Cops Read Websites - Grow Up Melb Ccr!!

[MLCrisis]

Hi all. Just read the news item on cops and EPA checking on websites for modified cars. Then I read the thread on the Melbourne CCR, or at least as much of it as I could stand.

Cops read websites ........ wow, that's a surprise! Kids with cars and more money than sense then rant off about bombing cops and other bullshit. What a load of crap. The lead item in the thread was the most incoherent, self-contradictory, rambling argument that I have seen in a long time. The inane and childish tirade that followed was so immature it was funny at first. But putting such rubbish on a forum could well attract much more attention from Mr. Plod and others, muttering such things as "incitement to violence". It might make the spotty youth feel a thrill from a rush of testosterone, being able to write such garbage, but it is hardly pushing forward the debate.

Clearly one or two of the correspondents might struggle with that concept, but I would hope that there is a more mature debate about the issue on SAU.

My view is that if you modify your car and then advertise, don't be surprised if the cops knock on your door. If you are responsible in what you do and how you drive, generally they will leave you alone.

Cheers.

[aybee]

i agree totally... but then you are also advertising your illegal mods in your signature

[Warpspeed]

Thats the problem.

The cops may not be that smart, but they are a heck of a lot smarter than a lot of Cool Dudes that post on the Forums.

Who wants to be known as a nerd ? Being dumb is the in thing.

[MLCrisis]

Aybee, thanks. I did think about that. But there is nothing in my signature to identify my car, or me come to that! If this forum is going to work, as it has done up to now, people must still be able to talk about mods and say what mods they have. They just need to be careful how they identify themselves, same as they need to be careful not to speed where they know speed traps are likely.

Cheers.

[Warpspeed]

Absolutely ! ! !

[aybee]

very true, they think that they can stop people from modifying cars but its never going to happen. we cant stop what we are doing just cause a cop says so, weve just gotta be one step ahead of them all the time, and i think that this forum could become the perfect tool for that.

[funkymonkey]

I think if you illegaly mod your car, and attract attention to yourself, then you've earnt what comes your way from the authorities. If you're smart about what you do and how you conduct yourself in public (on road or on the web), then you won't get unwanted attention. This applies to thieves, and to cops.

[aybee]

amen

[Warpspeed]

Yeah, modding your car, and attracting attention are two completely different things.

To some people how a car LOOKS and SOUNDS is far more important than how it actually goes. This can lead to trouble.

But other people (me) are more interested in how it goes, and are deeply into engineering mods, but want to keep a stock external sleeper appearance.

As a result the cops ignore me totally, and so do the thieves, vandals, and joy riders. Suits me just fine.

[YBSLO4]

After reading Warpspeeds post, i understand fully where he is comin from. If u don't mind me askin how old is ya dude? Like my dad and my uncle (big car enthusiasts) they take the same approach, whereby its all performance and bugger looks (my uncles 460kw, stocklooking VS Ute is an example)... However for us younger people like everything else, a lot rides on looks. For many having a 'mad' looking car is all that matters, hence the reason why so many people rice up lancers, mirage's, hyundai's etc basically cos they aint after performance otherwise they would have bought a performance car, but also performance cars cost a lot to buy in the first place, so realistically the only obviosu alternative to being able to mod a car when you own say a base model civic or lancer is to go for looks, cos you sure as hell aint gunna spend $3000 on a titanium exhaust system (hypothetical ;P ) for something alike when the performance increase will be F&*% all excuse the expression. Mainly the cars getting pulled up a cars too low, too loud and that stound out from the crowd... all of which usually are as i said riced up little bangers scraping the floor with huge bodykits, massive chrome rims and exhaust that make ya wonder if the driver is deaf yet. HOWEVER like myself, being young, yet owning a performance car aswell, puts me in a position where yes i do want looks, i want to be individual and not just have a plain black R33 like the guy down the road, i want it to have nice rims, neat paintjob, couple of stickers etc. and this is where the problem lies cos i also love performance also. So it draws a distinct confusing line which sets us in hot water, whereby we can either have one or the other and hope if its a sleeper that we don't get randomly pulled up, or take the risk of having the looks aswell and hope even more that we don't get pulled up.

The only problem i have with being dicked is that the polcie simply know nothing at all about mod's. I been pulled up numerous times now and have talked my way out of several canaries due to the fact i have read up on the modifcation laws to an extent where the only mod on my car that 'could' be defected is my exhaust piping being too low... this is regardless of how much my car still stands out with graphics, rims, big exhaust etc. It seems no matter where u go and who's cruising with u, the cops will always pick the 'flashy-est' looking car out of the group to target first, which i feel is unfair, especially when u are crusing with 11 second cars that are totally illegal but because of there sleeperish appearence (and i say sleeper-'ish' for a reason), when realistically if the cops knew anything about mod's i.e. Massive coolers hanging off the front with piping scraping the ground, big turbos and external gates pokin out under the bonnet etc. then we would no longer be the focus of there attention. This became clear to me when i was defected for height, when clearly my car sat a good 10-20mm above legal limit with passengers, however when a friends car was checked over he was done aswell for similar usual reasons, hegith, 18" rims to big on skyline? WTF!!??? his wiper jets having lights (despite the wiresdangling not connected??) and a few other minor things, but when asked to pop the bonnet they proceeded to say everything was 'fine and legal' after inspection, when they look straight at a huge BOV, open 'foam' pod filter, boost controller, fuel pressure reg, oil catch can etc?? I don't get it? do you...

Basically i just wish it was fairer... i understand they are trying to make cars more legal and ultimately the roads more safe for everyone, but for god's sake when ya do it, do it properly with people who know what they are looking for (apart from the blantantly obvious).

[whatsisname]

My eyes hurt!

[YBSLO4]

Whatsisname...

Best ET - 13.0 @113mph (2.238 60', full street trim, 13psi boost)

Best TS - 115.8mph

Current power - 257rwkw (13psi)

""Mostly stock""!! Wtf... 257rwkw LOL

[Warpspeed]

A lot of very valid and interesting points raised there !

You are right about age being a very large factor, I am a retired engineer probably three times the age of a lot of you guys. So you have sprung me on that one.

Age changes quite a lot of things. you DO slow down when you become older, and you gain a lot more patience as well. Also you become a bit more sneaky and devious in your old age.

And lastly, some pimply young constable is less likely to be a smart ass, because I might just happen to be a good mate of his chief inspector, or an out of town magistrate, for all he knows.

But I was your age once, and understand how you can be passionate about cars. Early on I lost my licence twice, and was on P plates for years.

I also once ran off the road and wrote my car off. Recently I had another car stolen by joy riders and written off. So these days I try to keep my head down and stay out of trouble. But I still enjoy driving cars, with decent power and handling.

I cannot see myself ever fitting purple neons to my car though......

Cheers.

[2rismo]

I think a small point is being missed by various people on various forums when discussing this topic. And that is that the statement, "If your mods are illegal or your car doesn't comply with XYZ rule, then you deserve everything you get".

A bigger load of refuse has never been written.

Case in point: I have a K&N pod type air filter. It is attached to the bodywork of the car by way of a bracket. It is partitioned (but not enclosed) by aluminium-backed foam to aid in reducing heat-soak. It is fed by a cold air feed from the front bar.

Now, if you were to ask the majority of NSW police officers (esp HW) if it is legal, they will tell you that it is not. If you were to consult the ADR's for motor vehicles, RTA regs etc you will find that it is not. Moreover, it isn't even something that needs to be engineered! I will point all interested to the results of a pending court case in Sydney, NSW next week and will not debate the legalities here. It's been done.

After reading the above, is it FAIR that i receive a defect for my pod if pulled over? Is it equitable that an older person doesn't even have the question asked? DO I DESERVE THE INFRINGEMENT NOTICE BECAUSE I "ASKED FOR TROUBLE"???

Nuff said.

[Warpspeed]

2rismo, it is you that are missing the point.

When they have you on the side of the road, with the bonnet up, and the notepad out, you are stuffed.

You need to reduce the chances of being pulled over before it actually happens.

It is not the slightest bit of use arguing with the copper about road traffic regulations. Even if you have a law degree, you are still stuffed.

Usually they hide behind a bush somewhere, waiting for something UNUSUAL to drive by, maybe a bit noisy, or low looking, or a bit fast, just DIFFERENT to the normal traffic flow.

Then on go the lights and siren, AND YOU ARE STUFFED.

[YBSLO4]

well said.

[nacional]

2rismo, i think you brought a very valid point. Warpspeed, sure if 'once the bonnet is up' we may be 'stuffed', but that doesnt refute 2rismo's argument of youth being much more targeted than older drivers driving similar cars. It sounds a lot like age discrimination to me! maybe someone should consult the equal opportunity commission on the legality of police actions. It doesn't too different to cases that I've heard about where police pulled over aboriginals driving nice cars because there was a higher chance that in those cases the cars could have been stolen. I say it's a case of age discrimination.

[Warpspeed]

You are absolutely right about age discrimination, no argument there.

But.............. younger people do things that an old fart like me used to do once, but would not even think of doing now, Think about it.

This is just an example, but the people that vandalise trains, and do spray can graffiti, and go chroming, are not 20 year olds are they?

So its reasonable to assume the cops trying to reduce train vandalism, chroming, and spray can graffiti are not going to stop and search adults walking down the street looking for spray cans.

But they probably will give a group of younger teenagers just hanging around the area A REAL HARD TIME. That sure is age discrimination, and probably a good thing.

It is a similar situation on the roads. It is younger people that joy ride other peoples cars, carry weapons, drive unlicenced and underage (obviously), and mostly have unroadworththy vehicles. Terrible isnt it.

I am not saying the police are all heroes, they sure have given me hell when I was younger.

But as soon as they lay eyes on you they will form an instant opinion as to your age, social standing, education, and general attitude. They are very good at this, they do it every day.

If you look like a punk loser, and then you tell the cop he is a cnut and wouldnt know his ass from his elbow, look out.

[whatsisname]

Originally posted by YBSLO4

Whatsisname...  

Best ET - 13.0 @113mph (2.238 60', full street trim, 13psi boost)  

Best TS - 115.8mph  

Current power - 257rwkw (13psi)  

""Mostly stock""!! Wtf... 257rwkw LOL

Totally off topic - The "mostly stock" in my sig' is just a j/k

[YBSLO4]

I was replying as a J/k aswell dude lol couldn't help but notice the power output and the 'mostly stock', was funny as