Vehicle Inspection for a dune buggy

[66DB]

Some cop gave me a VI this morning...not sure why I wasn't doing anything wrong.

Anyways so given that this is a buggy (fiberglass manx style) does anyone have experience getting through and does anyone have any recommendations of places to go to? Also is there a checklist that applies to buggies/1970 standards?

Kinda pissed off about the situation...I could rant forever, please help

[pittwagen]

What jurisdiction issued the ticket and what were the verbal reasons the officer gave you?

I have experience creating a street legal rail from scratch and had to go through the full inspection process.  You need to familiarize yourself with the MV act regulations and you need to get a copy or get a look at the reference manual that approved inapection facilities use. 

It is a straight forward process.  I had no difficulty getting my buggy through on rhe first go.

[getgeoff]

Dont go to cnd tire for one. Any provincial inspection place can do it. It's a basic safety inspection and they check your suspension,brakes and hoses,glass,horn,signals and stuff. If it's safe to drive then you should be fine. A cop can give you one anytime but if you had already been thru the inspection and you get stopped again I would show the inspection report and then tell them to quit hasseling you.

[pittwagen]

Good point on the insp. doc.  I keep mine right with the insurance and regi. on the vehicle.

Oh and by the way, if the officer gave you no reason for the VI, I would ask for a meeting with the officer and his/ her commanding officer to explain the reason. If nothing is forthcoming you then have other avenues.

[66DB]

I've never had an inspection done, 3 years of driving and nearly 8000km and I've had no trouble.

I got caught in Richmond by an RCMP officer. The cop's reason was that he didn't see reflectors on the side of the car, I then asked him uf reflectors were mandatory or even required and he didn't know...I know the buggy is safe, hell it's tighter than my DD. Reading through the MV act it says a reflector is only mandatory on the rear of a vehicle (4.21). The only thing I could be missing is mudflaps...the buggy never sees rain though (I'll put some on I guess..)

Pittwagen I'm familiar the MV act regulations but where can I find the inspectors manual?

I'm definitely not planning on going to canadiantire, hoping some of you have some suggestions of places familiar with vw's

[pittwagen]

None of my business but is there any other reason why the police may want to hassle you?  Just something to think about.

I believe when there has been a violation an officer must cite the appropriate section of a statute that has been violated.  If that is not the case you may wish to seek some legal advice concerning the appropriate avenue of redress, particularly in light of the "I don't know".  No witness to that I guess.  Conversation in the cruiser?  Might have been recorded. Was the officer a traffic cop or general duty?

In 08 when I had my buggy inspected, the inspectors' manual was not available online.  That may have changed.  The inspectors are licensed by the CVSE section of the provincial Ministry of Transport  or whatever it is called.  You will need to find a licensed inspector (CVSE provides the list on their site) in your area and ask if they would show you the manual so you can check/have everything fixed or added before the inspection so as to save you potentially multiple trips for inspection.  My local fellow, (Tim @ Mason Bros.) here in Pitt Meadows was very helpful in that regard.

As an aside, my inspector did suggest I get side marker lights/reflectors as an added safety measure to increase visibility, even though it was not required.  I have them on my buggy.

[66DB]

I can't think of any reason they would hassle me, the car looks clean and tight (I did a lot of work this year), I wasn't speeding or making any noise, just coasting off an on-ramp at the posted speed limit...

The officer's only complaint was that there was no side reflectors, which is not a requirement (wish I knew that at the time). Like you said though there was no witness and the convo did not happen in the cruiser...I don't know how to tell if it's a traffic cop or general duty, I would guess general duty based on his lack of knowledge. Right now I'm really pissed off, if there was a valid reason to give me a VI then fine, but it wasn't valid in the least...

Researched a little and apparently you can buy the manual for $65  I might give the gentleman you mentioned a call and see what can be done, it would be nice to know what needs to be changed instead of paying for multiple inspections...

I will try to contact the officer/local office and see if there's something that can be done about his claim of "no reflectors"

[66DB]

Took a better look at the VI request and there's a section that says "Description of Defect/Violation" and it's left blank

[pittwagen]

I would not be very happy either.  I would do the following:

Talk to the officers commander preferably in person. If he/she says they can't over ride the.decision, tell  them you will be challenging the ticket in court and you will be filing a complaint with the office of the police complaints commission citing the.officers abuse of authority.

Get an inspection to support your position and use that as evidence in court to support your position that the.ticket was without merit.

When the ticket is overturned go to small claims court to recover your costs.

My thoughts.

[purple turd]

if the car is already registered as a buggy or modified beetle just get get the inspection. you can no longer register a u built car in bc so hopefully your vin #s are all in place. been there done that. once youve had the car inspected they can still force an inspection but all you need to do is be safe... no more proving vins etc

[BUSDADDY]

What year is it registered as?

[66DB]

Pittwagen thanks for the advice, I'll look into it but it looks like I need to do the inspection regardless because there's nothing stopping another cop from doing the same thing. I would be glad to point out the irelevance of the vi request after I pass.

The buggy is registered as a modified beetle dune buggy and yes the vins are all there. It's registered as a 1970

[BUSDADDY]

The buggy is registered as a modified beetle dune buggy and yes the vins are all there. It's registered as a 1970

A 70 bug came with side reflectors so you may be boned on that one, all depends on the inspector.

[66DB]

Thanks for the heads up, I can put them on just to be safe. I was planning on putting lit reflectors next season anyways

[pittwagen]

Busdaddy is right.  I would add a front and back side marker light/reflector before I went for the inspection.  Here is how I did mine.  Front is just behind the turn signal and rear is high up, right and the end of the the side sheet metal.  Just zoom in to get a better view.