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Un- roadworthy.


Gordo

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Hi guys, was watching the TV show Hwy Patrol a couple of weeks ago. The cop gave this guy a ticket for having a gear knob that didn't have the gear shift pattern on it. Is this for real? Cop says if some one else has to drive it they won't know the shift pattern. Tell me he is kidding.

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its true, i have had friends get fined for that when cops were looking for defects but the guy had engineer's reports on the usual mods.

 

I have also heard someone get done for having slip over car seat covers, because apparently you can "slip off and out" of the seat at some point during driving... i wish i was kidding.

 

And A-Pillar gauges are also illegal, due to impact object during a accident, because of course my head will hit the bottom of the A-pillar well before it hits the dashboard and steering wheel....

 

Rudolf.

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Its true that people have been fined for it, just like people have been fined for wheels being more than 1" wide/2" too big rule

however, that rule doesnt exist, its measured on rolling diameter and wheelbase, with a maximum increase over the largest optional size from factory.

Same goes for the A pillar gauges, If they are in a 'occupant impact zone' they are illegal, but depending on the type of car, if they are right down the bottom of the pillar and tucked away behind the line of the steering wheel and instrument binnacle then it can be argued that its not part of the 'occupant impact zone'

Likewise on the shifter pattern, a lot of people say its a rule it has to be there, however i have never been able to find an ADR reference to it being required.

 

If someone can prove otherwise, i would love to see it.

 

(edit, lots of typos, bad grammar ect, sorry)

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Yeah if you drive a newish Import, you hear about these sort of defects pretty often.

 

But what I found is, that in QLD, you do not need a shift pattern for a manual Gearstick, but need it only for an Automatic car ie' P R N D 2 1 . All my mates that contested this defect got it cleared. It doesn't make sense because so many older cars come out without the shift pattern etc.

 

Also looking into the Car height rules, they are only allowed to measure a metre away from each wheel (which has to be 100mm or more). Between axles/wheels its allowed to be 1/30 of the track length of the car. So essentially everyone that gets done for having a low hanging exhaust under the subframe are allowed to contest it (provided its 1/30 of the track)

 

You would be surprised at how many defects you can get away from (minor/stupid one issued) if you complain (with decency) and with a printout of rules etc.

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Quite a while back I had my 1600 wheel-aligned, and didn't think to warn them of the shift pattern (180B SSS dogleg box). The wheel aligner jumped in, started it up, chucked the gear lever up and left for what he thought was 1st gear, and proceeded to come within a foot or so of reversing through the side of the building.

 

I replaced the old gear knob with a genuine one that had the shift pattern marked on it after that, and always made sure I pointed it out to anyone who drove the car.

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Well since we're on the topic of ridiculous rules.

 

I got fined Saturday night for parking (not rear to kerb) in a 90 degree spot. I didn't even know this rule existed or was a potentially fine-able offence.

 

Instead of reversing into the spot, I drove in straight like I do most of the time I'm parking like that. Little did I know this was a 'unique spot'. Thanks Leichhardt council - I feel safer knowing you're doing a good job protecting our community from cars parked facing the kerb...

 

$104

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Well since we're on the topic of ridiculous rules.

 

I got fined Saturday night for parking (not rear to kerb) in a 90 degree spot. I didn't even know this rule existed or was a potentially fine-able offence.

 

Instead of reversing into the spot, I drove in straight like I do most of the time I'm parking like that. Little did I know this was a 'unique spot'. Thanks Leichhardt council - I feel safer knowing you're doing a good job protecting our community from cars parked facing the kerb...

 

$104

 

Plenty of those "rear to kerb" spots in Hornsby & Waitara.

The logic apparently is that you cant see clearly when reversing out of 90 degree bay.

 

$104 Ouch  >:(

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Sadly the Zed is in the shed, it was the Suzuki Jimny I was in. Funny thing is the ticket said Subaru 4x4 - to which I thought perhaps there is a technicality there, but I'm told they take a photo. Funny how they can get a small detail like that wrong and they will still send me the fine, yet I get a small detail like reading a small script of text on a parking sign wrong and I get screwed.

 

It cost $8 for the parking also, not like I was trying to cheat the council out of revenue -I bought my ticket. All it does is put me off going down to that area for dinner again with the missus - which in turn hurts local business. So who is the council really looking after?

 

FWIW it seems to be a NSW based rule, they don't have this same rule in Victoria.

 

In 6 years living in Ireland never got a parking fine, but in the last 10 months back in Australia I've received 2.

 

The last 1 I got screwed on was a GoGet car, someone had parked in the designated spot reserved for the GoGet car. So I had to park somewhere else. I parked in a spot that was fine for the rest of the day, but nobody hired it for 2 days after me. It received a fine from the council and since I was the last person to use the car I got pinned for it. GoGet were nice enough to charge another $25 admin fee on top.

 

I have since stopped using GoGet. I tried to appeal that fine on the council website, turns out the appeal form on their website was broken. Little incentive to fix that I'm guessing?

 

That's the problem with a council fine, you're screwed no matter what you appeal.

 

The only thing I take comfort in is the fact that when my 260z 2+2 was written off (some dude pulled out in front of me), I crashed into the back of the car that pulled out in front of me, but also a white Toyota, which then hit the other Toyota parked in front of it. Turns out the Toyota's belonged to parking inspectors for the local council. They were not happy. Everyone else at the scene had a little snicker though. It was a good moment in an otherwise sad night.

 

 

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Hi guys, was watching the TV show Hwy Patrol a couple of weeks ago. The cop gave this guy a ticket for having a gear knob that didn't have the gear shift pattern on it. Is this for real? Cop says if some one else has to drive it they won't know the shift pattern. Tell me he is kidding.

the selector light on a auto trans shifter must illuminate for roadworthy
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"Little off topic"

 

The best one I've seen was on Sydney Rd, Melbourne, while at a Christmas breakup a few years ago sitting out the front of the Pub, just past 4pm and the local Tow Truck driver pulled up and started loading car's parked in the tow away zone. Turns out they were council cars. The Council were having their breakup party at the Pub as well.

Just as the Tow Truck drive finished loading the last car a gentleman from the council came out of the Pub in full protest,

The Tow'ie told him where to jam it.... and drove off with their cars

 

Sitting at the Pub, cold drink in hand watching council car's get towed... best day of work ever!

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"Little off topic"

 

The best one I've seen was on Sydney Rd, Melbourne, while at a Christmas breakup a few years ago sitting out the front of the Pub, just past 4pm and the local Tow Truck driver pulled up and started loading car's parked in the tow away zone. Turns out they were council cars. The Council were having their breakup party at the Pub as well.

Just as the Tow Truck drive finished loading the last car a gentleman from the council came out of the Pub in full protest,

The Tow'ie told him where to jam it.... and drove off with their cars

 

Sitting at the Pub, cold drink in hand watching council car's get towed... best day of work ever!

 

Now that is Karma at work - Love it  :)

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its true, i have had friends get fined for that when cops were looking for defects but the guy had engineer's reports on the usual mods.

 

I have also heard someone get done for having slip over car seat covers, because apparently you can "slip off and out" of the seat at some point during driving... i wish i was kidding.

Rudolf.

Haha, try driving a 69 -318 valiant with a vinyl bench seat taking a roundabout ...same thing !

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