"That Rego Tube is not Legal Sir"

[CairnsDuc]

Got pulled over last night on the way home from work, Local Plod are going Psycho on the Highway south of Cairns since they dropped the speed limits (100KPH down to 80KPH) it's not unusual to see in a 5 KM stretch to see The Speed Camera Van, a Cop with a Radar and the Highway Pursuit car all patrolling in the area (Overkill much?!?)

(A Quick Side Step for a Sec, Considering all the extra Speed enforcement on the Cairns and surround areas, they claim they have caught a staggering numbers of Speeders and how we are all so much safer than ever before, and yet, The road Death Toll in Cairns is at the highest Levels it has ever been, and we still have the busy Xmas season to go, yeah, all those fines are working wonders )

Anyway back to the Rant...

Cop pulls me over, I knew I wasn't speeding, he said license and rego check, So I produce my license and he gets the rego number, all checks out fine when he calls it in.
He comes back and starts up about the rego tube. (Mind you, nothing is said about the Tail chop and the Loud Termi's)

"Those Rego Tubes are not road legal in Qld"

"I know" I respond

"Then why do you have it on the bike?"

"Because the legal plastic Rego label holder is not waterproof, so when it rains, the rego holder fills with water, then you can't read the printed section because the ink runs"

He responds with "But it is legal"

To counter his stupidity "Simple answer yes, but to be realistic, No it's not, because when the water hits the sticker, you can't read the label, then I get a fine, If I replaced the label everytime it gets wet, I'd have to replace the label every 6 to 8 weeks, and that costs more than the fine"

"But the Rego tubes are not legal, you must use the Authorized plastic holder"
at this stage he had started getting ready to fill out his fine book.

"Fine, I have just explained why I use the rego tube, give me the fine and I'll see you in court"

"Why?" he quizzed

"Because no matter which way I go I'm make the beast with two backsed, you have motorcycle riders over a barrel, no matter how we do the Rego label thing, were make the beast with two backsed, so if you give me fine about this issue, I'll get a solicitor and take it to a Judge and see what he thinks, Then I'll take it to the Cairns post and media outlets, and get there opinion"

At this point I just stopped and stared at him, and he stood there staring back, I think he was weighing up the options, about 10 seconds pass, he hands me my license back.
"Ride Safe, thankyou for your time"

So I had a win, I think... Knowing my luck they will flag my rego, so I may get harassed from now on. 

[Serious Groper]

Got that to when i was pinned for splitting between cars on the M2.

I just said 'really? We bought the bike new and the shop put it on for us, i wonder why they would do that if it was not legal?'. Mind you it was also hidden from view but i guess since i was ultra polite about all my failures as a human he let me go (not from the lane splitting fine though, 2 points DOH!).

[brimo]

Or just buy or build one of these.
http://www.regoholders.com.au/id31.html

[Ita]

Well CD...

I'm surprised he didn't book you..  He doesn't write the law he just enforces it, stupid or not.   He is totally in the right and he gets paid to go to court, so no skin off his nose.

I haven't worn a uniform since 1986 and I was never interested in traffic matters, but if someone like you insisted on going to court I would oblige them very quickly.   A day in court is a very easy shift...

Ita

[dragonworld.]

From memory of the Victorian Road Regulations Act, there isnt a stipulation as to what container/display method is used other than it must me mounted on the left hand side of the motorcycle or be mounted on the handlebars.

The place that 99.9% of shops put it is under the Number plate which isnt actually legal. But the Plods accept it and have had that fact pointed out to me by more than one officer, their opinion is, that is the place it should be!! (No it aint officer, then at least, dunno if its changed, doesnt make a lot of money for the coffers so it probably hasnt. ) But of course on that patch of road, at that particular time HE IS th6e Law! 

In most instances of riders getting knocked off for this, the infingement has usually been an "add on" offence because said rider has been acting like a "cock" and was getting treated as such. (USUALLY)

[Super T.I.B]

I would have thrown you into the back of a divvy van making sure to knock your melon on the door on the way through.


Just because I'm a pr*ck.




 

[dragonworld.]

I would have thrown you into the back of a divvy van making sure to knock your melon on the door on the way through.


Just because I'm a pr*ck.




 

Heh, that only happened once I'm a quick learner...................sorta

[NFG]

I was quite surprised to hear that those tubes are illegal.  They seem to be a really good idea, especially considering the story in the first post: damned if you do, damned if you don't.

I cannot find the regulations regarding the display of a rego sticker.  Can anyone point me in the right direction?  Nothing I can find specifies the type of holder, and by memory the only thing I remember is that the sticker must be on the rear or left side of the vehicle...

Also, yeah, never tell a cop you'll see him in court.  That's his cue to make notes of the encounter so he's prepared when he sees you in front of the judge (magistrate?  I dunno what you call 'em here...)  Be polite, take your own notes, and when he shows up confused and foggy-minded, your odds are improved.

I've also heard that it's basically pointless going to court in Australia 'cause they'll ding you for the costs of all the experts they fly in to beat your ass down.  I heard this terrible news when debating the idea of contesting a speeding ticket.

[CairnsDuc]

I didn't give a shit that he would take notes, I couldn't give a shit if he gave me a fine, I was polite when dealing with him, I never called him names or swore directly at the guy (As in "make the beast with two backs you" or "get make the beast with two backsed") I have a lot of respect for what the Police force have to put up with every day. I never said to him the classic cliched "you should be out there chasing drug dealers and child molesters"

I'm just sick of being walked all over by this state government, I would have most likely lost the case, I just decided to argue my case and to argue the logic of the rules, granted he didn't make them, but he was the guy enforcing the rules, so I told him I was going to exercise my rights to take it in front the courts and the court of public opinion.

I suppose to me it highlights the stupidity of this Government and Police force in Qld, people are dying on our roads everywhere, they blame Speed and other Stupid reasons, they enforce these stupid rules, yet piss poor drivers with unsafe cars that keep chatting/texting away are allowed to drive along free as a bird on grossly overloaded unsafe roads.

The other thing I find interesting is how many people seem to want to side with the Police in this case.

[dragonworld.]

Governments change, the Police dont!!

Remember the Jo Bjerky years in Qld ?? You reckon its bad now?? 

The best redneck police force money could and did buy!! 

[CairnsDuc]

Governments change, the Police dont!!

Remember the Jo Bjerky years in Qld ?? You reckon its bad now?? 

The best redneck police force money could and did buy!! 

Maybe I should have tried to sling him $100? 

[Ita]

Well CD I wasn't taking sides just showing surprise that he didn't take you up on your wish to go to court

Maybe those tubes are legal?  Have you checked the wording of the relevant legislation?

Ita

[NFG]

I'm just sick of being walked all over by this state government

[...]

The other thing I find interesting is how many people seem to want to side with the Police in this case.

Don't get me wrong, I'm totally on your side in this.  I was just suggesting that if you're going to start a fight, you don't need to make it easier for the other guy.  =)

My preferred course of action usually involves staying way under their radar, and hitting them hard with a full understanding of the law.  It works really well with security guards when we're doing parkour in the city.  

[CairnsDuc]

I tried to find out about this very issue, I spoke to a number of people from Dept of Transport, I have spoken to the local vehicle rego specialist at the the Cairns Mains road office and she could not find anything out regarding the legality, She basically said as long as it was on the rear or left hand side (when sitting on the bike) of the bike and all details of the label could be read easily, she didn't have an issue with it.
She said she thought they were a great Idea for bikes. She and her little entourage of specialists from Dept of Transport visit every Dealer of bikes and cars between Cairns and Townsville and deal with all aspects or Rego paperwork and Registration questions, issues and dramas.

Unfortunately, I never got as far into as I wanted, simply because the bike shop I was working for when I started chasing this up went out of business.

[Ita]

Unfortunately, I never got as far into as I wanted, simply because the bike shop I was working for when I started chasing this up went out of business.

Well CD do some homework and report back to us...

The regs (relevant act of Parliament.  Motor Car Act, Road Traffic Regulations) should be available as a read only file or free download on ya State Government web site...

Ita