the city,” says Mr Parker.

The enforcement of the bylaw will be part of the total enforcement toolkit that police will use in enforcing the new ‘anti social road-users” legislations.

The special consultative procedure will be held from 18 February to 25 March 2010.

The proposed bylaw will also give the Council the power to set the period of time that must elapse between each time a driver drives on a specified road for the driver to avoid being regarded as cruising. Council is also consulting on, a proposal for this to be 60 minutes.

The Council has been advised that the proposed bylaw has no inconsistencies with the Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.

Council’s HAVE YOUR SAY website