Upper Hutt City Council says its powers are limited when it comes to boy racers

Police have impounded four cars in the last month in a crackdown.

Local residents are painting a picture of the true extent of the issue reporting broken glass, rubber and black marks strewn across roads.

Council assets and operations director Geoff Swainson says the behaviour is disappointing.

But he says council has no power over moving vehicle offences, and traffic calming measures would be useless.

He says drivers would only park between things like speed bumps to sit and spin their wheels.