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Brum car cruising ban

by Mark Rowe

Car cruising has been banned in Birmingham under a High Court injunction, similar to those in others parts of the West Midlands in the Black Country and Solihull. The order means anyone caught racing or joining unauthorised vehicle rallies will be held in contempt and hauled before a judge. It spans the whole of Birmingham and also covers wider anti-social motoring like riding in convoy, performing stunts, or revving engines, blaring horns and playing loud music at vehicle gatherings. Pictured are Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner Ashley Bertie, Neil Loy from West Midlands Police and Oliver Humpage from Birmingham City Council. The council and West Midlands Police secured the order; to run for three years.

West Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: “I have made keeping our roads safe a key priority for West Midlands Police. The overwhelming majority of road users are appalled by the actions of the dangerous and inconsiderate few. I am sure that they will welcome this strong action.”

Assistant PCC Ashley Bertie added: “This sends out a strong message that street cruisers will be hauled before a judge to face tough punishments. I am confident this Birmingham injunction will be as successful as those in the Black Country and Solihull.”

West Midlands Police Superintendent Dean Hatton – Head of the Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG) – said the order will help the force tackle drivers who flout highways rules and use public roads as personal race tracks. He said: “This latest move is all part of Operation Hercules – a real collaborative approach involving traffic cops, local officers, and neighbouring forces to tackle motorists and bikers who pose a danger to other road users.

“We’ve taken strong action in the past on street racers, with hundreds taken to court, banned from the roads and handed hefty fines. But recently we have started to see groups of bikers – many on scramblers and mini moto’s – causing a nuisance on our streets, pulling wheelies and intimidating other drivers. This injunction will cover all aspects of anti-social motoring – including people who organise or promote road cruising events – and people need to realise it’s not acceptable and they could end up in court.”

Signs will be erected at the roadside on hotspot routes – including the A47 Fort Parkway, the A38 , A45 and city centre ‘Middleways’ – while around 2,000 A3 posters will be popping up in petrol stations, shopping centres and football grounds warning of the injunction.

Police say that the Black Country road ruling – introduced in February 2015 – has resulted in a significant downturn in street racing and seen 11 people so far being convicted of contempt of court by breaching the order.

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