DOZENS of boy racers who flouted police pleas to avoid congregating on roads blighted by speeding received fines following a huge car meet last weekend.
The Dearne Valley Parkway was the chosen meet-up point for motorists from South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, police say, after a social media invite was accepted by an estimated 100 people.
Following complaints from motorists and residents, South Yorkshire Police units scrambled to the site and decided to close a section of the road to prevent attendees from ‘racing’ in between roundabouts.
Police Reform Act powers resulted in officers handing out fixed penalty notices to owners whose vehicles were found with illegal tyres, registration plates or antisocial exhausts.
Four quad bikes - whose riders attempted to evade police - fell foul of a ‘stinger’ device which deflated the vehicles’ tyres.
A police spokesperson said: “Saturday night saw a large gathering of car enthusiasts descend on Barnsley’s roads from far and wide, including Nottinghamshire and West Yorkshire.
“Some will have no doubt been innocent and wanted to simply meet their pals and admire each other’s cars.
“However, some had other ideas and seemed to think that they could treat South Yorkshire’s roads like a race track.
“This will not be tolerated and those responsible will be dealt with robustly with the full force of the law.
“Roads policing and proactive officers locked down a section of the Dearne Valley Parkway and corralled the offending vehicles.
“Some had their vehicle seized, some were given fixed penalties for a variety of offences and all were warned about their conduct and manner of driving under the Police Reform Act.
“A big thank you to the members of the public who kept calling in to give us the heads up where the group had moved to next as they allowed us to net them effectively.”
The road is one of two main routes in Barnsley to remain high on the force’s radar alongside the Cudworth Parkway.
It is being used by boy racers regularly at weekends, locals and councillors say, with large groups of people in powerful vehicles being witnessed congregating at a start point on Bleach Croft Farm’s roundabout.
The police spokesperson added: “This has been an ongoing situation with performance cars meeting up in very large numbers, using the bypass as a race track.
“Excess speed and drifting displays have occurred, creating risks to other road users along with associated noise nuisance.
“The team continues to work with council wardens and the CCTV vehicle in conjunction with roads policing group who are tasked to the location whenever commitments on a Sunday evening allow.”
Section 59 warnings - which are part of the Police Reform Act - can be issued to drivers whose behaviour behind the wheel causes alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public.
“This warning is placed against both the driver and the vehicle and lasts for 12 months,” the spokesperson said.
“The driver doesn’t always have to be issued with a warning first in order for their vehicle to be seized due to the way in which it being driven.
“South Yorkshire Police and Barnsley Council will not tolerate such disruption to the road network positive action will be taken to prevent further disruption and nuisance in the borough.”
