A Milton teenager with a habit of spinning his car's wheels is believed to have made New Zealand legal history in the Balclutha District Court today.



Under legislation aimed at boy racers that came into effect two years ago Karn Clarrie Forrest will have his car crushed after notching up his third conviction in four years for causing a car to undergo sustained loss of traction.



Judge Stephen O'Driscoll said he believed the 18-year-old was the first person in New Zealand to be subject to the legislation which gives power to seize and destroy a vehicle for a third offence in a four year period.



Forrest had convictions for sustained loss of traction in September and November 2010, as well as the latest incident on September 29.



Forrest maintained he had sold the car but prosecutor Sergeant Penny Stratford said he was still the registered owner.



She told the court Forrest had accelerated hard away from an intersection causing the wheels to spin, then spun the car in a circle two times. He admitted the incident when stopped by police a short time later.



As well as losing the 1982 Toyota Corolla, Forrest was sentenced to 150 hours' community work and disqualified from driving for 13 months for sustained loss of traction and driving while disqualified.



The Sentencing (Vehicle Confiscation) Amendment Act gives power to seize and destroy. It came into effect in December 2009.



Another first was notched up yesterday with the Balclutha court sitting in Gore after the Ministry of Justice closed the South Otago's town's courthouse, and five other courts around the country, at the start of the month for earthquake strengthening work to be carried out.