Police swarm Levin boy racer event with riot shields, dogs
Police responded with riot shields and dogs at a boy racer event held in Levin overnight.
Boy racers and other spectators swarmed the intersection of Oxford Street and Bath Street at around 10.30pm yesterday.
The event was held just before the one-year anniversary of the 2024 'Levin Invasion', where about 30 police officers were outnumbered by 200 anti-social road users, leaving officers injured.
This year, the boy racers did burnouts while hundreds of spectators crowded around the intersection, filming and watching.
By 11pm, officers armed with riot shields took back control of the intersection, and most of the crowd ran away. The Police eagle helicopter was also hovering above.
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Police with riot shields attend a boy racer event in Levin. (Source: 1News)
Officers held their lines as glass bottles were being thrown at them, and some in vehicles continued to drive past and through them.
1News witnessed several arrests at the scene.
Just two weeks ago, the Government announced tougher penalties for boy racers and fleeing drivers.
Those changes were to be introduced in new legislation around mid-2025.
The new measures included destroying the vehicles of those who flee Police, street racers, intimidating convoys, and owners who fail to identify offending drivers.
Police would also get more powers to manage illegal vehicle gatherings by closing roads or public areas and issuing infringements.
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The infringement fee for making excessive noise from or within a vehicle would increase from $50 to $300, and the court-ordered fine would increase from $1000 to $3000.
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