Article: Ban on ’boy racer’ modifications

from www.breakingnews.ie/2005/11/17/story230602.html

Govt planning to outlaw ‘boy-racer’ car modifications 17/11/2005 - 07:40:09 The Government is reportedly planning to outlaw car modifications that are much-loved by so-called "boy racers". Reports this morning said Junior Minister for Transport Ivor Callely was planning to ban modifications like tinted windows and put a cap on engine noise as part of a reform of the National Car Test. Under his plans, cars will fail the test from next January if they are found to contain unauthorised modifications or if their engine noise exceeds the legal limit. Meanwhile, Minister for Transport Martin Cullen has announced plans to extend the penalty points system early next year to include a range of new motoring offences. The new offences include dangerous overtaking, failing to obey traffic lights and crossing continuous white median lines in the centres of roads.

Ivor Callaly was on Morning Ireland this morning explaining why this was so important.  It sounded like the idea was concocted over a skinful of beer and he'd only finished drinking!  Must be a slow news day.

I think they're great: they car is laden down with stuff, and the bodykits so close to the ground, that they literally cannot go quick on 90% of the roads.

Tis a ridiculous notion....

kbannon wrote: I never liked the man as he is an utterly slimy and loathsome character. Given his character, I honestly don't understand why people vote for him.

Ah c'mon Killian, don't be shy, tell us how you really feel!

Some ol same ol, the go after the ones they can catch (like shooting fish in a barrel) catch the ordinary person for speeding 38mph in a 30mpa, not wearing a seat belt, parking ticket expired, tax a couple of weeks out of date, a light not working and the list goes on and on and on. Now its the mod cars, some of them are a bit ott but in my opinion most of them look after their cars no boy racing for the fear of the euros the spent to get it that way. Some of them are so low to the ground they could'nt go fast. Where i think they will get caught out is with the engine mods and the insurance not knowing. The NCT will end up having to  report mod cars to these companies, that will cut the numbers of boy racers. Its the lads in the Junkers that get the rest a bad name. Leave them alone if they want to put there money into mod a car let them keeps them from street corners and hanging around in gangs with nothing to do

Parkwest is a great track... I mean piece of road though. When I head home if there is a jam on the Parkwest road itself I will go around the back and do a slalom and come out at the other end of the Parkwest Road.

I wash my car at work as well so in the weekends I can hear all these noises rumbling up and down the stright just beside my work. Kinda scarry cuz I am there by myself sometimes and if they come over and demand my keys I would be helpless. Thus the office doors are always open so I can run in and lock the door

I really don't wanna hear all this when I'm putting my Eisenmann exhaust on this weekend.

the AA have come out criticising it:

AA criticises Govt plan to outlaw modified cars 17/11/2005 - 11:30:19 The AA has criticised government plans to outlaw car modifications loved by so-called "boy racers". The Government is planning to ban the modifications as part of reforms to the National Car Test. From next January, all cars containing unauthorised modifications will fail the test, as will those whose engine noise exceeds new limits. AA spokesman Conor Faughnan said he agreed that dangerous modifications should be banned, but it was wrong to automatically fail cars due to their appearance. "I think it's a mistake to draw a direct link between the way a car looks and the way a driver behaves," he said.

That meane that my car will fail the next NCT, even though my tint is within the limits.

What will they do about factory tints?

And will they check that wheels are the right offsets for the cars they're on?

I just don't understand what he is trying to achieve!!!!!

NCT is for making a car safe, roadworthy and confirms that the vehicle can actually drive on Irish roads.  If you replace your brakes with better ones, surely that safer, but then its a mod.  I don't see where the line will be drawn on what is a "unauthorised modification", if replacing anything on your car with a newer, better item is a modification then what makes something authorised and unauthorised.  If he means that if you get your parts bought and fitted by professional garage but not a BMW garage then is that not authorised, well that to me means that all non-dealer garages are illegal in that they are now not licenced to upgrade any parts on your car. 

gggrrrrr.