No cars have been crushed under a controversial two-year-old a law promising a crackdown on boy racers.
Police Minister Judith Collins was dubbed 'Crusher Collins' when the Vehicle Confiscation and Seizure Bill was passed in October 2009.
It gave courts the power to send cars owned by people who committed three serious vehicle offences in four years to the crusher.
Estimates quoted by Ms Collins during a parliamentary debate on the law said there would be 10 cars crushed every year.
At first glance, it would seem that Judith Collins' threat to crush boy racers' cars has been an empty one. But read on, and you get to the nub of the story (with our emphasis added):
She told Radio New Zealand this morning no cars had yet been crushed - though 17 offenders were on their second 'strike'.
"If one of them wants to pop their hand up and get the stupid sticker and get their car crushed, we'll be happy to oblige."
Ms Collins said the lack of orders to crush cars showed the law was working as a deterrent for boy racers.
Vehicle offences had lowered by 15 per cent in its first year and police had seen a "massive" drop off in the number of complaints about boy racers, she said.
"There are still some who want to test the law and the police are happy to help them."
There you have it; the car-crushing legislation after which Crusher Collins was nicknamed has actually been a success. It has had a deterrent effect, and all of those who have been issued with a second "strike" have pulled their heads in, realising that the police are deadly serious about seizing and crushing their pride and joy should they reoffend.
Laws don't have to be punitive to be effective. Boy racers pour vast sums of money into their cars, and the prospect of having all that time and money squeezed into a cube of scrap metal is enough to cause them to moderate their behaviour. And we're sure that the finance companies won't go away, just because a car has been reduced to the abovementioned cube. The consequences of crushing will be longer-lasting than the moment when the crusher bursts into life.
Whilst the first car-crushing would make for great television, especially if it happened during an election campaign we reckon that Judith Collins is probably very satisfied with the outcome. And 17 boy racers will be on tenterhooks every time they take their cars out for a cruise, it could be their last.
11 comments:
Just goes to prove she is an authoritarian left wing bossy britches.
Pomposity and posturing to the tsk tsk brigade who were goody two shoes in school and have matured in boring prissy old farts.
You trying to rival anonymous in dishonest incomprehensible rambling crap Andrei?
I am curious whether anyone on the left has complained about Collins to the Race Relations Commisioner (or is it Commisar) yet.
She has insulted all people of Irish origon by talking about a "Paddy Wagon". Clearly she is using a racial stereotype to denigrate a whole cultural group. Surely the left will be demanding that she must, at least, resign from Parliament and preferably charged and fined?
Alwyn
@ Alwayn - lol; just as well she didn't go way back in time and call it a Black Maria! GD, pdm and Tinman will know what I mean!
Though you're coming from a different place to where I sit Andrei, I admire your clarity of thought and honesty. These old frrrrrrrts (GD, pdm and Tinman and I2) will soon round on you if you don't toe their chalky line.
Authoritarians all.
anon 5.48pm - would you be pleased to change me from authoritarian to disciplinarian.
Just think Crusher as Minister of Education and bring back the Cane and the strap.
@ Anon (5.48pm) No-one's going to round on anyone who expresses a view on the topic at hand. But when your first contribution to this thread is ad ad hominem, don't go moaning if people respond in kind.
Jesus lights the way with ad hominem remember I2 (snakes and vipers) so it's game-on for us mortal sons of Adam.
Sorry pdm, no cane do. You're stuck with your patriarchal disease, whether you like to whip it up or not. Pity the little children eh I2!
Man, that anti-tiger spray she sold you really works as well eh? I mean have you seen any tigers since you started spraying yourself with it each morning? I know, right?
Back on topic.
None of those targeted by this legislation has fallen foul of it.
The police report substantial reductions in complaints against 'Boy Racers'.
'Boy racers' coming into conflict with the police, minimal.
That appears to me, to be a very successful outcome for the legislation.
And they say deterrents don't work.
The expression "win-win" comes to mind Gravedodger.
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