New boy racer legislation

[cold comfort]

Its the typical my son is not a criminal/boiracer/whatever. Are you that naive to think that your precious son did not know what was going on?

No, agreed it was a really stupid move, i'm really pissed off and disappointed that he should associate with these losers,and i told him so, however its rather like stopping to chat with a bike gang member you once knew. Guilt by association. Regardless of whether you had contributed to any disturbance. I had hoped for some sensible comments about freedom of association but should not surprised at the uninformed self righteous pontification instead.

[Jantar]

No, agreed it was a really stupid move, i'm really pissed off and disappointed that he should associate with these losers,and i told him so, however its rather like stopping to chat with a bike gang member you once knew. Guilt by association. Regardless of whether you had contributed to any disturbance. I had hoped for some sensible comments about freedom of association but should not surprised at the uninformed self righteous pontification instead.

If what your son tells you is true, then he has a good defence. He stopped to talk to a mate, and as the boy racers had entirely blocked the onramp he would have been right at the back when the police arrived. In this type of circumstance the police are required to ask the assembly to disperse, and those that don't (or can't) may then be arrested. Obviously he didn't disperse when requested, in which case he will be found guilty. However if the police didn't request the assembly to disperse, then he has a valid defence.

Maybe he had his car in the middle of the gathering and couldn't dispers, or didn't hear the call to disperse. But then he was part of the gathering, and not just someone who stopped at the back for a chat. Tell him to get a lawyer and fight it,or advise him to plead guilty. Your call.

[SMOKEU]

No, agreed it was a really stupid move, i'm really pissed off and disappointed that he should associate with these losers,and i told him so, however its rather like stopping to chat with a bike gang member you once knew. Guilt by association. Regardless of whether you had contributed to any disturbance. I had hoped for some sensible comments about freedom of association but should not surprised at the uninformed self righteous pontification instead.

Tell him to keep pleading not guilty.

[Flip]

Poor little Johnnie.

Got busted hanging out with the boy racers.

Ummmm wrx, middle of the night, motorway on ramp. Wrong car, wrong time, wrong place.

Sorry no sympathy from anybody here in Christchurch.

[imdying]

I love how parents are always like, "Not my child, he's an angel".

[dipshit]

I love how parents are always like, "Not my child, he's an angel".

Yeah, like the mother of those boys on Underbelly on TV last night.

[jahrasti]

No, agreed it was a really stupid move, i'm really pissed off and disappointed that he should associate with these losers,and i told him so, however its rather like stopping to chat with a bike gang member you once knew. Guilt by association. Regardless of whether you had contributed to any disturbance. I had hoped for some sensible comments about freedom of association but should not surprised at the uninformed self righteous pontification instead.

I think by some of the posts below, its not self righeousness but dondemnation of a stupid action.

What those shit heads did was wrong plain and simple.

If you and your son feel that strongly then defend it. It is your right.

[cold comfort]

I love how parents are always like, "Not my child, he's an angel".

Again there seems to be the conclusion that that I'm defending his actions, I'm not. If you do dumb shit as an adult you get to reap the consequences. His problem entirely. However as the police summary of facts said, each driver had gathered with ``the intention of participating in burnouts and high-speed racing''. Did EACH driver admit this? I doubt it. (I know one who didn't) Therefore it is an assumption.
My only concern here, knowing one person involved, is there is a fine line between "unlawful assembly" and "freedom of association" . I am always concerned when the police can tailor the facts to suit the situation. In attempting to rid ourselves of nuisance elements we allow legislation that can potentially infringe all our civil liberties. Thin end of the wedge stuff. That's all

[Indoo]

Not really. It's more like seeing a group of gang members patched up harrassing and threatening to bash people walking by, if you chose to go and join them even if just to talk to a mate you are deemed to be part of that assembly. Even if you don't threaten anyone your still part of and adding to threat, which is the very reason this law was implemented.

[imdying]

Just an observation in general.

An acuter understanding of the adage, "sleep with dogs and you end up with fleas", might be his now though.