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Crackdown

Thursday, 8 July 2010

A car is inspected at Ballycastle police station during the crackdown on boy racers and modified cars on Sunday evening.

SEVEN illegally modified cars were discovered by police during a weekend clampdown in Ballycastle. The planned operation swung into action at around 7pm at the seafront area on Sunday evening - a popular gathering point for boy racers.
Potentially dangerous cars were ordered to the town's police station for examination during the joint initiative with the Department of Vehicle Transport Enforcement teams.
Using specialist equipment and portable ramps, it was discovered that only two out of nine vehicles inspected were deemed to be road legal.
The shocking figures surprised Moyle Police Inspector Bryan Hume, who said he expected around half of the cars to fail the examinations.
“The operation lasted until around 11.30pm and we are pleased with the successful outcome. Only two of the vehicles we looked at were legal-including one which although had been modified, was a professional "job", he said. "Some of the illegal cars were in an extremely dangerous condition and in one case, we were able to lift the springs straight from the car."
Fours cars were immediately put off the road and a total of 31 defects were found.
One vehicle was found to be running on red diesel and Inspector Hume said this will be dealt with by Customs and Excise.
Another driver was arrested for excess alcohol during the operation
Similar operations will continue to run over the next few months in all areas of Moyle.
During a DPP meeting at the end of May, a resident of North Street called for such an operation to take place.
Together with residents of Bayview Road, those living on North Street bear the brunt of the noise and inconvenience created by modified cars and 'boy racers' in the area.
During the meeting, police were accused of failing to do enough to address the growing problem.

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