FEMALE drivers, as well as boy racers , are driving in an anti-social manner around Honiton, according to police.

FEMALE drivers, as well as "boy racers", are driving in an anti-social manner around Honiton, according to police.

Neighbourhood beat manager PC Ian Atyeo has told the Press: "These incidents will stop."

In a statement to the Herald yesterday (Saturday, September 5) he said: "Over recent weeks, Honiton has been experiencing problems with people driving their vehicles around the town and within car parks in a manner that is totally unacceptable. In the past these persons have been labelled with the title of 'boy racers'.

"Young males are mainly responsible, but there are a few young ladies who also fall into this group as well."

A recent incident resulted in members of the public approaching a group of drivers to ask them to leave the area because of the noise they were making late at night, keeping children awake.

Another report was of young males applying oil to the tyres of their vehicles so as they could achieve greater wheel spins and smoke as they tore along the road.

PC Atyeo said: "The police in Honiton will be targeting these drivers and put a stop to there dangerous and anti-social driving.

"Section 59/60 of the Police Reform Act 2002 gives officers powers to seize a vehicle when they have reasonable grounds for believing a vehicle that has been or is being used in a manner which contravenes the following legislation:

"Driving in a careless/inconsiderate manner or driving elsewhere other then a road, and is causing / likely to cause alarm / distress or annoyance to members of the public.

"The driver is initially reported for the offence committed and is served with a notice detailing that offence, this notice stays with that vehicle for 12 months from the date of the offence, and is on the police national computer. Should it then commit another offence within 12 months the vehicle will be seized. The owner then has to pay a fixed recovery fine and daily storage fees before he or she can get there car back. This has to be done with seven working days. If this fee is not met the car is disposed of."

Another concern to the public in Honiton and the police are exhausts systems fitted to cars. There appears to be more and more drivers who have altered their vehicles exhaust system with the view to enabling it to make a greater noise, say police.

KNOW THE LAW

Regulation 54 of the Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 provides for the fitting & use of an exhaust system including silencer, to all vehicles propelled by an internal combustion engine.

It stipulates 'every exhaust system and silencer shall be maintained in good and efficient working order and shall not after the date of manufacture be altered so as to increase the noise made by the escape of exhaust gases'.

This offence carries a fixed fine and can also be dealt with by way of the 'Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme' (VDRS) which give the driver 14 days in which to rectify the defect, and then present it to an MOT registered garage to ensure it has been done correctly. This could easily cost a considerably amount to sort the exhaust out.