A total of 55 drivers have now been hit with a combined 306 penalty points following a huge car meet on Southend seafront earlier this year.
The latest penalties were handed out during a second dedicated court session arranged to deal with the scale of offences identified following the ‘Old Fellas Reunion’, which took place on Saturday 28 March.
The event attracted cars and spectators from across the country, with enthusiasts gathering on the seafront to celebrate the modified and classic car scene.
Southend has a long history of car meets and cruising, particularly during the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, when large numbers of modified cars regularly descended on the seafront.
The Old Fellas Reunion was intended to recapture some of that nostalgia, bringing together enthusiasts and families to see cars from those eras. The vast majority of those attending did so responsibly.
That distinction has also been made by people who attended the meets.
Kieran Marsden said: “I went to both of the Old Fellas car meets this year, police didn’t bother me. If you’re turning up and being responsible, minding your own business and not doing stuff to draw attention to yourself or your car then they will leave you alone.”
Russ Smith, who remembers cruising along Southend seafront more than four decades ago, said: “Car culture has been part of Southend’s culture for so long that it should be celebrated, not stamped on. Well, apart from the odd nutter who goes too far. They make themselves fair game.”
He added: “I cruised Southend seafront from the early Eighties. Which probably makes me an ‘Old Fella’. So go easy and let younger people make their own memories of Southend.”
However, Essex Police said significant incidents of anti-social driving were also captured during the event.
Officers subsequently worked alongside Southend Council’s Community Safety Unit and CCTV operators to review footage, identify motorists and investigate suspected offences.
At Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on 17 September, 29 cases were considered, including 25 involving careless driving. Some motorists also faced offences relating to mobile phone use and seatbelts.
The court handed out a combined 149 penalty points and financial penalties to 27 defendants, while two cases were adjourned.
Among those dealt with were five drivers aged between 17 and 19 who could now have their licences revoked under rules applying to new drivers. Another two motorists are likely to face driving bans.
Two drivers were also given three penalty points after their vehicles were deemed dangerous because of modified exhaust systems.
Police said flames were intentionally and repeatedly coming from the exhausts, creating a risk to pedestrians as well as people inside the vehicles.
Across the two dedicated court sessions held on 23 June and 17 September, 55 defendants have now received a combined 306 penalty points.
The cases also demonstrate how far people travelled to attend the Southend meet. Just 11 of the 55 defendants were from Essex.
Roads Policing Sergeant Will Willsher said: “We want to be clear that we have nothing against genuine car enthusiasts who drive responsibly and respect the local community.
“However, the outcome of these dedicated traffic sessions should act as a deterrent to those who choose to act less than responsibly.”
The legal proceedings are not yet over, with a third dedicated court session relating to the same car meet due to take place in November.
Further drivers are expected to have their cases heard during the session, meaning the overall number of motorists penalised, penalty points issued and financial penalties imposed could rise again.