Modifying your car now 'illegal'

[xrapidx]

Not sure if it escaped you but Cape Town people aren't so quick to pay bribes. Or they might pay it but then they will report it afterwards. Not sure if it's a provincial thing but I love the culture of this province.

It might be a South African thing but it's not necessarily the right thing, and it would soon come to naught if more people stood up against it.

But they're stating all modifications... my car is heavily modified for 4x4... raised suspension, toughened suspension, bullbar, rear bumper, rock sliders, etc etc...

The only thing I haven't done yet is put larger tyres on, purely due to the cost of the tyres.

So...what is it?

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Yet there's nothing stopping stock M3s and RS4s from racing. This is just stupid and is going to have f-all effect on illegal racing. What about the impact it will have on businesses who rely on aftermarket mods?

 

[MrR]

Yet there's nothing stopping stock M3s and RS4s from racing. This is just stupid and is going to have f-all effect on illegal racing. What about the impact it will have on businesses who rely on aftermarket mods?

But speaking of these businesses, shouldn't they also then be held accountable as well?
(I know it's an absurd statement, but for the sake of argument)

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

But speaking of these businesses, shouldn't they also then be held accountable as well?
(I know it's an absurd statement, but for the sake of argument)

Logically it should. It's like arresting a drug user, but allowing the dealer to keep selling...

 

[xrapidx]

But speaking of these businesses, shouldn't they also then be held accountable as well?
(I know it's an absurd statement, but for the sake of argument)

You mean like holding Toyota responsible for taxi's behaviour?

 

[Maverick Jester]

If you mod your car beyond standard then why shouldn't you have it checked again?

Nothing wrong with that, I meant in the sense that since officers now have the right to declare your car unroadworthy, corrupt ones could do the same despite your car passing a roadworthy post-modification.

 

[Maverick Jester]

Yet there's nothing stopping stock M3s and RS4s from racing. This is just stupid and is going to have f-all effect on illegal racing. What about the impact it will have on businesses who rely on aftermarket mods?

Agreed. The only way to deter illegal racing is to set up a place where people can do it legally.

 

[xrapidx]

Agreed. The only way to deter illegal racing is to set up a place where people can do it legally.

There is one.

 

[Maverick Jester]

There is one.

How accessible is it, though?

 

[USZA]

There is one.

That streetraces don't want to use because they don't want to toe the line and adhere to the rules.

It's funny that these are the same people who's using our streets as racetracks, and for the same reasons - not wanting to follow the rules.

 

[ToxicBunny]

How accessible is it, though?

Very much so...

Killarney in Cape Town, near Table View.

 

[Maverick Jester]

That streetraces don't want to use because they don't want to toe the line and adhere to the rules.

It's funny that these are the same people who's using our streets as racetracks, and for the same reasons - not wanting to follow the rules.

I dunno, could be an issue of accessibility.

Back when Wesbank Receway was still going, and it had the Thursday night drags, a lot of people showed up and paid to race because it was far safer and secluded from other traffic, without worrying about police showing up. Illegal racing spiked when Wesbank closed.

 

[Maverick Jester]

Very much so...

Killarney in Cape Town, near Table View.

I know, I meant in terms of cost to enter, entrance times, etc. Is it akin to what Wesbank Raceway used to do?

 

[daveza]

Very much so...

Killarney in Cape Town, near Table View.

Not kewl enuff.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

The Kyalami legal drags had to be moved to the day time because some old hag complained about noise. Wtf do you expect when you live near a race track?? Day time drag racing is not the same as night time, so i wouldn't be surprised if a lot of these guys are back on the streets racing illegally...

 

[ToxicBunny]

I know, I meant in terms of cost to enter, entrance times, etc. Is it akin to what Wesbank Raceway used to do?

Seems to be R50 to enter the Street2Strip events. and it seems to be once a month.

 

[MrR]

You mean like holding Toyota responsible for taxi's behaviour?

Not the vehicle manufacturer but rather the supplier of after-market sutff, like Autozone selling racing kits, aftermarket exhaust suppliers like noiseboys or aftermarket chip boosters? You take them out of the equation (or regulate them) then you limit the access to modifying goods.

Once again, just raising it as a point for debate. I'm just thinking along the lines of prevention rather than correction.

 

[xrapidx]

So... is changing my car radio also a problem? I mean, it could interfere with the airbag wiring... or various other vehicle electronics....

 

[Captain Beer]

Our DA ward councilor just posted this on Facebook:

(Doesn't copy and paste well)

City has no designs on legally modified vehicles A front-page report in today’s Cape Argus claims that the City of Cape Town plans to target drivers of modified vehicles. The article is worryingly inaccurate and the misinformation has spread to other media platforms, including social media. For the record, the City of Cape Town’s Traffic Service is mandated to enforce the provisions of the National Road Traffic Act No. 93 of 1996 – a national piece of legislation which states that any modification of or tampering with a vehicle’s safety design renders the vehicle unroadworthy unless it is done by the manufacturer or a registered body builder. If a registered body builder decides to make any alterations, they are required to re-register the vehicle and send it to the South African Police Service for clearance before the alteration is considered legal. This is very rarely or never done on motor cars and will normally take place when dealing with heavy vehicles like buses or trucks. In addition to the National Road Traffic Act, the SANS 047 (South African National Standard) is extensively used by our motor vehicle examiners when conducting roadworthy checks on vehicles. The SANS 047 is very specific on unroadworthy issues such as suspensions and springs, steering columns, vehicle headlights and fog lamps, tinting of windows, and brakes, etc. The City has no issue with motor vehicles that have been modified legally and in line with the legislation and standards as outlined above. What we do have an issue with is the large number of vehicles that are modified illegally, rendering them unsafe. Alterations done by mechanics, welders, boilermakers, etc. who are not registered to do so are illegal and the law is very clear about the issue. Contrary to the information in the article, City traffic officers are clamping down on modified vehicles and the statistics from our illegal street racing operations indicate as much. Of the more than 400 vehicles that had gathered for an illegal street race in Ottery this past weekend, only seven were suspended for illegal modifications and all of them were involved in races, because operationally it would be virtually impossible to check each and every vehicle at the location. Eight suspects were arrested for participating in illegal races, putting their lives as well as the lives of other road users in jeopardy. Currently, City traffic officers can arrest motorists who participate in illegal races on charges of reckless and negligent driving. Officers can also suspend illegally modified vehicles from the road, in spite of the article incorrectly quoting me as saying we cannot. What we want (and I have made this clear on a number of occasions) is the enactment of new regulations that will allow us to impose stricter penalties on illegal street racers, with very specific emphasis on those who evade or elude lawful instructions from an authorised official to pull over, including impounding their vehicles. We are also calling for harsher impoundment fees for these vehicles and want to ensure prison time for the offenders. The act of being a spectator at the races also needs to be included with a suitable penalty, as we are inundated with complaints about their behaviour and the impact on surrounding residents. We want to discuss with the National Prosecuting Authority and the Transport MEC certain significant cases where the courts have failed to address this matter adequately and where repeat offenders have been let off too lightly by prosecutors and magistrates who apparently do not understand the gravity of the situation.

 

[satanboy]

Another reason not to vote DA.

+1

Morons will race whether their cars are modified or not. Stupid government.