Highway Patrol Targets Car Show

[gtc]

Muscle car enthusiasts claim they were trapped by police who set up near a charity event to book more than 40 drivers with infringements or defect notices.

Organiser of the Northern Beaches Muscle Car Show Carmine Vescio said people attending his event were “targeted” by police.

Police said that Operation Dragonfly targeted all drivers and the worst offender was caught at more than 45km/h over the speed limit.

Northern Beaches Highway Patrol senior sergeant Martin Searle said the operation had been months in the planning and stemmed from complaints from residents about speeding.

The one-day operation involved police, Roads and Maritime Service inspectors and staff from the Environment Protection Authority.

“Twenty defect notices were issued by police and 16 cars were referred to the EPA for noisy exhausts or other EPA issues, while RMS inspected 24 cars, 22 of which were defective in one way or another, “ Sgt Searle said.

He said one car had to be towed away while there were three major defect notices and 18 minor ones.

But Mr Vescio argued that the majority of drivers whose cars were ruled defective were “in their 50s and 60s with young families ... not teenagers hooning”.

He said the police were invited to attend the event, at Miramare Gardens, Terrey Hills, and offered a free stall but had declined.

“I actually negotiated with and invited these guys to an event they were going to come and put a tent up with a police bike and car so the kids could come and say hi,” Mr Vescio said.

“We were told they couldn’t attend because they had some operation on.

“Instead, they set up a station at Mona Vale Rd.”

Another participant in a car show at Miramare Gardens said the timing of the operation was “not a good look” when the car show was raising money for the Sydney Children’s Hospital.

Cromer resident Jim Cowden said he saw one award-winning car get a defect notice.

“This will be another event that will disappear from this area,” he said.

Mr Cowden said part of the problem was changes to those standards over time.

He said he had built a reproduction of a Le Mons car.

“In 1966 they didn’t have the same rules as now,” he said.

Issues also included noise and the manner of driving by some motorists on Mona Vale Rd, as well as in backstreets at Terrey Hills.

Sgt Searle said police were aware the car show was on but that planning for Operation Dragonfly had been well established by then.

“Car enthusiasts need to ensure their cars are roadworthy,” he said.

“If they comply with the standards set for all motorists, there should be no issues and they should be able to attend the event.”

An RMS spokeswoman said all modified vehicles using NSW roads must meet compliance requirements to ensure the safety of all road users.

“A number of non-compliant and modified vehicles were detected with significant alterations to suspension and brakes,” she said.

Event participant Nathan Hart said his car was given defect notices by RMS inspectors for having a tinted side indicator, parking lights that were slightly different in colour and a ride-height a fraction under the required 100mm.

“They’re hardly the sorts of things that would cause an accident or be dangerous,” he said.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/manly-daily/muscle-auto-buffs-angered-at-being-singled-out/news-story/0ea2782b31ff8a30804397c7d46e79e2

[MADLT1]

not a good look for the police department,shame shame shame,especially when there was a better option in place,just another money grab by the nsw gov

[Vettech]

Definitely a money raiser, an easy target, they could do their job every day and set up on any main throughfare and defect One in Five vehicles - esp 4x4's with illegal tyre / wheel combinations- ie allignment outside the guard line. This was most likely driven by Local complainers with nothing better to do, and who never put their hand in their pocket to support worthwhile charities.

[Scott]

Yep. poor form.  The same set-up at any shopping centre on a wednesday morning would haul in just as many defects, but that wouldn't be fair now would it.

[StephenSLR]

Rookie error: when you invite cops to an event you be sure to include a doughnut stand.

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