Very Interesting Read

[R31Nismoid]

Very interesting read i thought.

Things will eventually clash i think between the public and the police/state officials

http://www.springcarnationals.com/forum/to...asp?TOPIC_ID=68

[garlo]

i read the hole thread, it is scary that cops and the epa are doing this sort of stuff, it happened at Oran park on the IDA drift day on the 1st of April there was cops there booking people and handing out defect notices, i herd that 2 cars got done in the morning.

i hope this wont happen in July for the skyline nationals might decide not to go if it is likely

[Sydneykid]

The problem is the same as it has always been, the EPA and the police are organised and car enthusiasts are not. Until we get organised we are always going to be screwed. Even in organisations we can't agree, there is CAMS, ANDRA, NRMA, RACV and every splinter group car club you can think of.

We need to get together and unify all car enthusiasts under one banner. Then it’s one BIG voice, not a squeak from some mice hiding in the corner.

In the interim, this is what we did at an event some years ago. We had unwanted police and EPA harassment for the first 2 days of a 4 day event. So on the 3rd day I organised a lawyer and a certified engineer to be on hand, stationed right next to the police and the EPA inspection site.

When anyone was stopped they offered their services for free. They spoke on behalf of the car owner/driver. They argued the cases on the spot, they took photos and gathered evidence. We also had video/audio taken and advised the police and the EPA officers that we would be providing this video free of charge to any TV station that promised to air it. After it took the police and EPA 3 hours to finish the first car, they realised that this was a wasted effort and they left. They did not return on the 4th day.

So that's my suggestion to the organisers of such events, spend $2K and get a lawyer on site with a certified engineer who know their stuff and a cameraman to document the process. It's your job to protect the entrants and the spectators at your events from harassment. Otherwise they simply won’t turn up.

cheers

Edited April 30, 2006 by Sydneykid

[ferni]

What a top idea!

In the interim, this is what we did at an event some years ago. We had unwanted police and EPA harassment for the first 2 days of a 4 day event. So on the 3rd day I organised a lawyer and a certified engineer to be on hand, stationed right next to the police and the EPA inspection site.

When anyone was stopped they offered their services for free. They spoke on behalf of the car owner/driver. They argued the cases on the spot, they took photos and gathered evidence. We also had video/audio taken and advised the police and the EPA officers that we would be providing this video free of charge to any TV station that promised to air it. After it took the police and EPA 3 hours to finish the first car, they realised that this was a wasted effort and they left. They did not return on the 4th day.

So that's my suggestion to the organisers of such events, spend $2K and get a lawyer on site with a certified engineer who know their stuff and a cameraman to document the process. It's your job to protect the entrants and the spectators at your events from harassment. Otherwise they simply won’t turn up.

cheers

[Roy]

Whilst i dont agree that this sort of thing shoudl be goign on, especially at organisd off street events.

But at the same time, we must look inside our own ranks, 1 in 9 cars pulled over was either un-registered, or driver suspended or un-licenced

When you have shuch a large number of what i see as being a dangerous offence...then we should not be surprised that we recveive that sort of attention.

But, one person should not be held responsible for the action of other ppl who they dont even know.

I know my day will come where i will get into strife for having a road car that has been modified so that i can enjoy it at arganised track events. All i hope for is that i am treated failry, and speaking to one of the heads of Vic Roads, who happens to also be one of the states head CAMS scrutineers...they arent all out to screw ppl. My main concern isnt so much getting booked for the mods, its perhaps the attitude and the manner in which they go about it.

[frx026]

While this is an interesting read.

I think we should look at the main points and then facts, some are different.

1. hassling people for driving in a sensible manner is not helping this situation

2. Street racing is dangerous illegal and should not be tolerated.

3. burnouts in suburban streets etc should not be tolerated.

4. A minority of drivers have effected the situation of the majority of drivers or high performance cars

5. Organised events where cars are trailered there should be run in conjuction with the police

6. Car groups are against each other rather than fighting for one another ( in a legal way of course)

Now the facts

1. Les and Reg the owners of springcars could not give 2 f**ks about people at the event, as long as the money comes through the gate

2. John Davison, after speaking to you at Easternats, i am convinced you know nothing of how you event is run, organised or marshalled, you know even less about the entrants and what they endure as soon as they get out the gate

3. Events such as powercruise, rev fest, gazzanats and summernats are set to gain popularity as people see them as safe events to go to. This is due to organisers, local government and police working TOGETHER to have a safe event and bring money into that community.

4. Police and authorities will never stop the modifying of cars or the illegal racing of cars unless they ban all cars and then one by one place them in a crusher and destroy them forever, then we would race push bikes.

5. Police and authorities would gain more respect by supporting off street racing, such as the drag safe program in victoria used to promote.

So, what is the solution.

Perhaps the governement needs to take a few more steps than the obvious to fix the problem of carnage and racing on the streets.

So heres some of my ideas.

Young driver training

- Currently in vic passing a computer hazard test and a test of driving a mazda 121 at 50kph will get a pass for your license.

- perhaps introduce as a requirement of getting your licence a defensive driving element on a skidpan to teach the dangers of cars, and to show how to correct from some basic situation. This is not a substitute for experience, but may help young drivers learn.

Speed Cameras.

- Currently in vic they are hidden behind bridges, signs etc.

- perhaps if they were a true safety camera they would be painted bright green or something similar to a hi visibility vest ( safety vest) with warning signs placed that you are approaching a camera. This would make motorists slow down. I say this because currently i could today drive like and idiot doing double the speed limit past a camera, sure in two weeks i get a fine, but what if in that two weeks i had already crashed and killed somebody? the fine is useless, the camera is useless.

- introduce better targeting of speed cameras, known accident spots, school zones etc. Why have spped cameras on the ring road or the geelong road, These roads are wide enough to land a 747 on and have great visibilty.

Breath testing and drug testing

- penalties should include having your car taken away for good.

Off street meetings

- police could support meetings such as calder wsid and the likes, instead of penalising the public for spectating, entering and trying to do the right thing by taking it off the street.

Vehicle modifications.

- perhaps the government could introduce a better system for having modifications done to a car, and then having a vicroads inspection and compliance for that modification.

These are only some ideas.

I have posted this as an intelligent discussion rather than some of the point less posts that appear on this topic.

cheers frx026

[foznice]

the link's not working. Am I the only one?

[some_cs_student]

the link's not working. Am I the only one?

Looks like a database issue.

Microsoft JET Database Engine error '80004005'

Unspecified error

So, no your not the only one

[Johnny Cash]

Riot

[SS8_Gohan]

to the guy who wrote out the long reply, sounds good. Stronger penalties for the really stupid things (drink driving) etc... reprioristing i guess would be one way to put it.

there are problems with enthusiasts, police, govermnent, etc... for sure, no doubt about it, but...

health

drugs

education

terrorism

skills shortage

drought/water storage

environment

etc, etc

car enthusiasts wanting more drag strips, or fairer treatment from the police? i just don't see the priority over some of the other major issues in the community - and maybe that's why police/goverment really don't give a sh*t

but in regards to the way things should be done, what you outlined makes a lot of sense