Author |
Message |
Karen Farmer
Tinkerer WA Soarer TT
Posts: 76 Reg: 12-2007
| Just thought i would share my little story. I always thought police were nice people..when people bad mouthed the cops I would always stick up for them..saying 'give them a break, they are only doing thier job'. Until Saturday night.. I had just finished work at 10.30pm and was very happy and excited to be driving to my mates house and then on to freo.. EXCEPT.. about 20 mtrs from work i got pulled over by the friendly neighbourhood cops. Yes i have a tiny blue neon in the front grill.It is sometimes turned on but usually not. So the police pull me over.. they say the light is illegal, so i switch it off and say sorry i wont turn it back on. Thinking that they will caution me and let me go.. well that wasnt the case.. The went through the car taking up 30 mins of my partying time and were real arseholes to me and my boyfriend. For a stupid tiny light that i could off ripped out in front of them, i got a friggen yellow sticker. BUT when i got home i looked at the defect form and.. the bloody idiot who thought he was so damn smooth made the ultimate insult and wrote down that the car was a nissan skyline \clipart1 {25} So what do you think my chances are of making this void? The way they acted to us made me think that they were bullied in highscool and became cops to have some sort of "higher" power over everyone else. I have lost respect for these so called police. |
Ryan Deutrom
Tinkerer VIC V8
Posts: 76 Reg: 09-2007
| Karen i think there is a nice chance of making that void, they looked all over your car for so long, you would think the might have paid even a little bit of attention to the model of the car..thats cops for you |
Kyle Wathen
DieHard Vic GTTL
Posts: 559 Reg: 02-2007
| You might be able to get off on a technicality, is the rego number still correct though? If it is you would have even less chance. Sounds like WA is finally catching up to the other states. Imports have been harassed for a long time, regularly pulled over for inspections and to hand out defects. Until you guys in WA start getting defected for not enough water in the windscreen washer bottle or more than 6 clicks when pulling up the handbrake consider yourself lucky |
Luke Bell
TryHard NSW JZZ30 GT-TL Manual
Posts: 181 Reg: 04-2006
| At least it was only a yellow sticker for a neon, there are plenty of Soarers around that would get much worse than that! |
Karen Farmer
Tinkerer WA Soarer TT
Posts: 77 Reg: 12-2007
| worse than a yellow sticker for a neon? How so? |
Karen Farmer
Tinkerer WA Soarer TT
Posts: 78 Reg: 12-2007
| I understand that the neon is illegal. But i have gone through about 4 booze buses and not one cop has EVER said to me to get rid of the light. One even commented on how 'pretty' it looked. I was more upset on the light being the ONLY defect and the ease of being able to simply take the light out on the spot and hand it to the cop and say there you go.. no need for a yellow. And the whole bad additude that i was given. Simply a joy of being a p plater i guess. |
Glen Muller
TryHard Victoria V8 Soarer UZZ31
Posts: 460 Reg: 12-2007
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Karen Farmer wrote on Monday, July 14, 2008 - 01:36 pm:Simply a joy of being a p plater i guess.
I think you summed it up there. It definitely helps to keep your car looking stock and shiny, and you'll notice that you get less Police attention when you lose the P's.
Kyle Wathen wrote on Monday, July 14, 2008 - 12:54 pm:not enough water in the windscreen washer bottle
Don't you love the cops and their mechanical prowess? Arsehats. |
Callum Finch
Goo Roo WA Soarer TT & Corolla
Posts: 4076 Reg: 09-2005
| FAST AND THE FURIOUS GUYS! I dont mean to sound like im saying "you probably deserved it" so please dont take me that way. If you were unfairly treated then you have a right to dispute the fine based on that fact. Unfortunately you fell in to a stereotype for the Police; if there is a fancy schmancey light then they are likely to pay closer attention to other things. If you dont use the light then take it off perhaps? =P I used to work with an ex-patrol officer and would talk to him all the time about imports etc. Among other things, some basic things he told me is that the typical officer is likely categorise a car and it's driver based on the obvious. ie, people with neon lights on their car are more likely to be silly on the road and have dangerous things done to their car, such as being too low. He told me that on the other hand, if the car has nothing obvious, is relatively clean and straight looking (ie, no big drift scars, scrapes, lots of black rubber from burnouts etc) then they are more likely to be left alone. I have been pulled over several times since purchasing my car for Police to only ask me to pop the bonnet for them to check things etc etc. I provide them with a copy of a permit i have which they check over and then later im on my way. I should add however that i havent been pulled over by an officer for quite a while now. At the end of the day, of course you will find some bad eggs who get on a power trip, however i am willing to bet that the majority of the time you are approached with a negative attitude because the officer is expecting you to be a complete jerk, or you are being a complete jerk. And worse than a sticker for a neon? One for a single turbo or to do with the breathing of the car. Hello bill for $hundreds in labour and potentially more in parts! In my younger days i was pulled over for speeding by an officer on a bike who claimed i was doing 130kph in a 50zone. =O He validated this claim by saying thats what speed he had to do to catch up to me (probably from at least 100m behind me). Pretty ludicrous claim, however ill admit to 80kph in what i thought was a 60zone (OOPZ!) so i didnt push the matter. When he hopped off the bike and started talking to me it was quite evident that he was highly pumped and excited from going so fast on his bike. Likely raging on adrenalin =P It ended up being 4 points and $250 in slaps on the wrist which i wore because im a big boy, however the circumstances made me feel as if i was unfairly treated given his attitude towards me at the time. The officer is based in my area as well so a number of times after that he would pull me over to check my car for defects etc and send me on my way. I hope you enjoyed my story as much as i did writing it =) |
Ben Daniel
Goo Roo WA UZZ31 & JZA80 (when I find one!!)
Posts: 1626 Reg: 03-2006
| At the end of the day Karen you have to understand that there are a lot of dickhead cops out there who will just pull you over to be dicks only to pass time in their own boring lives. Dont let it completely taint your feelings towards them as the next time you get pulled over you might actually get a cop whos real nice but your passed experience will get the better of you and they'll see the attitude difference. Now for some truth, its always cops who know sweet all about cars which are usually the ones to yellow sticker you and if you know better dont be afraid to challenge them about it, If your in the right then stand your ground and they might just tell you to piss off and give you a warning. The reason im saying this is because neons AREN'T illegal in WA provided they are secured tightly, the bulb itself isn't exposed, they dont flash and they remain 1 colour. I know this for a fact. Dont let this whole experience bother you to much Karen, its just 1 of the parts of owning an import. Cops are here for our benefit and you have to acknowledge that. If your car was stolen tomorrow, the first cop you see would be your new best friend. |
Daniel Clarke
Goo Roo NSW TT 2.5L 6 cylinder
Posts: 3714 Reg: 03-2006
| NOt even if its Red or Blue? As both of those are emergency colours. |
Chris Prak
TryHard WA Soarer GTT-L
Posts: 346 Reg: 12-2006
| I've read somewhere (WA Law) that there are to be no other coloured lights at the front of a car besides regular driving lights. So it's pretty much your fault for attracting that kind of attention. As for the yellow sticker, it doesn't matter how stupid the reason is, as long as there is one, they just want you to go over the pits. These are the guys that go over your car with the checklist and make you come back a 2nd time. Price for pits has gone up also, revenue raising pricks. |
Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo North Island JZZ31
Posts: 3625 Reg: 10-2005
| I agree with Chris, 80% of the time its about meeting quotas, which are set by beurocrats in order to reach budget targets. |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo New Zealand Soarer Limited UZZ31 & Soarer 3.0GT JZZ31
Posts: 2210 Reg: 11-2005
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Chris Prak wrote on Monday, July 14, 2008 - 11:03 pm:So it's pretty much your fault for attracting that kind of attention.
Exactly. Not like a blue light on the front of a soarer looks good anyway.... Ehh |
Ben Daniel
Goo Roo WA UZZ31 & JZA80 (when I find one!!)
Posts: 1635 Reg: 03-2006
| different strokes for different folks |
Karen Farmer
Tinkerer WA Soarer TT
Posts: 80 Reg: 12-2007
| I think it did look good.. so did another cop when i went through a booze bus. Each to their own. I liked it and thats all that matters. |
Karen Farmer
Tinkerer WA Soarer TT
Posts: 81 Reg: 12-2007
| and the point of this thread wasnt to ask if i was attracting attention and if it was "my fault". I know a neon stands out. It was about the attitude of the police and the ease of me being able to take the light out on the spot and problem solved. |
Michael Crimp
Tinkerer QUEENSLAND V8 UZZ32
Posts: 11 Reg: 06-2008
| Hi, A couple of years ago, Last time I was busted I was out in Far Western Queensland where the limit is 120kph I was doing 150-160kph and 70km out from the nearest town and came around a curve to see a Highway Patrol car radar on and lights flashing. The police woman gets out and I greet her with a grin and said "I was having a bloody good drive until you came along" She laughed and only booked me for 147kph ($700plus fine). In Qld at 30kph over the speed limit you start walking immediately. As a point of interest I think bullies should be pulled up. The cops have a professional code of ethics to follow to protect us and them. The problem is we have become more of a police state over the last 20 or so years and you do not want to be marked to be pulled over everytime you are out driving. It's your decision Have fun anyway and if you don't give them a reason to pull you up they usually won't |
Luke Nieuwhof
Goo Roo WA Soarer TT
Posts: 2762 Reg: 07-2005
| Karen, have you got the officer's number or name? for what it is worth you can put in an official complaint of some kind. |
Vic Olbromski
Tinkerer NSW JZZ30 TT Manual
Posts: 77 Reg: 01-2008
| That's golden. Cops are so clueless when it comes to cars. I remember a time, one of my brother's mates got pulled over over by highway patrol. They made him pop the bonnet to find a massive turbo hanging off the side of the engine. After standing there cringing, the cops didn't say anything about it, however curious, one of the bright-sparks leaned over the engine bay for a closer look and rested his palm on the turbo exhaust housing and sizzled his hand. The cop almost instantly pulled his hand back and put it behind his back. He then said that everything is fine and let him go.
|
Patrick Robinson
Tinkerer New Providence Soarer TT
Posts: 83 Reg: 09-2007
| What I learned from a cop was; he said that if he and another cop are on the same road block he might think that the light or what ever the "offense" might be is ok but the other cop might write you up for it so it all depends on who the cop is. |
Nickel Quimada
TryHard Western Australia GT-T
Posts: 244 Reg: 04-2006
| Karen take it to the oconnor pits and when the guys see why youve been yellowed they may just take the sticker off on the spot. |
Alen Sadikovic
DieHard VIC Soarer GTT
Posts: 536 Reg: 10-2006
|
Vic Olbromski wrote on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 05:36 pm:Cops are so clueless when it comes to cars.
tell me about it. a cop once tried to scare me by telling me they had several calls apparently complaining i have been hooning around. but the idiot couldnt even tell what car i had and he described it as a "black thing over there" lol i think plenty black things drive past a busy road near the beach lol |
Joshua Rao
DieHard WA JZZ30 vvti GT-L
Posts: 854 Reg: 09-2006
| Haha, comedy. Yeah cops are like that sometime, but as Karen said I just get the feeling they love exerting power that perhaps they never could as a child or some crazy grudge |
Karen Farmer
Tinkerer WA Soarer TT
Posts: 83 Reg: 12-2007
| Well heres my update.. Took the car to East Perth yesterday and told him why the car was yellowed. The inspector said he had owned soarers for 7 years. YAY i thought!! This is going to be a shoe in. I said 'so i guess i come to the right man'. He replied with ' or not... i know excatly what is wrong with them'. So after telling me straight out the car would fail, he failed it and i know have to 1. Higher the car by 4cm 2. Stock wheels 3. Stock rearlights 4.ABS light not showing on dash Anyone have any idea why the ABS light wouldnt be showing on the dash? I have never actually seen it or taken notice that it should be there. Also he picked up on the fact i have a momo wheel and no airbags. He said depending on the when the law come in, the car may be fine without the airbag. Its a 94. Do i legally need one? He nearly got me for the bodykit on the front, saying it needed a bar of some sort through it to soften high impact? Then he checked on his computer and said the car JUST slides through that law by 1 month. So anyone know about this ABS missing light? |
Ben Daniel
Goo Roo WA UZZ31 & JZA80 (when I find one!!)
Posts: 1642 Reg: 03-2006
| That sux Karen, Like Nickel said, I woulda gone to O'Connor, East perth can be pretty strict on imports. As im not driving at the moment, I cant lend you my 94+ rear lights. Just let me know. |
Chris Prak
TryHard WA Soarer GTT-L
Posts: 350 Reg: 12-2006
| I don't recall seeing any ABS on my TT. The only ABS warning is on the 'scroll' display in the middle on mine. Get a bright torch and shine it onto the dash to see if you can see the it. Karen, East Perth pits are one of the worse! haha, Can't believe you went there. As Nick said, go to O'Connor or Welshpool. I personally go to Welshpool, I'm quite a regular there and the guys have gotten to know me quite a bit and just laugh when I go through. I have standard Spring/shocks here if you need to borrow them. I did have stock rims, but they are now on the jzx90. |
Michael Crimp
Tinkerer QUEENSLAND V8 UZZ32
Posts: 16 Reg: 06-2008
| Karen ditto above I think it sucks too It is probably a very good thing that I am naturally a purist at heart but if I ever post that I'm going to do some outrageous MODS on my 32 please refer me to this and other threads. Also the generosity of members is outstanding and worthy of note. Good luck next time |
Callum Finch
Goo Roo WA Soarer TT & Corolla
Posts: 4079 Reg: 09-2005
|
Vic Olbromski wrote on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 05:36 pm:Cops are so clueless when it comes to cars.
Don't white wash stereotypes over Police officers. One (ex) WA member is a Police officer in Canarvon and is currently going through the process of parting out one of the most performance modified turbo Soarers in the state. At least it was until people like Joshua came along! ;D He isn't exactly a rare find either. There are plenty of officers who do know about mechanics etc. They may not install parts or change things on their own cars but that doesnt mean they don't know. You also have to remember that the Police don't get paid for their skills to know about mechanics. In terms of defect notices they make a judgement call based off rules/laws they know. If you take issue with the way things are run aim your rage at the management level, not the worker level. FWIW, I think the Police do an outstanding job. I'm not going to bitch and moan that there are a few bad eggs who cut their teeth on traffic violations and take some things too far. |
Karen Farmer
Tinkerer WA Soarer TT
Posts: 86 Reg: 12-2007
| haah thats what i thought! My boyfriend told me to go to East perth. I work in welshpool and i was going to take it there.. LOL oh well.. no for next time. Is there anyway of finding out if the ABS light HAS to show up on dash? He started going on about that it must not be showing up because other things on the car must have been fiddled with, and thats why the ABS has disappeared.. because thats one thing hes marked on my 'to do list' And aslo wether its illegally for me not to have airbags? Thanks ben. but i have my standard rearlights still from when i changed them over. I was smart and didnt sell them! Its just major hassle all this crap when its a perfectly beautiful car.. yes it may be low but iv seen much worse. At least its mechanically safe.. I have seen cars that a pretty much held together with sticky tape.. or are spewing out black fumes but i dont see them yellow stickered? GRRRR |
Luke Nieuwhof
Goo Roo WA Soarer TT
Posts: 2764 Reg: 07-2005
| Got some stock wheels if you need to borrow them...come with free daddy long legs spiders you can keep. |
Leon Wright
DieHard WA V8 UZZ31
Posts: 935 Reg: 08-2006
| I didn't know there was a cut off date, I was under the impression that if a factory airbag was fitted that under no circumstances could it be removed from the vehicle. Big $$$ fines for doing so. It's a TT, so the earlier pov pack ones didn't have them. As for the ABS light, if it has ABS a light should show up on the dash when you turn the ignition to the "On" position. But I'm not 100% on that one as my 91 doesn't have it! Really got to check up on what the factory fitted stuff is on your TT. |
Callum Finch
Goo Roo WA Soarer TT & Corolla
Posts: 4083 Reg: 09-2005
|
Leon Wright wrote on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 07:10 pm:Big $$$ fines for doing so
I hope you dont get fined if you dont pay the $$$hundreds to replace a spent airbag =P |
James Harris
Goo Roo SC Cruise 27 JULY !! CHECK QLD EVENTS
Posts: 1663 Reg: 07-2005
|
Leon Wright wrote on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 07:10 pm:I was under the impression that if a factory airbag was fitted that under no circumstances could it be removed from the vehicle
correct.... well in QLD anyways. I have never seen an ABS light either, perhaps he got it wrong. As for raising your car 4cm.. YUK. unless you have coilovers AND its dumped on those coilovers... its a mission to change struts etc. Good luck with it all. |
Joshua Rao
DieHard WA JZZ30 vvti GT-L
Posts: 862 Reg: 09-2006
| As Leon and James put yeah I thought the same in regards to the airbag. I have never seen the abs light in my 94 JZZ31 or 96 JZZ30, I do think he got it wrong. You really would have thought having owned soarers for 7 years he would like the car and appreciate any owners choice of car regardless.
Callum Finch wrote on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 02:34 pm:At least it was until people like Joshua came along!
Please elaborate in detail? |
Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo North Island JZZ31
Posts: 3632 Reg: 10-2005
| My '96 JZZ31 is bogo stock, and it has no airbag - nore does it have ABS - they were both optional. Not sure about the JZZ30, but I'd imagine it would be a similar deal. If you don't have the luxury dash, but you do have ABS you should have an ABS light on the dash that lights up when the ignition is turned on, and turns off when the car is started. If you have the luxo dash, the ABS message comes up in the scrolly when you turn the ignition on, or push the "Check" button. If you don't have ABS, then its not a problem! Otherwise it might be something as simple as a blown bulb. Ride hight I can understand, as unless its done properly it is a hazard, and its difficult to check if its been done properly, so I guess its easier to just ban it. Stock wheels? Surely you guys have SOME leeway for changing your wheels from stock? And rear lights - if the lights are functioning correctly and provide for correct coloured, not to dim/not to bright indicating, reversing, braking and illumination, then how can they fail you on them? Thats just silly! |
Karen Farmer
Tinkerer WA Soarer TT
Posts: 89 Reg: 12-2007
| Yep the car has ABS but no light.. might have to take it to an auto electrician to see if they can work out if its meant to show up.. OR i will just not take it back to East Perth and hope they dont mention it!! LOL The lights have red reflectors. But the guy said ANY japenese/chinese lights on the car is an automatic fail. Wether it be headlights or rear lights. I think i just got a random idiot. I have the stock lights though, and changing the wheels is fine they only hassle is the height. But i have 21 days so should be all good. Thanks for everyones help and the offers. Your all great. |
Callum Finch
Goo Roo WA Soarer TT & Corolla
Posts: 4085 Reg: 09-2005
|
Joshua Rao wrote on Friday, July 18, 2008 - 03:25 am:Please elaborate in detail?
Dont you have a 2jz-gte in your Soarer? Or am i not paying attention to names? >.>
Karen Farmer wrote on Friday, July 18, 2008 - 09:43 am:Yep the car has ABS but no light.. might have to take it to an auto electrician to see if they can work out if its meant to show up.. OR i will just not take it back to East Perth and hope they dont mention it!! LOL The lights have red reflectors. But the guy said ANY japenese/chinese lights on the car is an automatic fail. Wether it be headlights or rear lights. I think i just got a random idiot.
What light are you talking about? In my experience the ABS light only comes on when it takes over your braking due to loss of traction? As for other lights on your car, you can use lights from any country, they just have to be the right spec globes. I dont know for certain what the spec are for lights and headlights so i wont say, however the info should be locked up in the forum somewhere. If you have a list of things to do in order to pass the inspection you may be better off getting in touch with someone like Hollywood Joe to go through the list and get it done properly so that you can avoid repeat visits over and over. Perhaps someone could also give experiences regarding which inspection "pit" to visit? Or if swapping after you have already been inspected once is looked down on by the mechanics? I have always thought that the Welshpool pits were the best to go to when you have modifications? |
Kyle Wathen
DieHard Vic GTTL
Posts: 565 Reg: 02-2007
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Karen Farmer wrote on Friday, July 18, 2008 - 09:43 am:But the guy said ANY japenese/chinese lights on the car is an automatic fail.
So going by his logic the standard lights manufactured in Japan wont pass either. Maybe just chuck on some Falcon lights to please him |
Karen Farmer
Tinkerer WA Soarer TT
Posts: 90 Reg: 12-2007
| I dont know what the guy was talking about to be honest. He said very clearly though that ANY not standard lights are an automatic fail. I got my rear lights from Rob. The little corner reflectors are red and he said they need to be amber coloured. But he did say he would FAIL all afermarket jap lights. The ABS light: the inspector was going on about the ABS light not showing up on the dash. I have NEVER noticed this light and alot of other people have said they havent noticed this either. The inspector said the light should show up on the dash when the car is turned on.. i honestly think he was just an idiot and doesnt really know anything. So im thinking to just get the car lifted. Put stock wheels on the car, standard lights and leave it at that? Do you think it will look suss if i take the car to welshpool after failing at East Perth? Has anyone passed their car through the pits with it being low? I mean my car is low but its not LOW. I have seen alot of soarers on here that are much, much lower than mine.} |
Joshua Rao
DieHard WA JZZ30 vvti GT-L
Posts: 865 Reg: 09-2006
|
Callum Finch wrote on Friday, July 18, 2008 - 12:50 pm:Dont you have a 2jz-gte in your Soarer? Or am i not paying attention to names? >.>
I wish!!! I sont have 2JZ GTE soarer that is Joe Rad and its a 10 second beast!!! I have a very stock 1jz vvti. Karen I believe going to stock will be easiest, then once you finish just swap it all back. Maybe keep stock springs. Pain though. I was also under the impression your rim size can go up by 2 inches on stock. So soarer stock is 16" so aftermarket rims can go up to 18". |
Luke Burt
TryHard Queensland auto TT and 5spd TT
Posts: 289 Reg: 08-2007
| No lights as such should be on while the car is on, His soarer of 7 years must have had ABS and the light was there to tell him so.. How low is your soarer? What are the laws in WA for height? We need at least 100mm clearance at any part of the car for it to be legal.. 100mm off the ground is low! The rear lights also should be fine provided they have a red reflector, as the stock lights do. and wheel size here goes on rolling diameter not inches in wheels.. As you can go from a 16" wheel with a high profile tyre, to a 19" wheel with a rubber band around it and keep the same rolling diameter. I think we have to stay within 11% of the standard rolling dia on the wheels. Should just do some research on the WA laws and reference them all when you go back to the 'pit'. |
David Vaughan
Goo Roo ACT V8 Ltd manual
Posts: 3855 Reg: 07-2005
| I think you will find it is nearer 3% than 11% Luke. |
Chris Prak
TryHard WA Soarer GTT-L
Posts: 358 Reg: 12-2006
| 100mm is the height at Welshpool. The barriers are in the miidle. I have never been to East Perth, but when you drove through the pits there, did it touch the 100mm barrier on the floor? (If it had one). My car did hit it, I had to put my standard shocks back on. I used Precise Suspension in Wangara. $200 labour for reference, just a swap, they were reasonable. You can borrow mine if you need it, they are just sitting in the shed, just make sure you bring it back. |
Peter Nitschke
Junk Filterer South Australia UZZ30 UZZ31
Posts: 9690 Reg: 11-2004
| Karen, I just checked both my UZZ30 (no TRC) and my UZZ31 (with TRC) and neither show an ABS light with ignition on or otherwise. However it does show ABS in the scroll display as it starts and run the various checks. Show him that. |
Callum Finch
Goo Roo WA Soarer TT & Corolla
Posts: 4087 Reg: 09-2005
|
Karen Farmer wrote on Friday, July 18, 2008 - 01:54 pm:He said very clearly though that ANY not standard lights are an automatic fail. I got my rear lights from Rob. The little corner reflectors are red and he said they need to be amber coloured. But he did say he would FAIL all afermarket jap lights.
Amber reflectors? I'm not familiar with that in rear clusters, i thought they were always red reflectors? =X Sounds like the fellow was referring to after market light clusters. What sort of rear cluster set up do you have? If it is the Altezza style you might want to consider sourcing a more stock option. |