New laws governing raised and lowered vehicles!

paffoh

paffoh

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HOONS who raise or lower their car’s suspension to “look cool” without meeting engineering approval will not be able to get their vehicles registered or insured. Tough new rules being brought in from next month will mean car owners will need to get all modifications to their vehicles approved by an authorised engineer. Cars which are not approved will not be able to pass their rego and motorists could face fines of up to $7700 for driving an uninsured vehicle.

Roads Minister Michael Daley said the new laws would also limit owners to raising or lowering their suspension by no more than 5cm.
“I don’t want to see young hoons putting their lives or the lives of others at risk, just because they think their car looks better 15 centimetres closer to the ground,” he said. “These hoons may think their car looks cool, but as far as I’m concerned anything more than a 5cm change in a car’s suspension is dangerous and doesn’t belong on our roads.”
The new laws comes into effect on August 1.

https://www.caradvice.com.au/35261/sick-modifications-to-require-engineering-approval/

Pretty sure its from the link above, seems they are talking about VIC and QLD in 2010 (Only NSW RTA) now. The ACT and VIC (I think) dont require going over the pits every year to check your vehicle, I guess if you get a defect notice it will force you to go over! I just spent $600 on a new lift kit or 2, luckily my Jackson kit is 1" and the Kings cover 1" so with my bar weights I should sag just under 5cm...

Hmmmm debate much!???
 
That sucks, but then again, I can see the other side that makes sense too. I see so many improperly modified vehicles on the road, it's not even funny. The nice thing about living in USA (originally, I'm from Europe) is that the "car rules" are lot more "laid back" than in other countries. But that's also the bad part.
When I see a 4x4 monster that's 2 stories high driving down the street, I wanna get out and slap the #%@$ out of the driver. Same thing with a "slammed" Civic that just doesn't look right. When both vehicles left the factory, they were engineered with safety in mind. In other words, the stock Civic would have had a slightly better chance of surviving against the 4x4 (yeah right, but work with me...). Now, a 2story high 4x4 would just run over the "slammed" Civic as if it was just another speed bump. Are they legally modified? Probably not, but nobody really cares until they crash. Sadly, here in the States, it's mostly true.
Some might argue that the 4x4 was high so it could go offroad (once a decade), and that the Civic handles better. But, the 4x4 only has a 4ft body lift, so it still drags the axles on the rocks (if it dares to get dirt on the chrome). Or the Civic just had the springs cut to make it lower, but it still bounces around like a pogo stick.
The point is, a lot of "uneducated" people "modify" their vehicles without improperly thinking the whole project through, and they end up with "unsatisfactory" results not fitted for the road.
The part that sucks about the above mentioned change of law, is that the people that do know what they're doing, and do their research, have to suffer because of the above mentioned idiots.
[Rant over] :raspberry:
 
Wow.. I'm pretty torn on that one. It is a safety issue but only 5cm?? That's nothing! I'd like to see them try and pull that over here. They'd have a bunch off pissed of rednecks storming the capitol building with chainsaws and shotguns. :D Btw what the heck is a hoon? A hooligan I'm assuming? Or a mischief maker?
 
This sucks big time & is very, very sad indead. :furious::yell: :cry:

Please excuse my ignorance, but does this include vehicles that are already raised/lowered or only vehicles that have the modifications done (raised/lowered) after 1 Aug 09 ?

I'm guessing it would include both before & after this date. :( :mob: :(

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Real Lyte said:
Lol this law would take half the vehicles off the road here in redneck country...
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We have quite a few them down state on the east end. There are regulations on max height in some states in the USA, but they are extreemly generous, and rarely enforced (thank goodness).

I've been wondering this for quite some time, :poke: but what is exactly a hoon?


nipper
 
Hoon is a derogatory term used in Australia and New Zealand to refer to a person who engages in loutish, anti-social behaviour. In particular, it is used to refer to one who drives in a manner which is anti-social by the standards of contemporary society, that is, fast, noisily or dangerously. Hoon activities can include speeding, street racing, burnouts, doughnuts or screeching tires. Those commonly identified as being involved in "hooning" or street racing are young, predominantly male although increasingly female drivers in the age range of 17 and 35 years. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoon)
 
troyXT said:
Hoon is a derogatory term used in Australia and New Zealand to refer to a person who engages in loutish, anti-social behaviour. In particular, it is used to refer to one who drives in a manner which is anti-social by the standards of contemporary society, that is, fast, noisily or dangerously. Hoon activities can include speeding, street racing, burnouts, doughnuts or screeching tires. Those commonly identified as being involved in "hooning" or street racing are young, predominantly male although increasingly female drivers in the age range of 17 and 35 years. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoon)
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Don't take this the wrong way, but Austrailia is starting to sound less and less fun.

nipper
 
nipper said:
Don't take this the wrong way, but Austrailia is starting to sound less and less fun.
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Agreed! In vic we're already stuck with a law of two inches for subi's. Ours works something on the amount of wheel movement determines the amount of lift you can have legally, something like that anyway.

I would imagine that if your subi has been engineered it wouldn't be a problem - I'm planning on this when I get the 3 inch in.

I really don't think lowering of a vehicle is a problem if its done properly (no spring chopping) but raising can be an issue if its a ridiculous (spelling?!) amount. Really the real issues is oversized engine conversions without the appropriate brakes to stop the vehicle along with drivers who don't have the responsibility to handle said vehicle when behind the wheel.

It is a bummer that everything in life these days is spoiled by a very small minority - take the BMW art ad for instance, that got banned here because two people wrote in and complained that it encouraged hoon activities. I won't start on that one but its still a bummer that its not on the air anymore :(

Cheers

Bennie
 
What does an "engineering approval" look like? Is this just another law to develop a segment of the industry? The engineering certificates industry??
 
El_Freddo said:
It is a bummer that everything in life these days is spoiled by a very small minority - take the BMW art ad for instance, that got banned here because two people wrote in and complained that it encouraged hoon activities. I won't start on that one but its still a bummer that its not on the air anymore :(
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I used to love that ad, it showed great imagination.
The next thing they'll try to do is ban car chases in movies.

As said in earlier posts, as long as its done properly (no spring cutting etc) I really can't see a problem.

But it's always the way isn't it, it just takes a few bad apples to stuff it up for everyone. :yell:

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Caradvice.com said:
All vehicles lowered after August 1st will be required to carry a certificate of authorisation.
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Hoping this may come into play for you all, perhaps your already lifted cars will be 'grandfathered' in to the law. I remember reading posts from the past about the engineering certificates, sounds like a PITA and shelling out some $$$, but if you have to shouldn't your lift blocks and raised springs be able to pass the certification??? And, for the most part, are you not within the 5cm's allowed???

Got my fingers crossed for y'all!!! But if it comes down to it, collect and pack up all your blocks and springs and ship em' stateside, we'll find good homes for them.:iconwink:
 
mr turbo said:
Please excuse my ignorance, but does this include vehicles that are already raised/lowered or only vehicles that have the modifications done (raised/lowered) after 1 Aug 09 ?

I'm guessing it would include both before & after this date. :( :mob: :(
Click to expand...

carljwnc said:
Hoping this may come into play for you all, perhaps your already lifted cars will be 'grandfathered' in to the law.
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Thats what I wondering myself.
Hopefully you're right carljwnc & it excludes anything that is pre-existing, which would mean that they're exempt.

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
mr turbo said:
Thats what I wondering myself.
Hopefully you're right carljwnc & it excludes anything that is pre-existing, which would mean that they're exempt.
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But how would the authorities know that it is pre-existing from before the 1st of august?

I intend to get Ruby Scoo engineered - EJ22, 3 inch lift and 27 inch tyres. Its a tried and tested setup that proves well on-road as well as off-road with no safety issues as a result of the modifications. Best to be on the safe side though - plus I can 'throw' the certificate at the boys in blue if they have an issue with the mods being un-lawful, then they have to accept it unless a component is worn and in an unroadworthy condition.

It all comes down to money :(

Cheers

Bennie
 
El_Freddo said:
But how would the authorities know that it is pre-existing from before the 1st of august?
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The only way I can think of is if you could provide a receipt of the purchased items with a date.
Also, a copy of a previous insurance policy that states that you have this modification.

Apart from these, I can't think of anything.

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
From the cops point of view it probably means that they can only easily hit new cars.
Any car newer than 1st aug would have to apply!

Otherwise I think legally they would have to show that you lowered it after that date.

Personally I dont think its the worst rule. If you want more than 5cm get it engineered.

Does anyone here have a car thats more than 5cm lifted?
 
It only affects vehicles modified after Aug 1.

Apparently the way it works is, for newly modified suspension lifts up to 5cm, your suspension mob will issue you with a certificate deeming it safe, then you go get a blue slip and make it legal.
 
So in other words it won't effect anything because all the dodgy suspension places that do the work in the first place won't bother issuing you a certificate so you can just say it was done before Aug 1st.

Obviously won't work for new cars made after the date but all the problems that are already on the road can stay on the road for years to come.
 
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