Traffic Police action against "modified" cars

[Snake2998]

Our local police (in Cape Town) are starting to pull the licenses of "modified" cars hence effectively taking them off the road. By modified they mean any car with non OEM parts from the original manufacturer and any parts not installed by their agents (including things like wheels etc). This is in an apparent attempt to stop street racing. Of course this action is most probably highly illegal but would be a nightmare to fight in the courts.

What interests me is how they will identify what are non OEM parts on a home built Cobra kit car - or for that matter even an original or any other car where the original manufacturer no longer carries the spares...

[TN Shelby Cobra]

Time to move!

[RedEye]

Oh yes, to cut down on street racing... or to receive bribes from licensed mechanic garages?

To cut down on street racing... if they are so morally elevated with regard to the laws of a civil state and the safety of all people why don't they just use public funds (no I'm not in favor of public spending, simply a useful analogy) to open a public drag strip that everyone can use.
While this may seem to invite all sorts of cost and liability.... it never seems to bother anyone when the state opens a skateboard 'park' so the little heathens who would otherwise be too expensive to police from vandalizing private property may so kindly be motivated to crack their skulls open on the handrails installed for them on the site of a former crack house. The only difference here is that when the state wants to police custom cars, it's not a bunch of saggy pants kids, its people who at least have the asset value of the cars at stake and hence an autocrat's willingness to interrupt the otherwise beautiful creativity expressed by thousands of home mechanics, craftsmen, and casual inventors.

We have the same kind of BS with airplanes here in the state. Just explain to the state enforcer that you are the original manufacturer, and that you've diligently approved of every bolt of this car.

[RACERAL]

SO... lets all go out and buy new Shelby Gt500 and Hell Cats

[dallas_]

Dang. When the government gets to the point that they don't allow aftermarket parts on your car, I'm thinking they have gone way too far.

Yep, time to move.

[JoeT]

puts muffler shops (and others that are auto related)out of business

[ACademic]

If the car is Ford based (say, like an original cobra), then I'd just get a bunch of pressure-sensitive, high-temp stickers printed with Ford logos and place them on every part that didn't come with the car.

Who honestly gives the right to a peace officer to determine what is factory correct and what isn't? Crooked or misguided politicians. Threaten to vote them out of office, as well as get car-loving attorneys to take on these cases pro-bona, and these childish power games end really quick.

[Snake2998]

It's all patently ridiculous and can't last for long. It will put all independent motor firms out of business and even traffic control's own patrol cars are illegal as I am sure their light bars and radios are not OEM fitted or approved - also things like fire engines and ambulances plus all transport trucks possibly do not comply as they were most probably built up by firms not licensed by the OEM chassis manufacturer.

Of course this will most probably be selective policing at it's worst most probably aimed at Gangsta looking cars and drivers.

[Ron61]

Years ago they tried something like that here but it never really got started. For one thing there are no longer any NOS parts available for the older cars which was really what this Republic was after anyway. They wanted everyone to buy a new car every two years. Thankfully there were enough influential people that were against any of this crap that it never got off the ground.

Ron

[cycleguy55]

It's been my experience law enforcement is really targeting those they perceive to be trouble makers. These days that generally means 'tuner' cars patterned after those in the 'Fast and the Furious' movies and similar genres. I know the vehicle inspection folks around here are hawkish about adjustable coilovers as, more often than not, the tuner crowd gets their vehicle safety approved at normal ride height, then the car is seen cruising around 2, 3 or 4 inches lower than it was when approved. Not only is it lower, but the camber is usually way off and the tires are at risk of sidewall cuts.

When I'm out in the Cobra I will more often than not get a 'thumbs up' from law enforcement, not a 'what the hell are you driving' look - or inspection. Then again, I'm not irresponsibly tearing up the streets or showing off. With age comes wisdom - or at least it should!

[Bobcat]

Guys , you do realize this is over in South Africa and not here ??

[G-Pete]

Originally Posted by Bobcat

Guys , you do realize this is over in South Africa and not here ??

....exactly.....hehehehe