I'm old but not an old fool my friend. I know very well about how things used to be. Been doing state inspections for 25 years. These days they have become alot smarter and have made it pretty much impossible to fool the system. For example a local big name discount tire store thought they could be slick and plug the OBD test cable into a different car (one that would pass) if the customer wanted to slip them a few bucks under the table. Well the computer also reads the VIN among other things and they now have a $10,000 fine to pay and lost their inspection license indefinately..
The MOT is pretty easy to pass in an old car, it covers mainly common sense areas such as lights, tyres, steering play, brakes, and corrosion. Nobody ought to be putting themselves at risk by ignoring any of those factors whether you have an inspection or not. I know of several guys over here who have bought cars (that have been in regular use) from the States and had to do major work to them before even driving it to the MOT station, myself included. As an aside, running fenderless isn't an issue in our MOT. That would come under construction and use regulations, which is a police matter rather than a Ministry of Transport area. Interesting to hear the variations from state to state though, including Canada.
I wasnt calling you a fool..the quote was..."dont fool yourself"..and that was not just ment for you and your example is how it goes in your state..might not be that way in another
Never thought you were. I was just making a comment that I know how the "good ol boy" system works too. Been there & done that and have overlooked a few cracked windshiels, etc in my day. I just won't overlook safety issues like bad brakes since I don't want it on my consience when you die in a fiery wreck.. Hell I still have a friend who does motorcycle inspections and has a set of "loaner" mufflers on the wall of his shop for those guys with straightpipes so they can pass the decible test. I go see him every year when my 96" stroker Shovelhead needs a sticker. It's all good..
proves my point again..it goes on.. no dis-respect implied to anyone with my comments except to those on the take
I was an inspector at the first safety inspections in the state of Florida in 1968, then in Jan.69 became a fleet mechanic/inspector for the phone company. Money was the name of the game. If the front end was tight, brakes,wipers,all lights worked, and windshield was not cracked you passed. Last of the test was toot the horn. If an old car would crank n' roll the grandfather clause in the law kicked out alot of present day stuff. In Alabama, we have yet to inspect cars except by troopers with a blue light, roadside stop on the spot. I think if you are far off on safety, you can just install a pair of big-lug mud grip tires on the rear and say that it is a tractor and heading over to the next field.
...minor correction. ALL of these so called inspections are only about the revinue generated........ (I would add also), .......by legislators in the pocket of certain interests that profit from establishing such a system. Most wrecks wouldn't be prevented by the most stringent 'so called' safety inspection imaginable. Most wrecks are caused by the loose nut behind the steering wheel.
Yep, well, the good 'ol days are fading fast....It's interesting reading the huge differences in compliance state to state in the US and Canada. New Zealand has a Government recognised construction code ( a large manual) for new builds and a strict compliance procedure which is difficult to manipulate. Every car on the road in this country has to have a current Warrant of Fitness (6 monthly inspection) and they are thorough and somewhat anal. One set of rules for the whole country does clarify things somewhat though. We live with it, and work around it How many ways to skin a cat?....let me see... Green used to be my favourite colour, but now every time I hear that word I fear for our chosen passtime. At least we have a fender exemption system for pre '35 vehicles unlike the poor Aussies who have to try to find ways to make guards not look like guards on otherwise really cool old rides. I feel for ya fella's.
This is true for an original restored vehicle, although they do make you install electric signal lights on everything, regardless of what it originally came with. The problems start as soon as a vehicle is modifed. Modified cars have a completely separate set of regulations they need to follow, including such things as a windshield defrost system for closed cabs, bumper heights & widths, front to back tire width ratios, etc, etc, etc. I'll see if I can dig up an online copy of the regs. There are ways around some of the clauses, but you have to find the right inspector. Some guys will pass a simple fan blowing on the windshield as a defrost system, others want to see a proper heated air/blower system. It can be a real PITA.
Our hot rod must pass a safety inspection. Lights, Wipers, tie rods, ball joints or king pin play, tires and the registration with insurance stamp.I like that you must be insured to get a sticker.
Don't ya love thos guys.. I got stopped once on my old Triumph chopper here in NH and the cop says he's gonna write me up for having no front fender & no directionals. I ask him politely to show me the law that applies. He says something about being a smartass and I inform him that I'm certified in NH to do state inspections on everything from School Busses to motorcycles and that there is NO law that says you have to have a front fender & that bikes built before 1971 don't need directionals since they were an option back then. He mumbles something about it being stupid not to have a fender in case it rains or you go down a dirt road and he gets in his car & leaves...
I figure if they want me to change something they will pull me over and tell me....hut they never do. It used to be hot rodders were young and cops were old. Cops look so young to me now days and I'm sure I just look like some old guy taking his antique jalopy out for a cruise to them. I've sat at lights next to cops with slicks, open headers,no front lic' plate, no wipers etc and they don't even look. I think the grey hair and mellow driving habits help.
The government rules are put in place for and by the people here.They can be changed with enough work.I don't know how it works in Canada,but why not try to get the laws changed to be more street rod friendly?
I thought most states had a year limit past a certain point vehicles are grandfathered in........ but the trick is finding where it says and and keep a copy to polity show the officer or judge if you get one that is having a bad day it doesn't usual matter a whole lot if your right or wrong just what type of attitude you have IMHO
I live in the State of <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1:STATE w:st="on">indiana</ST1:STATE>. Just got my title for my 23 t bucket that I built. It was not hard at all, show the receipts for the major parts of the car at the DMV. It took a little over 2 weeks dealing with the DMV, the police and the post office. But about 2 years i bought a car out of the state of I<ST1:STATE w:st="on">llinois</ST1:STATE> that was someones project. I had a bill of sale and could not get a title for it at all, no mater what i did. So i just ended up parting out the car.
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