Sponsored by
Police operation to halt racer rally
MORE than 40 “boy racers” were fined or warned after police foiled their organised cruise event in five city car parks.
Police received a tip-off that the event was taking place on Saturday and turned up to disperse them from the car parks where they were meeting.
One eyewitness, who did not want to be named told the Evening Telegraph that there were several hundred cars involved in the unofficial event.
The first police crackdown saw 30 cars moved on from the car park at Ferry Meadows at 7.25pm, followed by similar operations at the Brotherhood Retail Park, in Lincoln Road, shortly after 8pm, Benedict Square in Werrington at 10.20pm, the Dukes Mead Industrial Estate in Werrington at 10.40pm and in Royce Road on the Carr Road Industrial Estate at 12.30am.
Fines and 12 verbal warnings were issued for a total of 44 road offences on counts including 17 window tint offences, four counts of speeding and one of driving without MOT.
Other warnings came from anti-social driving, using a mobile phone while driving and not having the correct lights on the cars. No-one was arrested.
Inspector Mark Smith, who led the operation, said: “Police take all driving offences very seriously and will not tolerate any behaviour that puts other motorists or members of the public at risk.
“While these events are not illegal, we are aware they can lead to anti-social driving offences and we are committed to ensuring safety on the roads.”
A cruise is a meeting of car enthusiasts that has become more prominent recently thanks to internet websites and forums.
The events see people driving slowly around car parks while socialising.
There can also be drag races and the performance of dangerous stunts such as doughnuts - power braking in circles.
Inspector Smith added: “We have no problem with people enjoying themselves but when that behaviour impacts on other people we will take appropriate action.”
Cambridgeshire County Council’s road safety partnership, Matt Deacon welcomed the operation. He said: “The majority of people who are enthusiastic about cars and driving present no problems - many ‘cruisers’ maintain their vehicles to a high standard.
“The problem comes with a minority of people who choose to drive irresponsibly.
“It is clearly not acceptable to break road traffic laws and we support the police in the action they take to deal with this problem.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
