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Location:
sunny coast, qld
Registered:
October 2002
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Brilliant article to read
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Fri, 11 February 2005 02:17
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"At many locations around the state, young car enthusiasts meet to talk about their cars and show their many modifications with pride. these cars can be nissan skylines, pulsars, hondas, mitsubishi FTOs, subarus, toyota supras, soarers and dozens of others which appeal to our younger generation for both their looks and performance.
Two of the locations, well known to me, are the broadwater car park on the gold coast and the reserve at wellington point on brisbane's bayside (same deal in Perth). Many of the enthusiasts also occasionally gather at various Mcdonalds carparks to buy a burger and indulge in car adoration and discussion. The majority of these drivers are in the 17-29 year old age group and love their cars. There are of course a few "idiots" who crank up their stereos too loud and like to perform doughnuts in the area. These few give the majority a bad name but are in the minority.
As parents of teenagers, we support their right to gather in a public place and to discuss and enjoy their hobby: ie. their car. While our younger generation are meeting as motoring enthusiasts, they are not drinking, they are not putting graffiti on buildings, they are not brawling or taking drugs or breaking into homes and businesses. So, it has our support as "oldies".
There are some elements who view the activities scornfully and complain to law enforcement authorities about the gathering of "young hoons". This has resulted in some bizarre behaviour from local police, who demonstrate their complete ineptness in dealing with a few disruptive young drivers. Rather than resolve problems with some intuitive and intelligent thinking, they choose to react in their normal seemly heavy-handed fashion: "let's barricade the area and defect every vehicle leaving - even for the most minor infringement!"
Things like, no water in windshield washer bottle, exaust pipe too low, fluorescent lights decorating the car, chipped windscreens and other similar offences. Now the police are not just warning these guys, they are issuing tickets for $75 an offence! The police are singling out this group as trouble-makers and seem intent on targeting them with bullying and stand-over tactics.
Now in defence of our law enforcement officers, who often have an uneviable job to do, they will be quick to tell me that if every kid's car was 100% compliant they couldn't be fined for anything. TRUE! well, why don't they target other groups, like senior citizens, mothers dropping children at schools or their own private cars and see if they are 100% compliant! Some of these young people spend a fortune on their tyres, wheels, exausts and suspention and represent no threat to anyone's safety.
So, while highly trained, loyal and brave law enforcement officers are fining these kids (some earn their money part-time at Mcdonalds and Dominos Pizza on low hourly rates), they are incurring public penalty rates and overtime fulfilling this wonderfull service; meanwhile, shopkeepers complain that they cannot get any police response to thieves when they report crimes because police are too overworked. This was just the scenario at wellington point two thursday nights ago when numerous police barracaded the entrance to the point public carpark and subjected every car to police scrutiny. Many cars were defected and many fines were issued.
Now i do not support "hoons" who risk their lives and the lives of others with unsafe driving and unsafe cars. I am appalled by the over-representation of young people in death and injury accident statistics, but i strongly defend the right of our younger generation to meet, interact and love their cars. It is every free person's right to meet in a public place, provided they are not harming other people or themselves. If a few younger drivers are obviously flouting the law and risking lives, then every supports punitive action against them. How much harm to police public relations is being done by these needless act of bullying by police? Are not these kids the police officers of the future and do we want our kids to think our law enforcement officers are scum bags? Maybe a little bit of inteligent thought could develop solutions which allows kids to meet and enjoy their cars without harassment and police officers regain their place, in their eyes, as respected people in the community."
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Location:
Potts Point, Sydney
Registered:
October 2003
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Re: Brilliant article to read
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Fri, 11 February 2005 02:28
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that's like so last year 
Best article ever created tho... 
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Location:
sunny coast, qld
Registered:
October 2002
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Re: Brilliant article to read
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Fri, 11 February 2005 02:31
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| dimmy77_03 wrote on Fri, 11 February 2005 13:28 |
that's like so last year
Best article ever created tho...
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oh well, if it was written last year and it nothing has changed then obviously it hasn't been listened to. Spread the word people!
The quicker this sort of stuff gets into people's heads the better.
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Location:
Tassie
Registered:
October 2003
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Re: Brilliant article to read
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Fri, 11 February 2005 02:32
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who wrote that ?
that really good i liked it
If i ever saw that guy i'd have to shake his hand.
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Location:
Newcastle
Registered:
June 2004
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Re: Brilliant article to read
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Fri, 11 February 2005 02:44
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I think i've read it before, but it is a good read and makes alot of sense.
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Location:
c'town, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Brilliant article to read
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Fri, 11 February 2005 03:54
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i feel this article gives too much of a utopian view on the whole carpark atmosphere.
the merit is there dont get me wrong, but from what ive seen alot of the times theres more than just a "few" idiots spoiling it for the rest.
Not to mention not being able to back up this comment with proof:
" they are not drinking, they are not putting graffiti on buildings, they are not brawling or taking drugs or breaking into homes and businesses."
once again the merit is there but the only recourse the writer of this article will get is comments on forums from fellow car enthusiasts. Which wont help.
Shame to have such a grim view on the situation i know, but it doesnt bother me too much, i interact with fellow enthusiasts thru different means, ie a car club not a parking lot.
$0.02
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Location:
Tassie
Registered:
October 2003
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Re: Brilliant article to read
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Fri, 11 February 2005 03:58
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I printed it out and put it on the office notice board
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Location:
melb
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Brilliant article to read
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Fri, 11 February 2005 13:36
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yeah, and.......zzzzzz
it looks like it was written as someones school english essay..
a "Brilliant article to read" would have to mention something about rebuilding motors or at least something of technical merit, at least thats what I thought!!!
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Location:
Melbourne
Registered:
November 2003
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Re: Brilliant article to read
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Fri, 11 February 2005 14:15
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| chrisss wrote on Sat, 12 February 2005 00:36 |
yeah, and.......zzzzzz
it looks like it was written as someones school english essay..
a "Brilliant article to read" would have to mention something about rebuilding motors or at least something of technical merit, at least thats what I thought!!!
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Boring. You get a thumbs down.
I like this guys attitude. I think it is an utterly bad idea for the Police to make themselves out to be ogres there to break up the fun. I wouldn't mind seeing the cops pull up to a large group of car enthusiasts, have a bit of a chat with the guys in a friendly way, and just let them know that they wont defect their cars so long as they don't act up.
I used to feel totaly comfortable around Police. Since I started driving I don't. Interesting that.
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Location:
Perth, WA
Registered:
December 2004
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Re: Brilliant article to read
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Sat, 12 February 2005 04:32
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whoever wrote that article is my hero!
remember when you were a kid and the cops talked to you in a friendly way?
and now, whever you see the police, even though you KNOW you havent done anything wrong, theres still "that feeling" and you get a bit nervous?
thats because articles like the ones the media is putting out gives yout he impression that cops are fuckwits...
yes, cops do single out young drivers in high-performance cars, but you have to ask yourself... why do you need a high performance car? i know im going to get flamed for saying this on a car enthusiast website, but the police see no merit in any of us owning a high performance car, simply because we dont need one...
food for thought
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