I was driving into the Adelaide CBD around 9am last night when I was waved into a random breath testing station. Having not had a drink at all that night I blew 0.0%. As I was about to be waved on the officer looked at my turbo timer and remarked `Do you know that is illegal?" I simply replied "my turbo timer??" thinking he had confused it with something else. Sure enough however it was my turbo timer he was interested in. He asked if I had a blow off valve which I do not, he asked me to pull over to inspect the rest of my car which I complied to. Upon inspecting the rest of my car and could find nothing wrong but proceeded to write up a defect based on the turbo timer as he (and his Sergent) claimed they were illegal to even have installed. I naturally objected but the officer insisted it was detectable. My objections of course drew more scrutiny of my Zed to which the officer still came up empty handed. Needless to say I was quite irritated at the whole situation and what I can only see as frivolous nit picking. Has anyone else had legal issues with their turbo timer? The officer suggested that someone could jump in my vehicle and drive off when the car is still running, despite of course the fact the doors are locked, the alarm activated and the car is immobilised after the count down which is set for a maximum of 1 minute.
info I dont know about WA but AS far as I know timers are not illegal.So to clear the defect just go down to anther police station ask to see the traffic sargent and explain the situation.If you talk nicely he will clear the notice. How ever the law states very clearly "it is illegal to exit a motor veichle that is not secured in the proper manner" witch is the motor turned off and the key removed.The car hand brake must be secured or wheel chock used{that getting very old but used for semi trailers with westinghouse brakes}.All windows closed and secured.The car left in first gear or put in park.All door to be closed and locked. So when you talk to the traffic sargent do not admit to gettin out of your veichle with the motor running and you only use the timer while you are sitting in the car. You have been WARNED. and you better have no other defects.
what an arsehole - jealousy must be a curse for police I'd contest the defect. I always thought it was legal to have a turbo timer installed, just not legal to have it activated when you leave the car unless it runs for a maximum time of 40sec which is the stated time your car must be locked within after leaving the car. These sort of fines shit me as they are purely revenue raising as it neither harms you or any one else by having a turbo timer in your car.
Turbo timers are illegal in SA --- Just went through Regency for registration of my new Zed and this is one of the things they looked for. Are they sending you for an inspection or just to the Police station once you have removed the timer? If you have to go to regency they will probably find other stuff also. My tip is to remove your sunvisors if you have the factory ones fitted and check all your suspension bushes and ride height. CHEER MICK
Plus i dunno with all turbo times but mine does... when the handbrake is lowered or car moves at all the motor is shut down and immobilised. Therefore no 1 can steal my car regardless of if its running when i leave or not.
Apparently I can just go to the station. The officer advised I could go to regency to get it inspected or just down to a police station once it is removed but then only ticked the box for an inspection at regency so I am not sure I can do the latter still. I might look at removing the turbo timer and going to a police station to test my luck. Ultimately I would like to keep it installed and use it as a boost gauge without the turbo timer function but I am not sure they will believe me. Incidentally my turbo timer will also not activate without the hand break on as an added safety feature. With so many turbo cars out there with turbo timers I can foresee a great many defects occurring. I speculate this will lead to people just trying to hide them better and innocent people who are doing nothing other than trying to preserve the condition of their vehicles being bullied and harassed. It certainly does not raise the reputation of the police force and breads a level of contempt among the population for the people we should be depending on to maintain peace and safely in our community.
I don't think you can be defected at a RBT. I remember something a while back about RBT's giving too much power to the Police so they introduced laws that stated they could only breathalyze you and not use this opportunity for ulterior motives. Think this will be different in each state though might be worth a check. Hmmmm, doesn't sound real fair... did you give them lip?
They seem to do it with some regularity I certainly did not say anything provocative and was quite civilized. Even when contesting their claims I never once came close to raising my voice or making a condescending or insulting remark. I am unsure about them being able to defect you at an RBT but the officer involved seemed pretty convinced he could. I have always gone through RBT's in the past respecting the fact that they are performing a necessary task in keeping our roads safe and I have always felt secure passing through one as I never drink and drive. This incident certainly changes my view of that and I know I will be avoiding them in the future and advising other motorists accordingly.
Turbo timer It would seem it would only be illegal if you were caught using it as he stated you would, ie leaving the vehicle running unattended. If you stated that you remain in the car whilst the timer is operating contradics his statement...
This sucks I hope you get off. It's a turbo timer for goodness sake. I can't believe blow off valves are illegal either. Or a dark tint for that matter. What is this world coming to???? I sound like my nan when I was a kid! It's about time someone actually got treated like a human being by the police! I certainly have never been!
Zenyatta Mondatta It's worth remembering that the Police don't make the laws/rules. They only enforce them. Rules like, exhaust volume, BOV (emmission), and tints are supposedly for the greater good and safety of everyone else. Having said that you can get a Policeperson that's a little bit too enthusiastic. I've had good and bad experiences in my time with the Police. Cheers, Evan.
Sunvisors??? The factory sinvisors as fitted must comply with the ADR's, or else your car couldn't have been complianced in the first place, so why remove them? Ben
Defect was removed....Woohoo I removed the turbo timer and went to the local police station. After verifying the turbo timer was removed they cleared the defect. It cost me $21.70 but I was just happy that I had the defect removed. It was not worth trying to argue it for $21.70 but will certainly be more careful in the future. I will make more of an effort to conceal mods in the future as what is legal today may not be tomorrow.
I have said it before and I will say it again. Pigs, and Politicians are the biggest hypocritical crooks and liars ever to blight ordinary people. The "I only enforce the rules thing" wears really thin when pigs or politicians dont abide by them or think they are above them. Also I didnt think hiding behind that statement is good enough; it didnt help the soldiers at Mai Ly or the soldiers in Iraq. :angry::angry:
What I was told --- ADR's have jsut changed and any sunvisors with wire inside of them need to fit into the roof or you need to remove them or you need to fit ADR compliant ones. Seems like a stupid rule but I have the report saying I failed on it :thumbsdown: CHEERS MICK
So what they are saying is that this change is retrospective? Because if your car was complied years ago do you have to update your car and what parts would you update it to?:wacko:
