By Marianne Flood
The PSNI has issued a fresh warning to ‘boy racers’ that modified cars can be seized by police.
It comes after a string of complaints about vehicles with adapted exhausts causing noise pollution in the Strand Road and city centre.
A statement on the PSNI Foyle Facebook page says: “If you choose to "cruise" the city centre, please remember your obligations to do so legally.
“We have warned drivers in relation to them causing alarm and distress to the public and if they repeat this selfish behaviour, Police will be seizing their vehicles.”
Sinn Fein Councillor Michael Cooper said a number of initiatives are being used in the Strand Road area to free it from the scourge of ‘cruisers’.
“This is an ongoing issue and there is no magic bullet to solve it.
“There will be a meeting between the police sergeant and residents in the middle of March and there is already a DVA operation at weekends tackling illegally modified cars.”
Mr Cooper said a camera has been installed at the corner of Longs Supermarket by the City Centre Initiative to monitor the traffic.
Funding has also been secured to plant trees at the front of Smyths car park, where cruisers congregate at evenings and weekends, to block off the view of the road.
“Some of them just want to show their cars and people have no problem with that, but there is a hard core element who are donuting and speeding up and down the road at 2am and 3am.”
SDLP Councillor Shauna Cusack welcomed the PSNI’s latest warning.
“Road Safety is an ongoing concern in my constituency and we have seen a significant rise in car thefts, death driving, destruction and serious noise nuisance in all areas of the City,” she commented.
“I have constantly raised this issue with the authorities and asked that people be extremely vigilant.
“While many car enthusiasts take great care and pride in their vehicles and drive with care and consideration for others, there are those who put the lives of others as well their own, at risk for simple thrill seeking.
“Anything that can deter this behaviour, give people peace to sleep in their homes and prevent potential road tragedies, has to be welcomed.”
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