ACT Roadworthy v NSW Police

[Matski]

A few weeks ago I purchased an R33 GTS-T in Canberra and have had it inspected and licensed in the ACT. Last weekend I was traveling to Sydney and was pulled over by the NSW Police. They had a few things to say about the cars ‘roadworthyness’. :ghost:

1) I have a 3” stainless exhaust which the NSW Police said needs ‘baffles’, tack welded, in the end muffler. Funny thing is there was no mention of this when I did the ACT roadworthy. Oh they shoved a stick as far down my exhaust as they could? What’s that all about?

2) The dual boost controller must go. That’s ok because the ACT roadworthy said the same thing. Any tips on hiding it? :+)

3) I have a pod filter fitted. NSW Police said it must go and be replaced with the original air box or have an Engineers certificate. Again, no mention of this during the ACT roadworthy!

Apart from that the car is totally stock.

They tested my ride height also. I have the standard suspension but they said it ‘just’ passed as they were measuring from the 3” exhaust down. Wow how nice of them!

I was also informed that I could have received a defect notice because of these ‘defects’. My question is: If the car was passed in the ACT are the NSW Police able to issue a defect notice, or was this copper just another one of the 99.99% of non-mechanical minded a$$holes the NSW Police employs? Are they able to defect my car in NSW when it is ACT registered and passed (minus the boost control)?

Please feel free to share you experiences with ACT and NSW police? :flamed:

[leech_]

well

1. My guess is they were testing to see if your cat was gutted or not i wouldnt see why else they would do that.

2. not much you can do other than yea try and disguise it

3. If you get it sealed as in boxed up i think thats legal though i guess it may need engineering ??? doubt it though

hope that sorta helps

[Bluprint]

Well the reason they measured your height clearance from the exhaust down would have been because it's probably the lowest point on the car.

[race_snooze]

gay

[Amaru]

When your in NSW, you have to abide by NSW rules and regulations, so your ACT "roadworthyness" counts for shit all.

1. As leech said, probably trying to see if you have gutted the cat.

2. Yep, boost controllers make baby RTA inspectors cry

3. Pod filters are legal in ACT, but not in NSW. Refer to above, youre in NSW so you need to follow NSW rules.

As for measuring the height, you need 10cm clearance from the lowest point of the car. If the exhaust is the lowest point, this is where the height will be measured from.

Yes they can defect you, and you will need to take it over Dickson and cleared following NSW rules and regulations. If you dont, your rego becomes void in NSW and you are banned from driving your car in NSW until the defect is cleared (meaning your insurance is also void in NSW).

[Scooby]

Hi Matski,

What Leech said re the cat, boost control and airbox. Bluprint is right re the ride height, 100mm is the legal minimum from the lowest point. The boost control is easily hidden but make sure the lines - I'm assuming it's pneumatic - are as short as possible.

This type of thing is always going to be a potential problem when you cross jurisdictions but most laws seem quite uniform re the usual issues such as pods and ride height. I had open pods on the GTR and it got through a bue slip inspection, go figure.

The airbox probably would have to be engineered 'by the letter of the law' but most plods will only be looking to see if the pods are enclosed - you can buy prefab enclosures or make one yourself for $20. Anyway the cops are doing you a favour insisting that the pods be enclosed - you should get defected for not optimising your engines output by shielding the pod from all that nasty hot air LOL. 'Excuse me Sir, it has come to our attention that you are not optimising your engines output, we require you to return in 7 days with a proper cold air intake'.

Regards

[Veilside R33]

Yes NSW cops can defect you even though its an ACT car. Jerry got done with his S15 on his way up to autosalon last year for his BOV's, they were going to do Jayce as well from memeory but let him off.

its BS that you could be going to NSW for a day and get done because your car does'nt comply with their laws.

[oscar32]

Welcome to NSW, we really like everyone's money here, its tastes like chicken.

NSW police can at times be a bunch of revenue raising a%^holes. If its not doing you for 63 km/h in a 60 zone (Which they can do, ever though ADR regs say your brand new car's speedo only needs to be within 10%) its defecting you for something they made up, or heard on the grapevine.

And they'll book anyone from any state. Pretty much if you are on NSW roads, your car should comply with NSW rules. We all know what they target, cover that up and they may let you go free.. however leave those pods out, the exhaust at 150db and the boost controller hanging out and your money is thiers. I've noticed usually people have at least one thing they *knew* was an obvious defect. The exhaust thing is harder, short of getting a custom system tucking right up under the car (heating that floor), big pipes just hang down...

I've been pulled over and "bonneted" twice out here now, both times the policeman just looked confused - asked a lot of questions I told him I didn't know "I don't know mate, I'm not a mechanic I just drive it" and been allowed to go. I've hidden anything that I think doesn't look stock, and boxed my pod.. also got a free flowing but quieter exhaust... I love shifting into 4th and just cruising by without a second look.

[Bullet32]

I know it is expensive but I had everything on my car engineered and I love it when cops pull me over and say that my car is "too loud" or "too low" etc... I just pull out the engineering certificate and say to them "the engineers number is on there please feel free to take the matter to him, good day sir" absolutly nothing they can do...

I love it.

[SupaFly Skyline]

Matski, they probably shoved the stick in your exhaust to check for baffles. As for the pod filter, in ACT you can have it exposed, as long as it has a bracket on it so it cant move around.

[djhatton]

1) if a cop shoved a stick in my exhaust i'd probably be in prison a week later for GBH. i'm sorry but thats not cool, even if it doesn't cause any damage!

2) as i understand it, boost controllers are NOT illegal so long as you can't adjust them from the cabin. jayce had a great idea of mounting his controller in the boot and using the jap radio controlls on the dash to control it. neat idea i think!

3) pods are legal in ACT and must be enclosed --or-- adr certified by engineer certificate in NSW from what i've heard.

d

[Matski]

"the engineers number is on there please feel free to take the matter to him, good day sir" absolutely nothing they can do...

Yup that’s totally how I feel...LOL

Can you recommend an Engineer? I am assuming I will need to travel to NSW to get the certificate? Any idea on the cost also?

Im a little unsure of the baffles thing? Will they effect my performance? Hehe.. the obvious first question. Second, will it be better to install a muffler? My ride is not extremely noisy but a little sound dampening would be nice. Especially for the 3+ hours of driving interstate. I’m a little droned out.. :headspin:

Welcome to NSW, we really like everyone's money here, its tastes like chicken.

Your not wrong, hows three demerits for 3km over the limit. :bs!: :bs!:

Thats totally wrong NSW Government. Why wreck peoples lives (income, family, etc) by taking there license for stupid tolerance levels. No wonder we are becoming a more violent society. Its totally unjust.

In WA (my home state) its 0 demerits and $50. In ACT its like 1 demerit.

'Excuse me Sir, it has come to our attention that you are not optimising your engines output, we require you to return in 7 days with a proper cold air intake'.

Hehe... On the topic of cold air intakes, can anyone recommend a pre-fab'd solution or a link to something I can make that:

a) Is legal in NSW

B) Provides me with the best performance.

Whats the performance figures like for the standard box, I still have that? Can it be mod'ed for better performance, and still be legal in NSW?

Thanks for all your posts and keep up the good humour? :kick:

P.S. I have been in the ACT for a month now, new job and all, and am keen to have a glass of 98RON with ya all. Hope to see ya at one of the posted events.

[gtir_94]

I know it is expensive but I had everything on my car engineered and I love it when cops pull me over and say that my car is "too loud" or "too low" etc... I just pull out the engineering certificate and say to them "the engineers number is on there please feel free to take the matter to him, good day sir" absolutly nothing they can do...

I love it.

Love it? Id like to see your face when they then give you a defect notice even if you have an engineers certificate. Which they still have every right to do so.

Their reasoning: they are not engineers and do not have the quals to verify the certificate... here is a defect notice so you can go to someone who does underdstand your notice. [the RTA].

I wouldnt be too coy with that attitude, theyll bitchslap for the sake of it.

Also, anything that changes the air:fuel, thus the emissions in the car is illegal [ie boost controllers] unless verified that the emissions are still within the parameters ofteh stock vehicle.

[SkyGTRline]

So some of you are saying that.. i can drive in canberra and be legal...

As soon as i hit the border then my pod filter is ilegal...

Thats so shit...

[gtir_94]

Its not just cars Andrew, its drugs, age of consent, adoption rights, standards of offences and so on. Its the unfortunate side-effect of independent states. Its funny how an imaginary line can change someones rights, liberties etc.

[Scooby]

as Sydneykid wrote 'anything' you do to your engine is illegal. if that bothers you then don't do 'anything'. a bit extreme maybe but probably sums things up despite there being ways around the problem.

[SupaFly Skyline]

Hehe... On the topic of cold air intakes, can anyone recommend a pre-fab'd solution or a link to something I can make that:

a) Is legal in NSW

B) Provides me with the best performance.

Whats the performance figures like for the standard box, I still have that? Can it be mod'ed for better performance, and still be legal in NSW?

Get some .5 mm aluminium, cut/shape/bend it to form a box around your pod, line it with some "heat proof foam",cant remember the name of it, but it has foil on one side and foam on the other. Then cut a hole in the body under the pod, and put some flexi-duct from the hole to an opening in the front bar, should be all good then

[Birnie]

I think the pod filter thing is a 'depends on the cop' or 'depends on the mood of the cop'

I had mine registered as in blue slipped as first time registered and over the pits at the RTA, nothing said at all about the pod filter !

The only thing they said was to move the engine number as the AUS one was covering the original Jap one.....got that re-rivited and all sweet!

[LTSJayce]

Yes NSW cops can defect you even though its an ACT car. Jerry got done with his S15 on his way up to autosalon last year for his BOV's, they were going to do Jayce as well from memeory but let him off.

its BS that you could be going to NSW for a day and get done because your car does'nt comply with their laws.

Strangely enough,it was the same officer that booked Jerry's S15 that let me off;he even looked under the bonnet(pod filters,boost controller lines 2 x BOV's etc etc) and into my cabin(roll cage,P.FC hand controller,turbo timer etc etc) and only booked me for an undersized front plate,which was fair enough(it was tiny...). I guess no attitude towards the officer helped me(not saying Jerry did anything different). Age may've helped,too?

jayce had a great idea of mounting his controller in the boot and using the jap radio controlls on the dash to control it. neat idea i think!

Hush,Dave! Gotta keep such tricks "under wraps"!!

Everyone pay attention to what Amaru & Scooby have to say on this subject;they're spot on. You modify ANYTHING and,if it's not done right,properly AND legally,you're liable. Ignorance of the rules is no excuse. Most of you know my car;a few of you remember it with it's full Nismo exhaust on:it was SERIOUSLY loud. 94 decibels at IDLE,no cat'...and now it's legally quiet,meets noise AND emissions and is about to be engineered to say so. As too most of my car is already "written up" to say it's compliant. The few things yet to be written up(roll cage,battery relocation,oil cooler and so on...) will either be written up or removed. There's f**k all fun either standing by the side of the road having a Police officer doubting the condition of your car,going to see the RTA or,worst case scenario,killing yourself or someone else because one of the "backyard" modifications caused a big off...not "soap boxing" too hard,I hope,but man created the ultimate killing machine by inventing the car. Every time you get behind the steering wheel,know it's a priviledge(sp),NOT a God-given right. Not everyone can drive a car,fewer can properly control a car. Enjoy your Skyline(you just know it loves you right back) as much as you can,but when the authorities pull you over,I'd suggest 95% of the time it'll work out OK for all concerned. The Earth wont stop spinning if you get done for no cat'-you'll just be poorer for the effort! End of rant...

[Gus-]

theres a thing called a paragraph you know