Steering wheel defect???

[gslender]

Interesting event in QLD happened today...

I was directed to pull over at a RBT whilst driving my stock 91 NA6.

I provided a breath sample and passed.

Before leaving, the officer asked if the steering wheel was modified and non-stock. I stated it wasn't.

He then continued to quiz me - stating that a stock steering wheel would not have a MOMO badge. I then explained that all early MX5s came with MOMO steering wheels, it was a factory fitted wheel and that even by aged of the wheel (stitching was coming apart etc), it surely doesn't look like a modified wheel that I would have put on the car.

The officer finally stated, well I think it is modified and that this would be a defect notice for the car...!! He started getting his book out.... CRAP!

I was puzzled, and I asked him, why, because of the badge - does QLD Transport or ADR specify that steering wheels with badges mustn't be used???

He then stated, no, it is because it has no crash pad - no soft padding. That metal surface is illegal.

I then went... Ahhh, you mean this, and showed him the crash pad that no longer will stay on the wheel due to age - odd enough I keep it in the car as a place to keep the stock bits etc.

He was then satisfied and requested that I just put it back on... I showed him how it doesn't stay on... and he then said, well, this time you get a warning, but get that fixed !! I was allowed to drive off... no crash pad installed !??@!!!

This is why I can't have much respect for the boys in blue and the stupid rules they try to enforce. If a political party popped up that stated they would be reviewing and reducing the legislation and regulation then I'd vote for them. This country is getting more and more nanny state and isn't heading in the right direction.

Is this really the best use of enforcement people? Do we need more focus on silly items like this? Or more focus on Education/Health and Community services to reduce the level of Police and Regulation to manage and control society?

G

[taminga16]

Sadly the the boys in blue are only doing what is required, frankly you were very fortunate that he did not defect you for the very real steering wheel infringement "stitching was coming apart etc".
Smile, say thank you and wave graciously as you drive of feathering the throttle.
Greg.

[Snowmotion]

It is ridiculous to spend time enforcing such a trivial law. But I guess you (and most if us on this forum) fall into their stereo typical "Hoon" driver and they seem all to make an example of the Hoons on the road. It is very Nanny state and is a sad representation of modern Australia.
I think that cop would save more lives if he just made him self visible and drove around the roads.

I don't think the Motoring Enthusiast Party (Ricky Muir) is going to be much help for us.

[sailaholic]

I had them question the factory nardi as well but they left it alone when I insisted it was factory. Still has all the padding though.

Just checked the QLD modifications. Pre July 95 vehicles can have replacement wheels fitted provided they meet ADR 10 and it must be marked OR have accompanying information indicated it was tested to ADR 10.

If the hub was padded or recessed it must remain so.

Post June 95 your pretty much f'ed. must comply to ADR 69 and be specifically stated by the manufacturer to be a to comply for the make and model car being fitted too.


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[gslender]

I subscribe to the view that if people ride motorcycles without the best protective equipment, then let Darwin take control - their death / disfigurement be the weeding out of such stupid risk taking people if the risk actually occurs.

Equally, if I feel safe with my non factory steering wheel, and have a crash, and injure myself against it then that should be my freedom to decide. Having those freedoms removed seems more of a consequence than the risk I'm taking, and that's a shame if society doesn't recognise that loss against the probability of loss.

[Aussie Stig]

Oh come on, you are surprised he was suspicious????

We all have seen the freakin idiots who replace their NB airbag wheels with a momo or even worse a chinese sparco copy. This is what popo face on a daily basis.

Good thing you carried the crash pad to reassure him, though given the age of the car your mistake was trivial. Replace the Momo badge with an OEM badge and you're sweet mate.

[gslender]

OEM badge? Can you get them? Horn button right....

[Pamex]

They're just doing their job.

Yeah, we can argue that we should have the freedom to do whatever we want to our cars. But the modification laws are there because there are some absolute dead beats around who have no idea. I should put a photo up of a car we had in. Lovely new floors they had installed. WITH SILICONE. Not welded, SILICONE. (Note: The owner installed them with silicone. Then sold the car to the current owner. The current owner had no idea, until we showed him when we found it. We're tearing it down for a resto and that's how we found it. He had no idea that a normally structural component of the car, that him and his girlfriend were sitting on... was held on by silicone. Scary stuff)

Yes, you can have the freedom to do whatever you want. But if you are incapacitated in an accident and then my tax dollars are going to you to keep you alive because you installed a sh*t modification... I'd be pretty annoyed at that.

I'm not talking about injuries sustained through regular, every day accidents here though, just injuries resulting from dick mods.

If you can fund your living expenses for the rest of your life without work in the event of an accident, and are able to pay the enormous costs of a carer and not put family members out, and whatever the modification is it can't hurt anyone else, then sure. You're entitled to that freedom (laws aside). If the answer is no on either account, well...

Seriously though, I'm not saying you're going to do a stupid modification. But there are plenty out there who do. That's why they have to do it.

It may have seemed harsh at the time too... but he may have assisted at a horrific accident, with one of the injuries resulting from a cheap bend-and-flex, diamante studded for aesthetics steering wheel that the owner thought was awesome.

*fondly reminisces about the Civic with a tread patch of an inch at all four corners due to excessive neg camber that saw no issue with it*

[gslender]

Hang on, so how did those timber steering wheels get onto some models? Imported as such and apparently legally so? If I put on a wooden style wheel I'd probably not even get a mention. That's what's stupid about the law.

[Pamex]

There are some that slip through RWCs. That's what defects are for.

If it's an approved factory option of the time frame, then it's ok.

The ones I'm talking about are the steering wheels that you can literally bend in your hands with no real effort.

That's what's stupid about the law.

But you're not really questioning the law, more how it is enforced, no?

In essence, the law states that for a modification to the steering wheel to be allowable, it has to have been a factory option of the time for that vehicle, and be complete with everything fitted from the factory. Otherwise there's just too much leeway for people to try and get around it. Sucks for those doing the right thing, but it is what it is. The idea is that factory options will conform with ADRs, but others may not. It's the easiest way to confirm without testing.

[gslender]

Ok, so rules are rules. I get that, my concern is that we have an awfully lot of rules that I struggle to see the positive in considering the freedoms lost for them.

[Pamex]

It sucks, I know, but unfortunately in a society like we have now, it's just the way it is. And yes, it sucks.

[project.r.racing]

No fine for illegal wheel and still you day is ruined? Such is life.

[Muzdaman]

Even if you wanted to do the right thing and buy the OEM padding Mazda no longer sell it and even when they did years ago it was only available with the steering wheel, for $700+!!!

[speed]

Does seem a bit trivial. Curious to know if they popped the bonnet? perhaps they heard you coming?


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