Crackdown on boy racers

BOY racers are being hounded out of Heathfield by police after local people complained that reckless drivers are getting out of hand.

BOY racers are being hounded out of Heathfield by police after local people complained that reckless drivers are getting out of hand.

On Monday, traffic officers from Polegate descended on the village centre with laser guns in hand and pockets full of dreaded speeding tickets.

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Joining the police was chairman of Heathfield Parish Council, Tony Trick. He said that nuisance drivers have escalated in number over the last year.

'Sometimes I can be sitting out in the garden in the evening and all I can hear is the squealing of rubber coming from the road,' he said. 'People are concerned that there are not enough police in Heathfield, so it's a breath of fresh air to see them here tonight.

'I think it's very important that the police are seen on a regular basis to keep the troublemakers at bay and reassure the local people.'

PCs Marc Fallon and Dave Cocklin, both trained in the use of a laser gun which can detect the speed of moving vehicles from a distance, took part in Operation Racer on Monday night.

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In just under an hour, the pair had collared three speeders each of whom will have to pay 60 and have three points added to their licences and one driver with his fog lights illegally on.

PC Fallon explained the characteristics of a typical 'boy racer'. He said: 'We look for cars which are going too fast with their stereos up too high. The sound of the bass noise can be incredibly annoying for local residents.

'The thing about "boy racers" is that they're not usually drink drivers and they usually have all the necessary paperwork licence and insurance to drive. Unfortunately they tend to get a bit out of hand on the road.'

He added: 'It's important to note that there are plenty of girl racers as well they're not all boys!'

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Monday's was the first in a series of planned 'boy racer' operations in Heathfield. Inspector Rex Matthews, who led Operation Racer, said a simple phone call to an offender's insurance company can be punishment enough.

'If we let them know that their policy holder is driving erratically, an insurance company will quickly double their premiums,' he said. 'Putting the squeeze on financially soon encourages speedy drivers to calm down.'

PC Cocklin pointed out that just being in a town can discourage careless drivers from taking to the road. 'It's not about how many tickets we hand out,' he said. 'It's about being seen and having a presence.'