I agree that it is all BS but police dont need three things to give you a major defect. For example:
Too Low is a major defect itself, no other problems needed, Anything the cop has missed will be picked up when you get the roadworthy.
Small things such as a cracked indicator, blown globe or a chip in the windscreen are MINOR defects. if you get three minors you have yourself a major.
As for the stiffness thing;
Your vehicle is supposed to maintain 2/3rds of the factory suspension travel. This is not a new bs law. I have been defected many times for it. If your car is uneven (front higher then the rear etc) you will get a defect.
When it comes to fines, the police officer will write down the first thing that comes to their head. Generally when you get a fine along with a defect it is for driving an UNSAFE vehicle. Im sure if you contested the Modified vehicle fine it would fall under the unsafe vehicle category and you would still have to pay.
In saying this, I feel as it is getting rediculous with all of the bullshit new fines and laws around, makes my blood boil.
If you dont have time to read further, you are missing out on a good story.
So the story goes; I was driving this home from dandenong:
It was around 2am, I had just dropped off a mate to pick up his car. Princess hwy, I get pulled over by an unmarked holden astra. The cop walks over and says, "the reason we pulled you over was because we heard your car scraping on the ground!" I replied, "I seriously doubt that officer." The car was 100mm off the ground at its lowest point in the rear, front was still 4x4 spec.
After 20minutes of them laying on the ground with their "wheel" they couldnt hit a single thing. At this point I was in tears laughing, but I made sure they didnt see me. They were furious, went over the whole car and all they could find was a cracked indicator lense, windscreen washers didnt work (I said no water but really there was no bottle
), the vehicle being uneven and it didnt retain 2/3rds of the suspension travel, mind you at full height it was the same stiffness which is why that rule is bullshit.
I thought alright, Ill get a defect, maybe a fine, Ill have it all clear in a few days.
Wrong.
He came back, slapped a yellow sticker on it, handed me the defect paperwork and a fine for $187 for driving an unsafe vehicle. What happend next almost sent me to jail for life.
I said, "so thats it then?" to which he replied "pull the vehicle over to the slip lane, we will follow you, then you cannot drive the vehicle." "Excuse me??" I replied. "You heard. You have to tow it home, if we catch you driving it you will be charged and prosecuted." "I live in reservoir, we are in dandenong. How do you suppose I get home at 2am? Its not a 5 minute walk, Its over an hours drive!" To which he replied, "Thats not my problem." and smiled.
As you could imagine, my head was about to explode, I felt like de-bowling him and making him eat it.
I didnt have my mobile on me, only had 50c and had no idea where the f@#k I was gonna find a payphone so I asked "Can I use your phone? can you call someone for me?" He laughed, handed back my licence and said have a good night.
Two days later I returned with a trade plate, drove it all the way home. Long gone now, but was an experiance I wont be forgetting anytime soon. Once my civic is back on the road Ill be sure to carry a large tub of vaseline.
Originally Posted by googed
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