Well, the Dec meeting was also the AGM. Usual suspects returned as commitee, which is good as they've been doing a very good job. The website is being overhauled by two suckers^H^H^H^H^^H^H^Hvolunteers, so should be an even better place to look for info. Putty Road ---------- Recently there was a big blitz on the Putty. every bike pulled over for a check and a chat. Cars were let by, except for 3 Lotuses (Loti?) who were apparently driving in a little too spirited a manner to slow down in time when they saw heaps of blue and red flashing lights... The bikes were being defected for no exhaust label, but not being fined for excessive noise. Probably due to the recent court case involving MCC delegate Chris Coote. Other violations included a P-plater on an R1. Guy Stanford, MCC Chairman, was out that day along with a bigwig in the Sydney City Council who has a BMW1200C. Brian Wood of the MCC was there too. The cops came up to guy, one of them said "aftermarket exhausts are illegal", Guy raised an eyebrow and said "really?". Another cop amends it to "noncomplying". After a bit of back and forth about what the law really says, the first cop mutters something about Guy being "well informed" Meanwhile, Brian is taking pictures.... The cops were also taking the time to chat to riders, mainly trying to instill a less hooning attitude. One of them said to Guy that they had the rescue chopper in to a bike crash 6 times in 4 weeks and were getting jack of it. They apparently intend to police the Putty for the next 6 weeks. It is probable that they are using the exhaust labelling requirements to try and scare the sportbike hoons off. So if you go up the Putty, be sure your pipe is labelled. You can get CAN kits from bikeshops, I know MCA has them. You can get your bike tested and made compliant if required via Crash Test Engineering 0411 548 968 By the way, they had a very unmarked car there. Driver not in uniform, car with those stick on sunshades on the windows making it hard to see in, and kid's toys on the parcel shelf. No one mentioned model or colour. Financial Review ---------------- Looks like the Fin got a shock! According to an insider, they had more letters on the bike issue than they have *ever* had on a single issue. 60+ by close of business Friday, and more coming in over the weekend. Monday's paper had bike letters as the centrepiece of the letters page including one from the MCC on how government refusal to spend money on motorcycle safety is costing heaps, and one from the motorcycle industry body. Plus a cartoon of two coppers, one saying "Someone's managed to unite all the motorcycle gangs" the other asks "who?" "Some economist named Alan Mitchell" So thanks to that Fin article, lots of info about the government's poor safety attitude has got out into a national paper. never know, they might start to investigate the money angle. (Don't anyone tell them about netrider, they were amazed at how many bikie scum read the Fin!) Parking ------- Still talking to councils about parking. MCC club delegates from the Sydney Professional Motorcyclists Initiative - bike couriers - are working on getting special rules for couriers, allowing them to use loading zones for example. As there are now two bigwigs in the Sydney council with bikes (one just bought a scooter) we can hope that will flow on to non-courier riders. The MCC is also meeting with the RTA on parking near intersections. The RTA is looking at improving sightlines at intersections, meaning that some parking spots close to corners will disappear. The MCC is discussing allowing motorcycle parking in such places, as bikes don't block sight the way cars/vans/4WDs do. Motorcycle Show -------------- The motorcycle show is likely to change date and venue. Looks like it will be in Nov 2005 at Homebush. Blood Challenge --------------- The blood challenge is on! If you aren't utterly revolted at the sight of a needle, consider donating plasma. You can do it twice a month. When you do donate blood, remember to get them to mark it up for the motorcyclists, and see if you can persuade others in the bloodbank to do so. Some bloodbanks will ask you, some you have to ask them. The cops are cheating They are sending 'volunteers' in by the busload... Toy Runs -------- First up, congrats to Newcastle. The oldest toy run in Australia racked up 7000 riders this year. Aside from all the usual stuff, the bloodbank attended and had long lines of riders waiting to donate. The Sydney run is this Sunday, Dec 12th departing at 10:30am from Hickson Rd in The Rocks, going across Anzac Bridge, victoria rd, and to Paramatta Raceway. Bands, food, big raffle, stalls, a good day out. Traffic Counters ---------------- Until recently, traffic counters - those black cables across the road - didn't note bikes as a separate vehicle class. After a lot of lobbying, most of them now do. They work it out via wheelbase length apparently. They can also record speed.... So slow down going over them, we don't want the powers that be to have proof we are all evil speeding babykillers now they've been rumbled over that 10yo speed camera photo. If you see a traffic counter in your local area, you can contact the local council and ask for a copy of the data file. if you get one, then pass it on to the mcc (email for how) as the MCC have the software to read the file and it adds to the arsenal of information. I believe you have to be a local before the council will give it to you, but if it's near work or on your regular run, try them. (And be sure to take that road frequently....) RTA doings ---------- As usual, the RTA are being slack bastards. No reply to the MCC letter about the proposed lower blood alcohol limit for riders. No reply either to the request for a Memorandum of Understanding, although a little bird told Brian that it's on the Minster's desk and should be in the mail soon unless the Minster hates it. Crash trauma ------------ Brian Wood from the MCC gave a paper at the recent Staysafe seminar on "Benefits of a Motorcycle Road Safety Strategy". OTher participants included a Prof Umar from Malaysia who is working on computer modelling of bike crashes, and Dr Danny Cass from the (I think) Institute of Trauma Management. Dr Cass is very impressed on how riders and the MCC are actively working on safety, and is planning to investigate crash injuries and gear, along the lines of Dr Woods from Cambridge, but in Australian conditions. Keep an eye out, he may be asking for damaged kit and stories about how it was damaged and what injuries there were. This led to a discussion of the 4Bs - the Bent and Buckled Biker's Brigade - an old MRA group active in several states who would visit bikers in hospital, and help with magazines, errands, and with hospital admin sometimes. It looks like some member clubs might start it up again. If you think you might want to volunteer to visit riders and help, then contact to have your name passed on. the Staysafe conference was opened by Paul Collis - Nat MP and Harley rider. Riders are everywhere! Dunno how much effect one man can have n Staysafe though... Car design ---------- Last year, BIKE! mag in the UK had an article about "killer pillars", wide front pillars on new model cars which are wide enough to block a bike completely from view as it comes across the front field of vision of the driver. the MCC has written to the Australian Automobile Association to get them to mark a car's score down for having them in their Australian New Car Assessment Program. Not sure how much chance there is, as the ANCAP is tied very tightly to Euro specs. There is no Jan meeting, so next MCC meeting is on Feb 7 2005. Zebee
Zebee, The blitz is not only on the Putty road... we saw two HWY cars patrolling the road east of wollombi and through to Broke. This was matched by a increased presence on the Old Road and what looked like a RBT unit just south of the Mt White Shop. Once we heard, at Broke, of an EPA/RTA check point on the Putty we decided to call it quits and head home. The only positive note is that their money/motivation for this current blitz will runout with the onset of the Xmas silly season. Richard
FYI to pass on to whoever cares - Cr Harris is an ex bike rider (not majorly "pro" but not negative JL
What do you have to do to comply with these guys if pulled over? I'll be up there Saturday/Sunday behaving myself 100%(now I've been warned) and on a 100% legal bike. I have to show my licence I expect, do I have to remove my helmet, answer any other non-related Qs? I haven't been pulled over and harassed by police since 1988 in Qld getting off the Stradbroke ferry, I still dont like the idea of being buddies with em. Al
In aus.motorcycles on Wed, 08 Dec 2004 10:07:30 GMT No idea. I presume that if you get pulled over and lots of others are too, there'll be a wait. It is likely that if the bike looks stock and you don't look like a hoon then they'll just wave you on. Zebee
Interesting Zebee "There'll be a wait" I was under the impression that part of the problem with the noise exercise on the old road was the fact that people were detained for an excessive amount of time. Is there an official opinion (and I know this will just open the floodgates) as to how long they can detain you, and what would happen if you decide enough is enough after say (15,30,45 minutes) and decide to shove off? Can you request to either be arrested or to be allowed to leave? Finally I m aware of at least one RBT that was called off because it was not random - the eager young coppers pulled over *EVERYONE* - on a main road - on a sunday of a long weekend..... So can they randomly pull over *EVERY* bike? Stan
The "random" part of RBT means that you don't know when or where they will stop you for a breath test. I don't think the randomness is actually legislated. Nev.. '03 ZX12R
Is there an official opinion (and I know this will just open the I would be VERY careful about this. If they were going to R(?)BT you, and you take off, they could chase you, and arrest you for refusing a breath test. Penalties for that are just as bad as high range drink-driving. (That's quite a long period without a license, and a hefty fine, although if you don't have a prior record, and considering the circumstanes, you could probably get off with a good-behaviour bond if you plead guilty.) You can ask anything you like, but I wouldn't. If you give them attitude and they are in a bad mood, they will _find_ something to fine you for. (Or possibly just arrest you.)
In aus.motorcycles on Wed, 08 Dec 2004 22:10:13 +1100 Not quite, it was that people were pulled for an RBT, and then detained for noise testing. The cops can pull you over for any reason to believe they damn well please. RBT is a special case, if they aren't getting you to blow into the bag immediately you stop, as far as I know, they can hang in to you as long as they like. I know the ones who stop all traffic at the WA border don't care if you mope for hours... Zebee
Sorry - pehaps I was not clear enough. Re the buggering off bit - What I meant to say was if they pull you over for RBT and you do the blow bit then they detain you for 'noise testing' or 'inspections', how long can they detain you for without arresting/ticketing you or letting you go. As I think James said - suppose a toy run went up there and 2-300 bikes got pulled over - you could spend most of your day there...... Not trying to start an argument on this - just interested in what our/my rights are - last time I looked we still had *some* in NSW! Stan
In aus.motorcycles on Thu, 09 Dec 2004 08:01:59 +1100 I don't know. It's been discussed but no one has come up with a definitive answer. However, as far as I know, they were *not* doing RBT at Putty Rd. They were doing "reason to believe" and defecting bikes. Zebee
My memory could be faulty but there was a comment by Guy about the law only allowing a half hr with regard to the noise tests (was it on the MCC website ?) JL
According to Part 7.2 Section 208 in the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 No156 you have 1 hour. Cut and paste from the article on the web at http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/fullhtml/inforce/act+156+1997+first+0+N below. 208 Stopping of vehicles and vessels for inspection or testing (1) The driver or person in charge of a vehicle or vessel that is being used in any place must, for the purpose of enabling an authorised officer to inspect or test it under this Part, comply with any reasonable direction by an authorised officer: (a) to stop the vehicle or vessel (being a direction given by displaying a sign or by any other reasonable method), or (b) relating to facilitating the inspection or testing of the vehicle or vessel by an authorised officer. (2) If a vehicle or vessel has been stopped in compliance with such a direction, inspection and testing of it under this section must be carried out: (a) at or as near as practicable to the place where the direction to stop the vehicle or vessel is given, and (b) as soon as practicable, and in any case within one hour, after the vehicle or vessel is stopped in accordance with the direction. (3) The maximum penalty for an offence under section 211 in connection with a requirement under this section is 30 penalty units despite anything to the contrary in that section. (4) In this section, vehicle includes aircraft.
I was talking to Guy about this this arvo. His thoughts and he is checking is that it is 15 minutes. BTW With the attached bits it mentions '30 penalty points' - I will look at the whole article but what are these? The discussion with Guy was interesting. Essentially after 'x' minutes where 'x' is still to be totally determined, you can ask the detaining officer "Am I under arrest". If the answer is yes it becomes a lot more interesting but if the answer is no, you should be able to leave. If they have taken your license (as they did on the old highway) you can request it back. If they refuse to hand it back you have the right to proceed to the nearest police station and make a formal complaint which apparently will be looked at by the PIC. Note that the above needs to be confirmed and I trust that the MCC NSW will put out something to riders to keep them informed. I AM NOT A LAWER! (and suspect I cannot even spell one correctly). Stan.
They use these instead of specific dollar amounts in various acts and then a penalty point is defined in a separate act. It allows them to increase penalties without having to pass changes to a whole stack of acts through Parliament. 1 penalty unit in Victoria is $100, probably the same in NSW. Nev.. '03 ZX12R
Heheh - I could just see officer "Plod" trying to figure out the "Acceptable Entropy of RBT Operations" memo. James ZZR250->ZX9R
