Thread: Defect Notice for Roof Rack Lights

Originally Posted by Tombie

Perhaps you need to self reflect and ask:
“Am I passing the ****wit test?”

Obviously, a truck driver will fail that test, as he is a truck driver. Sigh, I wish that I had had your experiences, Tombie.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

I understood that clause was about recognising interstate registration, not defects, and an interstate registered vehicle could still be defected in another state. A vehicle can be registered, but still have a defect.
For example, Queensland doesn't have annual registration inspections, so a registered vehicle can be driving around with only one headlight (see them all the time). Cross the border to Tweed Heads and it could still be defected for the faulty headlight, even if it is registered in Qld.
Ridiculous I know, but that's our dumb system.

Faulty lights, bald tyres etc. are illegal in every state, last time I checked. This is not the same thing as fitment issues.

An example of Mick's point, talk to a NSW Highway Patrol or RMS officer about Load Restraint curtains.

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

I assume there is a fine with the defect.
If the defect is determined to be not valid by RMS, is the fine still valid and to be paid? What happens to the victim when two persons in authority disagree?

in SA, there is no fine with a defect, but a booking payment must be made for an inspection to happen. about $200. so even if the inspection says everything is good, your still need to pay.

Originally Posted by Eevo

in SA, there is no fine with a defect, but a booking payment must be made for an inspection to happen. about $200. so even if the inspection says everything is good, your still need to pay.

You are right, there generally isn't a fine with a defect here, but there is an expiation code for contravening vehicle standards...which is not often given out with defects...but if you upset the copper enough...you may find that you get that fine.
And there is an option for minor defects to be cleared at a police station, which is a lot less than that fee for the inspection station.

Originally Posted by johntins

Faulty lights, bald tyres etc. are illegal in every state, last time I checked. This is not the same thing as fitment issues.

An example of Mick's point, talk to a NSW Highway Patrol or RMS officer about Load Restraint curtains.

That's true, but the headlight example was just meant to be a simple example of how an interstate registered vehicle can still be defected.
In the case of lightbars, it appears a bar that is legal in one state might be said to be illegal in another, even if the vehicle is registered, simply by where it is placed.

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

So, it is legal to drive in Queensland with a faulty headlight (or some other defect) and not be defected. That is what you are implying.

In Vic., the vehicle is only roadworthied at change of ownership. From then, it is the responsibility of the owner to keep the vehicle in a roadworthy state. If you drive around with a faulty light, the police can stop you and defect (yellow canary) the vehicle. Victoria also doesn't have "annual registration inspections" or roadworthies.

In Victoria, if a vehicle meets the conditions of registration in it's state, it can drive on Victorian roads. The same can be said for NSW. If that was not the case, I would need a current "blue slip" every time I crossed the border into NSW. Homestar would need to have current certification for the gas system in his caravan whenever he took it into NSW.

No, a registered vehicle can still have a defect, such as a faulty headlight, and could be defected in Queensland. I wish more one-eyed vehicles were defected, frankly. They are a plague around the suburbs because the streetlights mean people don't realise their light is out.

I was just trying to make the point, very badly, that even if a vehicle is registered in one state, it can still be defected in another state.

I also found this, if it hasn't already been posted.

4X4 News: LED Light Bar Laws in Western Australia - Pat Callinan's 4X4 Adventures

This Queensland Police statement is a bit confusing.

file://gcc-fs-01/StaffHomes$/mseco8128/Downloads/L153.pdf

Particularly this paragraph:

The placement of driving lamps and associatedbrackets must not increase the risk of injury topedestrians. Driving lamps must not be fitted tothe top of a bull bar above the forward bonnetline, or protruding forward of the bumper bar orbull bar in a way which would adversely change the profile of the impact zone.

I think there are two ways to interpret this paragraph:

1. Lightbars can't be fitted to the top of bullbars full stop

2. Lightbars can't be fitted to the top of bullbars if they are "above the forward bonnet line, or protruding forward of the bumper bar or bull bar in a way which would adversely change the profile of the impact zone".

My lightbar is below the bonnet line. My lightbar is behind the top hoop of the bull bar. I doubt if it would change the profile of the impact zone because a pedestrian would probably first hit the bull bar, not the lightbar. Does that mean lightbar which is not above the bonnet line or protruding forward of the bumper bar or bullbar is OK mounted on top of a bullbar hoop?

Who knows?

Queensland Police have interpreted it as option 1, a flat ban on lightbars above the top hoop of the bullbar.
Spotlights and bullbars don't mix - Far North

Honestly, I think because of the wording it would take a court case to determine.