Teenagers in Hawke’s Bay drive into police checkpoint

Police in Hawke's Bay caught a group of teenage drivers at a checkpoint early Sunday morning. The teens, aged 16 to 20, had been causing problems on rural roads with skids and burnouts. They drove right into the checkpoint set up on State Highway 2, just north of Napier. Inspector Angela Hallett of Eastern District road policing reported that every car stopped had either roadworthiness issues or driver license violations. Police were prepared for the event after learning about it a week earlier. They had already confiscated one car and notified the parents of local young drivers about the planned gathering. This approach marks a shift for police, who expressed concern over a new wave of reckless drivers this year. The early warning and action taken seemed to have a positive impact in managing the situation.