Warrant system, when are they going to change it to be less a pain in the arse?

**Headbanger** · 1st May 2009, 12:59

Originally Posted by xwhatsit

In Queensland, there's nothing. Not at all. No checks in the slightest. For the most part in Brisbane people drive around in fancy new Mazdas or Toyotas or Holdens or Fords; but you often see the most painfully dangerous pieces of crap rolling along too. If a policeman stops you he can give you a ticket but of course there's a lot that slips through the cracks.

Not quite true, You are required to keep your vehicle in roadworthy condition and they have a number of mobile testing facilities. In the couple of years I spent in Brisbane I saw them a number of times and they had a cop pulling every slightly older or dodgy looking car out of the line of traffic and over to be tested.

That's not to say the system works very well......and I'd imagine its anything goes outside the main centres.

**AllanB** · 1st May 2009, 13:07

Wheres the option 'suck it up mate'?

One point to mention is the people who drive really dangerous pieces of crap don't get warrants anyway. A while back I reported a old Holden parked in a supermarket carpark that had kids seats in the back, no rego or WOF (expired years ago), 4 tyres way down into the cords, broken lights etc.

The council was very eager to run out and cover it in tickets - they missed the point - they should have towed the pice of crap off the streets.

**NinjaNanna** · 1st May 2009, 13:37

Originally Posted by davebullet

It should be mileage based or minimum one year. A vehicle is unlikely to rust to death in 1 year. Conversely if I drive only 3,000kms per year, do I really need a WOF every 1,500kms when garaged and no rust? (PS: the ol' 92 honda accord sh1ter passed her WOF today as it happens without any issues)....

Now that's common sense for you, if it works for things that the government really cares about ie RUC distance licenses, then why shouldn't it work for WOFs.

**tri boy** · 1st May 2009, 13:42

"Mr Motu, Mr Ixion, please report to the white courtesy ph."

**tigertim20** · 1st May 2009, 13:44

Originally Posted by vtec

forgot the option, of only requiring checks when safety hazards are identified by police. This has been inspired by the latest nzherald article about the ducati fatality, they mentioned that it was unwarranted, well in my opinion that's because warrants lapse way too fast and not because of safety concerns. Did they need to mention the lapsed warrant and was it relevant in my opinion no, what is relevant is if the brakes failed or the tyres were past the wear indicators apart from that I can't think what would be relevant to a Ducati hitting a tree in terms of vehicle failure.

I feel that the police have already inested more time money and infrastructure than is necessary "policing" vehicles. No to mention the lack of trust I have in the average cops ability to diagnose faults beyond bald tyres and cut springs. Do you really want to encourage them to be even more persistent in pulling over every vehicle they can? especiallyconsidering the (apparently non existent-yeah right) quota system they already have..

Warrants to me arent so much about whther or not MY vehicle is safe, its about whether or not all the other mechanically retarded vehicle operators out there have kept their vehicles safe, cos an unsafe vehicle is a danger to everyone on the road, not just the person driving it.
My 2 cents worth anyway

**Skyryder** · 1st May 2009, 13:51

It should have been changed to one year when the WOF's were privatised.

They were not for a variety of reasons one of which is that there is double the turnover every six months as against one check a year so this made the WOF check centres more valuable and as such the Govt. (Labour I think) flogged them off at more dollars with a six month check than say for twelve months.

New vehicles can go with one year checks for five years.

It's unlikely that this or the six month figure will change.

What needs to be done is for this to go to one year for all vehicles and a two year check for five years of new one's. If a vehicle is pulled over by the police or if they deem this to be unsafe then they should be given the powers to require the vehicle to undergo a new warrent. Not a fine but the power to require that the vehicle is up to a road worthy state. Just some loose thoughts.

skyryder

**mashman** · 1st May 2009, 14:26

I think the UK, having come from there, should adopt the NZ way. Cars in the UK rust within about 3 - 4 years, to what degree usually depoends on how well the vehicle is cleaned. For 5 months of the year, in some parts of the UK, the roads are covered in salt to prevent icing. This can ruin new cars and bikes over a single winter, destroying seals and corroding anywhere where the metalwork/bodywork has a chip in it from the grit they spread along with the salt... Leave your system the way it is... i'll lok after mine and as i can't trust you guys to look after yours, the gubmint gonna have to do it for me!!!

**sharknet** · 1st May 2009, 14:30

Originally Posted by Pixie

I had a testing station MENSA candidate test my bike's spokes for tightness once.- on a cast alloy wheel

Saved my life it did

Probably the same guy who insisted that my driveshaft-shaft applied parking brake was uneven on the left rear...

**peasea** · 1st May 2009, 14:38

Originally Posted by Mully

The trouble with NZ is that we have too many fuckwits, who don't bother to keep their vehicles in good order.

Much like speed limits, they therefore must dumb the system down to the lowest common denominator.

I'd rather have these people checked than have them running around putting my life at risk

It's a pain in the arse, but I can't think of a better system.

(btw, the Ducati could have run off the road because it slipped on something dropped from another vehicle that didn't have a WOF)

Couldn't agree more. With 30yrs in the motor trade behind me I have to say that people generally have no idea what goes on under the skin of their vehicle. If you were able to sue the pants off some dork for running into you because of some defect on their vehicle then said dork might take more of an interest in having services done more regularly.

But you can't, so they don't.

Fear not; nanny will take care of everything.

**Hitcher** · 1st May 2009, 14:40

A Warrant of Fitness should be part of a mandatory third-party insurance scheme.

**Kiwi34** · 1st May 2009, 16:39

Originally Posted by Mully

The trouble with NZ is that we have too many fuckwits, who don't bother to keep their vehicles in good order.

Much like speed limits, they therefore must dumb the system down to the lowest common denominator.

I'd rather have these people checked than have them running around putting my life at risk

It's a pain in the arse, but I can't think of a better system.

(btw, the Ducati could have run off the road because it slipped on something dropped from another vehicle that didn't have a WOF)

These are the people who don't.... get warrant of fitness.....get car insurance, .....get drivers licence, ....pay court fines, Warrant of fitness system is a burden only for honest people.

**Ixion** · 1st May 2009, 16:50

L's see.

BMWs front tyre is down to the tie bars, but it's got a warrant so it must be safe
Petals rear wheel has collapsed, 24 broken spokes 6 inches of lateral movement at the rim- but it's got a WoF so that's all good
Phoebes front brake lever keeps hitting the handlebar, but it's got a WoF so it must just be some minor adjustment
People keep trying to tell me the arzhole's headlamp isn't working but it's got a WoF so they must be wrong
Everything's kosher on the scrap iron pile, but then, there never was anything much to start with - no indicators, no stoplight, headlamp doesn't illuminate anything, brakes never worked.
Headlamp switch on ffwwabbitt has gone dicky, won't turn on, but it's warranted so I don't need to worry about it.

I'm so glad all my bikes have warrants, so I don't have to worry about them being safe.

**alanzs** · 1st May 2009, 16:55

Oh yeah, my '96 Toyota Starlet (wanna be muscle car) with 18,000k's on it passed it's warrant yesterday. I barely drive the car...

**tri boy** · 1st May 2009, 16:57

Hitcher has it right.

I personally don't have an issue with 6mth warrants.
Like Peasea, I have spent a few years in the trade, but still value another set of trained eyes giving my bikes and cars a once over.
Find a good/great WOF outlet, and give them your business.

As a side note, talking to my local wof shop, I was told they need to inspect 600 m/cycles a year to make it worth while, cover set up costs.
they are lucky in that they also do COF, and the bike warrants, (or lack of) are rolled into the COF costs by the accountants.

**mynameis** · 1st May 2009, 16:59

Originally Posted by Ixion

L's see.

BMWs front tyre is down to the tie bars, but it's got a warrant so it must be safe
Petals rear wheel has collapsed, 24 broken spokes 6 inches of lateral movement at the rim- but it's got a WoF so that's all good
Phoebes front brake lever keeps hitting the handlebar, but it's got a WoF so it must just be some minor adjustment
People keep trying to tell me the arzhole's headlamp isn't working but it's got a WoF so they must be wrong
Everything's kosher on the scrap iron pile, but then, there never was anything much to start with - no indicators, no stoplight, headlamp doesn't illuminate anything, brakes never worked.
Headlamp switch on ffwwabbitt has gone dicky, won't turn on, but it's warranted so I don't need to worry about it.

I'm so glad all my bikes have warrants, so I don't have to worry about them being safe.

Oscar Widle once said: "Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit"