My Date with Traffic Management (long post)

LoBelly · #1 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 10:22 PM

I am posting this FYI to give an insight into the process/experience for those who have yet to encounter this - not as a complaint.

In Early February I received a letter from Victoria Police Traffic Management Unit (Frankston) advising me that I had to present my car for inspection (within 7 days).

I rang the officer who issued the notice and asked him what the problem was, he advised me that he'd received a complaint that the car was too loud
I explained that the car was not regularly driven and that it was stored some distance from me and that it would take some time to ameliorate the issues. The officer took my mobile # and said to give him a call when it was done.

A week or so later I emailed to advise that it would take (another) 2-3 weeks to fix everything - he responded that that would be fine.

In the mean time I made up some 2 disc baffles for the side pipes - these are very effective - basically 2 discs with offset holes

and some restrictor plates for the collecter

also very effective but makes the car hot and not recommended - also didn't hold up in my case - probably too few holes

The officer I had been dealing with had an off-sider who came with him to do the inspection. They were both affable and professional in their approach. In some respects the car presented a bit of a conundrum [particularly the obvious signs of there having been a windscreen and there being no washers/wipers] and they made several enquiries of me on what my understanding of the 'rules of club reg' were - they weren't taking my word for it just asking - they checked everything with VicRoads. The inspection was very thorough.

The inspection was done in the car park next to the Police complex - I did ask if I could take a photo of the officers with the car but they didnt think it would be a good idea - during the process a number of other officers came over to have a look/ask a few questions.

At the conclusion of the inspection the officer told me that he'd contact VicRoads to clarify a few things and get back to me, which he did on Monday, telling me there was a defect notice in the mail.

So I guess I have some work to do -

LoBelly

Plums · #2 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 11:14 PM

Wow, they really went to town didn't they. Is this because your vehicle is on club rego, or can any car be asked to front up for an inspection???

With the restrictor plates in was it still too loud, or did they have some other problem with it??

Rebel1 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 11:24 PM

Not that I'm a vindictive type but I'd be trying to ascertain who made the complaint.

Then I'd give the culprit the weed sprayer treatment.

stephen low · #4 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 12:07 AM

He's been a veeeeeeeeeeeeeery naughty boy!!

See Michael, bright war paint and a loud car are too much for some. Must've been a jealous General owner then hey??

List isn't too devistating as best I can read it though - good luck.

Steve

LoBelly · #5 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plums

... Is this because your vehicle is on club rego, or can any car be asked to front up for an inspection???

With the restrictor plates in was it still too loud, or did they have some other problem with it??

I believe the process is the same for any car - it seems that I was the first of the Club Rego type the officers had encountered.

With regard to the restrictor plates - I think I heard one of them go as I was driving to the assessment. The car wasn't 'loud' but there was a lot of 'radiant noise' (?) coming out of the sidepipes from the sound of the exhaust rattling around in there. (you'll note that I even turned the tips of the exhaust under the car to direct the noise there)

The cam has a bit of overlap and the engine sounds nice but that makes it hard to shush up.

Quote:

... Not that I'm a vindictive type but I'd be trying to ascertain who made the complaint

I suspect that it was another police officer - early January there was a cruise night in Mornington and my brother and nephew (20y.o.) took the car there, at the time it was missing (as it turns out) the baffle from the RHS - i.e. open pipe. The event was full and they had to park next to the police hummer

I imagine that the sight of 20yo guy in a car like mine being as loud as it was just created too many ticks in the wrong boxes - ultimately we knew it was too loud and to be fair created the problem for ourselves.

LoBelly

NASSTY · #6 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 03:13 AM

I assume the meet in mornington was the lets go cruzin regular. Lots of fellas got a letter in the mail after...

BMK · #7 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 05:08 AM

Mmm sounds like the cruise night is entrapment.

Come along show your car, meet the Hummer brigade..

See you at Shelby Fest.

In the interim I'll talk to my neighbour who has the old Bentley on club rego and tell him to get some brakes on the front. Wrap his side pipes, take the crank handle out before he stabs someone and muffle the open blower on the front of the motor...

Tenrocca · #8 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 07:09 PM

Looking at your notice there probably are some things that make your car unsafe to be on the road. Parking next to the police hummer was asking for trouble (Reminds me of a story my dad once told me - a mate of his wasnt sure his battery was charging, so he light a match to look down the holes. WTF do you think is going to happen?!?.) If you know you car isnt quite right, probably the best move is to make yourself a little less conspicuous?

No one wants to see the police going hard on any cobra owner, but ensuring your not that obvious may ensure we are not all tarred with the same brush.

Cheers

Gav · #9 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 07:25 PM

Entrapment?
Sounds like waving a red flag to me

Rob. Smith · #10 (**permalink**) 03-18-2009, 01:45 AM

Does your car have an engineers report ? In NSW we are supposed to carry a copy to present to the police if the vehicle is questioned. As the car is an Individually Constructed Vehicle, It meets the ADR's BUT as it is individually constructed it has it's own parameters. ie :- the windscreen absence. Mine is registered without a windscreen therefore it doesn't need wipers or demisters. this is in the report. I don't know much about Club Rego. . .in NSW the regulations now demand that Ford T's must have original brakes. Where the T mob like to fit a decent disc system on the rear so the car actually stops. The law on this subject is very vague. Good luck with your re inspection and rego.

stephen low · #11 (**permalink**) 03-18-2009, 04:28 AM

Sorry Michael

But in the case of your beast I think it was a case of.... when not if... that the whallopers took an extreme interest in the car.

That said the police are known to cruise into organised events and simply note regos for further inspection and in the case of a summer nats, wait outside with EPA and full accompanyment for a real "vehicle cavity" search.

Even the words in forums such as ours are perused, so our repeated references to items falling off, I'm sure has been noted, but I'd equally be sure the police attention is far more on the HiPo set as higher risk group.

Anyway do what you need to do and get it back on the road.

Cheerio

BMK · #12 (**permalink**) 03-19-2009, 03:43 AM

Yes heard the All Ford Day in Geelong was one of those where a few people received notices after..

stephen low · #13 (**permalink**) 03-19-2009, 04:30 AM

Had heard that too Bernie and I think it an abuse of power - the turds!!!

Plums · #14 (**permalink**) 03-19-2009, 04:20 PM

Sounds like you guys need revolving number plates, ala James Bond, just for the car shows.....

I know for sure that I wouldn't take my car to a show if that was going to happen....

Aussie Mike · #15 (**permalink**) 03-19-2009, 04:56 PM

Probably a good reason to have some number plate covers for shows and a sticker over your rego label.

A P-Plater driving a noisy yellow V8 and giving it a rev right next to the police is asking for trouble though. With the current law enforcement crack down on hoons and the jack boot laws they have instigated to combat them we had all better be careful.

Cheers

spookypt · #16 (**permalink**) 03-19-2009, 05:03 PM

And it's for this reason I don't do car shows............show and shines or Waxers conventions...

Plums · #17 (**permalink**) 03-19-2009, 05:27 PM

When I used to drag race my Ute, I would cover the VIN with tape (in the bottom corner of the windscreen) and remove the plates.

The Ute was still under warranty and I didn't want any problems as had happened to other people in the past.
Just to clarrify, I didn't want coverage for any driveline breakages, but if the radio stopped working or the air-con died, I would still be able to get it repaired under warranty.

macloft · #18 (**permalink**) 03-19-2009, 05:48 PM

Concerned
Actually I not sure if it is safe to even add a comment to this thread in case the people who are watching think I support the antiestablisment mob.
Anonymous

maxwell · #19 (**permalink**) 03-19-2009, 06:11 PM

Regarding the canary issued on the Cobra.
The car is obviously unroadworthy, it drags the whole Cobra scene down the toilet when cars are driven around in that condition.
The term replica means replicating the original, A roadworthy street car.
no different to illegal Commodores that are unroadworthy.
If people with cars in that condition are getting around it just puts the spotlight on everyone else thats doing the RIGHT thing.

Plums · #20 (**permalink**) 03-19-2009, 07:47 PM

Whoa Zuess...

Geez Maxwell, I don't think there would be many Cobra's out there that are "legal".... How many Cobra's are as quiet as when they went for Rego??? Will you be driving your car with a sound level under 90dB as you are suppossed to???

I think your statement is a bit harsh...