Convoy ticket

[Doug P]

Holy crap!

http://www.toronto-subaru-club.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?s=3fc4b6b60144ffff;act=ST;f=17;t=3903

If I was in this convoy I definitely would not have been included in the charges! Way to slow for racing, 3 seconds off the pace of the Scoobies.

All kidding aside, good luck to all of these guys.

[MitS]

That links seems to take me nowhwere. Here's a link to the Toronto Subaru club thread:


http://www.toronto-subaru-club.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?s=3fc4b6b60144ffff;act=ST;f=17;t=3903

[Keith-02Accord]

Friggen craziness. I didn't know it was now illegal to follow people on the road.

[AcidGord]

Is it me or is this stuff getting out of hand? Between police shutting down legitimate Solo events, camping out at events looking for minor modification tickets, hassling any two modified cars that happen to be going in the same direction... the blanket overreaction is really nuts. I guess we're all supposed to drive bone stock cars to and from work and thats it.

[30thSS]

Thats bloody outrageous!:mad: How can the other car clubs voice their opinions in this matter to the proper authorities in support of their situation? Something like this affects all car enthusiasts as our KWF club likes to convoy to events as well. The police themselves have cars like this as well as Vettes and Camaros so I'm real stunned to see this kind of action. I hope the Subaru dudes beat this cleanly.

[Martini Focus]

Well all I can really say is welcome to my world. Tons of people have asked why I trailer a street car to autoX events in Brampton it's because in 3 years I have never been able to drive into GTA past Erin Mills without getting stopped. I missed two events last summer because I got stopped and was both times threatened with impounding because it was a "unsafe visual distraction to other motorists" I got stopped on my way to the last CCC event by no less than 4 cops who looked all over the car for 40mins and couldn't find anything better than my harnesses to fine me with.

I've been stopped 54 times since May of 2001 never once for speeding, racing, dangerous driving or anything remotely worth a fine. Every time it's modified this or no stock that. I've gone to court 23 times 4 with my lawyer and every time had the charges tossed out. The last time I went I joked with the Judge that I should sell my focus and by a Cobra mustang because it would attract less police attention.:rolleyes: I keep my local garage in business with all the safety and emissions checks I go though each year.

All I can recommend to those guys is get your trial together and take a lawyer. Because you weren't charged with dangerous driving or speeding there is a 95% chance it will be tossed out but just in the unlikely case it isn't it's good to have someone who knows how to fight this BS.

[Chris P]

that makes baby krispy cry

[Dave]

I've been stopped 54 times since May of 2001 never once for speeding, racing, dangerous driving or anything remotely worth a fine

OMG...that is absolutely insane! I can't believe you've put up with that level of harrassment for so long! If it was me, I'd have stripped the decals off long ago. Good man for sticking to your guns, though...that takes conviction.

Maybe you should chronicle all the harrassment you've suffered and send it to the Toronto Star 'Wheels' section or something.

[101rs]

being one of the drivers involved in this mess,, i'd like to inform everyone that we are not taking the charges lightly at all, we are going to do whatever possible in order to get them drop as we did nothing wrong!!being someone what has lived by the saying take it to the track i am personally insulted by the charges.
at the moment we are asking no one go to the media as we feel it will not help us at the moment. thank u everyone for the support

The Official Response from the convoy members (http://www.toronto-subaru-club.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?s=3fc75cd607b8ffff;act=ST;f=17;t=3935)

[Robv]

Martini Focus, that's insane !!
I can't believe you have the patience to go to court all those times. That's amazing.

It's really sad to see how the cops are trying to get to street racers... ....guilty by association...... I wonder if something can be done about this.

I hope the 'Subaru Convoy' guys can get this thing thrown out...otherwise it's bad news for all of us.

Rob.

[AcidGord]

Like the attitude of the officer on the W5 report done a while ago. 'If it looks like a duck and talks like a duck..'

*sigh*

[JoeT]

If the officers would only take the time to do a little research, aka undercover street racer, they'll find out the stereotype of the real street racer.

Most street racing cars I've seen are quite sublime and actually ratty. It's like 3 out of 10 that looks really nice, the remaining cars are sleepers.

Take a look at our crew, competitors have average looking cars. As a matter of fact, during the Subaru Caravan, a comment was made by the officer about how stock looking one of the cars were. He happened to be pointing to one of our team members car when he was saying that.

Someone should offer up some education to the PACER crew as well as the OPP as to what to look for when trying to identify street racers.

I'd love to help them out, so they can leave the responsible people, like us (soloontario), alone.

[Peter Lejbjuk]

Originally posted by JoeT
...a comment was made by the officer about how stock looking one of the cars were. He happened to be pointing to one of our team members car when he was saying that

Yea, and his car was probably the quickest and 'least stock' of the bunch. Shows what they know eh?

-Pete

[Martini Focus]

Dave: It got to me last year which was the worst by far to the point that I had it booked in for an all white paint job. The week before it was to be painted a UK mag called to do a photo shoot so I kept the paint job for the press.

Robv: 9 out of 10 times the cop didn't show up so the tickets were tossed out. Even when the cop did show he usually got the worse end of the judges wrath.

It's funny how some offices don't care about the car, drive by and give me the thumbs up or a wave. I never have trouble with my local cops or really any outside the GTA. Still most will just stop to have a look and when they find out it's not a 16 year old behind the wheel it's drive safe and have a nice day.

[JAYh]

Joe, the problem with that plan is the most dangerous "street racers" (i.e. the ones who get people killed) are 16 year olds driving their dad's stock Maxima SE. You can't say what a "typical" street racing car looks like anymore than you can say what a "typical" burglar looks like. (Besides, my car is 'sublime and ratty', and I'm sure as hell no street racer.)

The ONLY way to identify "street racers" is to catch them in the act - anything else is just stereotyping! Unfortunately Buddy Officer here thought he saw some easy pickin's ("even if they're going the limit NOW, they *MUST* have been street racing earlier! That guy has the same hood scoop as "The Fast And The Furious!") - and nailed exactly the wrong people for all the wrong reasons. I think the solution here would be a re-think of some backward-headed blanket police policies, and the 'early retirement' of certain officers. Like THAT's going to happen.

To members of the 'TSC Eight': If no one has objections, I would like to write a POLITE but firm letter to the offending police force (Peterbourogh?) expressing my objections. However if you guys would rather not have outside interference I will hold off. Either way you guys have my support against this rediculous situation.

- J

[JAYh]

BTW, before anyone takes my response as being anti-cops, that's not true... I have heard or seen nothing like this going on here in London, and the cops out in Woodstock seem like great people. I have a lot of respect those who take a reasonable attitude and appreciate their job for what it is.

- J

[Greg F]

Jay, the The Subaru 8 have asked that no one do such action for now, and let them call the shots so they don't get screwed up.

They have asked us to post their request on any message boards we visit.

Personally, I'm shocked and numbed by this whole story, but I'm limiting my support to the moral variety at this time.

[Marsh]

Unfortunately cops have the same problem we do. A few bad apples are making the rest of them look bad.

[exST165]

Originally posted by Marsh
Unfortunately cops have the same problem we do. A few bad apples are making the rest of them look bad.

I agree 100%. They have a horrible job, as a friend of mine (a fire-fighter) put it: every time they show up they are ruining somebody's idea of 'fun'. Society as we know it would collapse in a matter of days if not hours without them. How many of us can say that about our day jobs?

That said they (appear) to be doing nothing to weed out the bad apples in their midst and close ranks if any are accused of improper behaviour. What do you want to bet that there are going to be no consequences to that officer who pulled over the 'TSC Eight'?

[Cheers!]

this reminds me when lawrence yip of the toronto star got a brand spanking new STI WRX to review/test drive as a press car and he got pulled over without doing anything.

[Suzie]

Originally posted by Cheers!
this reminds me when lawrence yip of the toronto star got a brand spanking new STI WRX to review/test drive as a press car and he got pulled over without doing anything.

Years and years ago, my mom got pulled over for smiling while driving her tr3, but she got taken out for coffee. Things seem to have changed.

I'm really appalled by these charges. I hope the situation is rectified fast!

Suzie

[tanney]

I'm really appalled by these charges. I hope the situation is rectified fast!
Personally, I think that it will get a lot worst for us before it gets better, unfortunately. With the crap on the big screen (Fast and Furious, XXX, The Itailian Job, Jackass, etc.) pumping up stupid kids, encouraging them to race on the streets (and sidewalks).

And then there is our insurance industry..... Did anyone see the piece on CityTV last week about the single mother that had her insurance go from $3000 to $13000 (yes $13,000 per year) because she had a small claim last year.

We will continue to be hassled and hounded until the police, polititions and insurance industry are brought into our sport and they then (hopefully) realize that we are responsible, law abiding citizens (for the most part) and not street racers. But on that note, there will still always be the "bad apples" on our roads that will continue to make the authorities despise us, unless you drive a minivan or suv, in the left hand lane at 85kph on all our 400 series highways.

[Taylor]

I've been stopped 54 times since May of 2001 never once for speeding, racing, dangerous driving or anything remotely worth a fine

I'd have sued the city/department after the 10th one. You're crazy. Get a new Lawyer or something. Maybe one with balls.

[Suzie]

Originally posted by Taylor
Maybe one with balls.

IME, good lawyers don't necessarily require "balls" :eek:

Suzie

[AlienDNA]

Originally posted by Suzie
good lawyers

Isn't that an oxymoron? Seems to me "good" lawyers got us into this mess to begin with...

[Martini Focus]

Taylor, while I would like to do something I would rather not poke the bear. I never expected it to get that bad but I mean look at my car, I'm just asking for it really.

I'm going to give up on this look in the next year or so anyway because frankly it's getting a little old.

The lawyer I have does exactly what I want him to do he gets me out of trouble when the really bad OPP inspectors go after my car.

Still I don't want to attract attention to what I go through I'm not looking to fight the man. I simply want to drive my car in it's 99% legal state. I say 99% because there is some question as to the legality of my harnesses.

[Taylor]

So then fix the harness.

It bothers me that you say you're asking for it. Sure you need to expect some level of attention. But the level you talk about is way beyond harassment. Unless they find something 50% of the time, I'd be all over them. Since you seem to indciate it's BS every time, it should have stopped 40+ incidents ago.

I don't see why people can't have the look they want, while being within the law. Obviously you're a rally fan (or at least a fan of th elook), car could be BONE STOCK and you'd still get the harassment right? Does that seem right to you? And hell you said you showed the car, so it's actually a hobby, a hobby you're getting harassed for. It's pathetic and a ****ing waste of our tax dollars and police resources. I don't see that blaming you (yourself) is the solution. You should be able to do what you want (within the confines of the law... and half the time you should be able to go outside it, but that's a whole other discussion and I'm not really talking about cars either)

Fact is if I had the money I'd probably do something silly and put a $10K 355 Kit on my MR2. Cops would see a young guy driving a Ferrari, after a couple stops, I'd see them in court for wasting my time. I'm tired of being singled out for doing things differently. If I'm not breaking the law, piss off.

You need like a passcard signed by an MOT official or something that you can flash the cops that says "Look guys, I've been there, done that, let's not waste our time, go catch someone who's actually doing something wrong".

You know, like Diplomat plates. :)

I'd like to say "Don't give up" but I'm sure you're exhausted and I can certainly understand not wanting to put up with it anymore. Maybe you should lend me the car for a while, see what kind of shit I can stir up with the system. FIGHT THE POWER! :P

[finboy]

i don't see much difference between simons focus and one of these vehicles...

:confused:

http://www.getpaidtodrive.com/what.htm

[TYSON]

Originally posted by finboy
i don't see much difference between simons focus and one of these vehicles...

:confused:

http://www.getpaidtodrive.com/what.htm


I see vehicles swerving in and out of traffic, loud as hell and covered with graphics all the time! Guess what they are...

A city bus....:(