P.M. orders A.G. to act

27 October 2018, 12:00AM

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi has described “boy racers” as a “ticking time bomb.”

He has ordered the Attorney General, Lemalu Hermann Retzlaff, to come up with a legislation to get them off public roads.

Tuilaepa made the comment during a statement released by his Office this week.

“It’s a ticking time bomb and it must and will be outlawed,” Tuilaepa said.

The Prime Minister has also tasked the Attorney General’s Office to draft legislation to criminalise vehicle racing on public roads at high speed.

Tuilaepa said “boy racers” pose a threat to members of the public and described them as “hooligans.”

 “It’s a public nuisance and a threat to the safety of the innocent travelling public not to mention the ruthless drivers themselves,” he said. 

“This type of behaviour is unacceptable and the buck stops here."

“No more will the lives of the travelling public be used as collateral damage.

“This kind of hobby is for people with money and if they have money to spend, than they can afford to finance resources by purchasing privately owned properties for their high spend racing and what knot.

“To that effect I have tasked the Attorney General’s Office to draft legislation to outlaw this nuisance.”

The propose law, continued the Prime Minister will allow direct prosecution of unauthorised street racing and illegal use of vehicles for exhibition driving (i.e. dangerously showing off) such as tyre screeching.

And one of the penalties that the Prime Minister is recommending will allow authorities to seize and destroy vehicles impounded by police for violating the new law.

As leverage, the Prime Minister is calling on the public in particular families who want safety on the public roads for their children and family members to support the propose law when public hearings are called by Parliament.

“It's better to lose one minute in life, than to lose a life in a minute. The message to our people and especially parents is to prepare and prevent but not to repair and repent.”

27 October 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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