Just got Ticket but think is legal.

[bzrspeed]

I was driving to work this morning and I got pulled over by the police.
They said since I have a straight cut gearbox and you can hear it a mile away (it is a straight cut gearbox, they are very loud and whine more then sergi) it needed a certification plate which I don't have.

I have read the low volume certification laws and it says if the new gearbox fits the old cross member without modification then it is legal.
the new gearbox is a direct bolt in to the lancias original position.

Is the police officer picking on me cause I am a foreigner or is he right and I broke the law?

Rest of engine modifications are certified and suspension is certified. Police officer had no issues with them. He kept saying gearbox too loud and if not factory needs certification. I tried to advise him it was a direct replacement but he said I was not telling truth.

Any advise please?

[Leon]

Ring LVV, get in touch with your local LVV certifier. He can then inspect the car to see if it needs a cert.

If it does not, he can state that on his business stationary.

You should then follow the procedure on the reverse of the ticket you have been issued, keeping copies of everything, and noting dates of correspondence.

[the fallen303]

if it was loud, he may have being an arsehole and trying to get you under excessive noise maybe? other than that, i don't see any reason for the straight cut gearbox to be an issue

[Bling]

If it's really that loud he should have just fined you for noise. That's just my opinion and not based on the law. No different to having a loud exhaust, you'll soon get used to being hassled by the police if you make a lot of noise

[RobertC]

So what is actually written on the ticket he gave you? (A photo would be useful)

[Leon]

(A photo of your sister would be useful)

[STR]

Here's the exact wording:

LVV Certification is NOT required, provided that:

The OE gearbox cross-member has not been heated, cut or welded; AND
The OE gearbox cross-member mounting to the OE body or chassis members is unchanged; AND
No replacement gearbox cross-member is used; AND
The OE drive-shaft(s) is unmodified; AND
No substantial modifications have occurred to the floor or gearbox tunnel area, other than to allow for gear-shift mechanism.

So, if the gearbox is a direct bolt in job as you say, with no mods to cross-member, drive shaft or floor pan, personally I'd say you're all good.

However, as Leon said, ask your local certifier. Here's the list, you're looking for a class 1A/1B/1C/1D certifier. http://www.lvvta.co.nz/documents/suplem ... ebsite.pdf

[bzrspeed]

I have been “green” sticker for "un-certified modifications" which the ticket states "motor vehicle modification UN-certified, Gearbox not standard"

I called Low Volume who did the engine certification and suspension certification and they said I didn’t need one. I called the police station and after explaining this, the police officers argument was simply "oh well you have modified it"

I have passed ticket onto boss who is going to fight it for me.

[bzrspeed]

(A photo of your sister would be useful)

I don't have a sister sorry and why would it be helpful?

[Leon]

Running Toyspeed joke about photos and sisters

[rolla_fxgt]

I'd say it looks like its all okay, just got an officer on a bad day, but if you can, and can deal with the hassle of it, make sure you contest it in court, and then the officer will be shown to be a muppet in front of the judge, and you should be able to get costs out of the police since no actual crime was committed.
Judges tend to frown apon cops making up the law as they go along.


And as a bonus hopefully the end result will be that the cop that ticketed you will get assigned to driving a desk for awhile, or dealing with the drunks in the cells. Both of which all police hate doing.

[xsspeed]

TBH it won't get to court, if your cert man says its sweet, and you can get them to provide that in writing on their letterhead, then you can send in a letter with a copy of note from cert man to the cops (address for correspondence should be on the back side of your ticket - remember to quote your infirgement reference), you will get off.

Unfortunately in NZ cops see modified cars as all belonging to boyracers, and target them despite A) not necessarily knowing much about the cars/parts they are trying to ticket you for and B) not necessarily knowing the law they are "trying" to enforce.

Your best bet when you are pulled over is to be polite, explain as much as you can to them, and if they still insist on giving you a ticket you deal with it formally.

[wde_bdy]

You might get them to waive the fine by being nice and sending off all your documentation but that won't get you off the green sticker and the cost of a new WoF to remove it. Get down to the station with your paperwork and go up the chain of command until they remove the sticker or it will still end up costing you money for his screw up.

Callum

[RS13]

You might get them to waive the fine by being nice and sending off all your documentation but that won't get you off the green sticker and the cost of a new WoF to remove it. Get down to the station with your paperwork and go up the chain of command until they remove the sticker or it will still end up costing you money for his screw up.

Callum

Do this. Is it really that loud though? Car sounds pretty cool, got photos?

[Akane]

and then the officer will be shown to be a muppet in front of the judge,

Cop loses a court case = still gets paid, still gets to do whatever he does best.

You lose a court case = OMFG $630 FINE OMGZ OMGZ SUSPENSION FOR 6 MONTHS!

Cops NEVER, EVER gets the short end of the stick brah.

They'll just tell their senior management "Damn that boyracer kid pulled some nasty tricks and won the case / Damn that judge is an idiot and let that boyracer off"....... etc

[Mr.Phreak]

Cops NEVER, EVER gets the short end of the stick brah.

[bzrspeed]

i will post photos when i get to work tomorrow.
Be warned car is pathetic compared to most on this forum and i think maybe too many people laugh.

Work got lawyer to write up letter to police, hopefully they will back down. Low volume gentleman is helping too with a letter and so is my boss who is a mechanic. 3 letter should do.

[rolla_fxgt]

You might get them to waive the fine by being nice and sending off all your documentation but that won't get you off the green sticker and the cost of a new WoF to remove it. Get down to the station with your paperwork and go up the chain of command until they remove the sticker or it will still end up costing you money for his screw up.

Callum

Yeah it was this bit I was meaning to get out of, which I thought you had to go to court to get out of.

[eskimo]

You might get them to waive the fine by being nice and sending off all your documentation but that won't get you off the green sticker and the cost of a new WoF to remove it. Get down to the station with your paperwork and go up the chain of command until they remove the sticker or it will still end up costing you money for his screw up.

Callum

Agree completly, why should you fork out your hard earned cash for their buff

I had a roadside debate with a cop over the exhaust on the rally car, was driving it back from a wheel aligment & got pulled over( a S2000 rally car sticks out like dog balls) and he tried to sticker it... he eventually let me on my way.