Blue Jackie: Sentencing (Vehicle Confiscation) Amendment Bill Summary Proceedings (Vehicle Seizure) Amendment Bill Privacy Amendment Bill — Third Readings 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Blue Jackie: Sentencing (Vehicle Confiscation) Amendment Bill Summary Proceedings (Vehicle Seizure) Amendment Bill Privacy Amendment Bill — Third Readings 
[Sitting date: 20 October 2009. Volume:658;Page:7278. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Dr JACKIE BLUE (National) 
: 
 I am pleased to speak to the third readings of the vehicle confiscation and seizure legislation the Government’s response to illegal street racing. I congratulate Judith Collins on her crusade against this activity; the chair of the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee David Bennett; the officials who did a lot of work and assisted the committee; and of course the submitters. 
This legislation gives greater powers to the police courts and local authorities to tackle illegal street racers. Along with its companion bill—the Land Transport (Enforcement Powers) Bill which has now passed its third reading—it will send a strong message that illegal street racing is unacceptable and that mob-like hoon-like behaviour will not be tolerated under any circumstances. The public is sick of being terrorised pedestrians and residents are sick of being menaced by this menacing-type behaviour and it will not be tolerated. 
We heard in the select committee that businesses in Christchurch were being affected. Their clients had disturbed sleep residents had disturbed sleep and this year Southern Cross Hospital had to move patients from the front of the building to the back of the building. There is the problem of petrol and diesel being poured on the roads. There is the chewing up of grass verges scattering of rubbish broken glass and fences being destroyed—basically property damage. Those idiots have done enough. They are a danger to themselves and to the public. There have been senseless deaths as a result of illegal street racers. By and large it affects innocent bystanders and young people. There is a tragic unnecessary loss of human life. 
The public are living in fear of reprisals. We heard yesterday of one submitter in Christchurch whose local MP had to submit on the submitter’s behalf because that submitter was so concerned about reprisals. There is concern of vigilante action by the public. Together the Vehicle Confiscation and Seizure Bill and the Land Transport (Enforcement Powers) Bill will send a powerful message that the public do not have to live in fear or take matters into their own hands. 
This legislation will allow local authorities to create by-laws and prevent predatory cruising behaviour. In Part 1 there is a new power for the court to order the confiscation and destruction of an offender’s car if that offender is convicted of a third illegal street racing offence within 4 years. That power extends to vehicles owned by a third party; for instance if a car is owned by a parent relative or friend such an owner will be given a written warning that his or her vehicle has been used illegally. We heard about finance companies that previously would not even have known that that activity was happening. I am sure that as a result of a warning letter companies will change their contracts and will take this very seriously. I commend this bill to the House.