Residents to have say on anti-social driving

An increase in late night anti-social driving behaviour has prompted Waipā District Council to propose a light motor vehicle prohibition under its Public Places Bylaw.

This will give police more powers to take action in problem areas.

Rural residents, property owners and businesses on roads where prohibition is proposed are being invited to have their say.

The proposal would ban light motor vehicles (less than 3500 kg), such as cars, utes and vans, from operating on specific rural roads and in industrial areas between the hours of 9pm and 4am, seven days a week, while protecting vehicle access for residents and visitors.

The roads identified after research into occurrence and consultation with Police are:

Cambridge/Maungatautari wards

• Gudex Road
• Appleby Road
• Wells Place – from Waikato Expressway to Moemoea Place

Te Awamutu/Kihikihi wards

• Bond Road industrial area
• Harrison Drive industrial area
• Bank Road (Lake Ngā Roto)
• Puahue Road-Parklands Road-Chamberlain Road loop
• Arapuni and Bulmers Landings area

Pirongia/Ōhaupō wards

• Hamilton Airport area
• Rukuhia area

Transportation Manager Bryan Hudson said if the prohibition was adopted, police would have greater ability to issue fines and warning notices.

“At the moment, unless anti-social drivers are caught in the act, or can be identified in videos or photographs, police have advised us they can do very little. We must do something to support them, and this is a good start.”

“We know the roads proposed for prohibition are not the only roads where anti-social driving is an issue, but they are the most practical and efficient in terms of enforcement.”

“We encourage residents affected by this anti-social driving behaviour to keep reporting instances to the police at the time it is happening. This will help us to continue to work with our communities in these areas.”

Residents, property owners and businesses in the identified areas have until Friday, November 10 to have their say. If approved, the prohibitions are likely to be in place in early 2024.