It is not very often that I will bother to take the time to do an editorial for the blog. After all, TheRightWrong has never been my personal blog to begin with, the very reason why I seldom put pictures of my own personal car or anything else on the blog. It has always been a blog about cars, culture and especially the best that Singapore has to offer.
This time however, I am making an exception because I strongly feel the need to voice my thoughts. It is with regards to something every Singaporean enthusiast is going through at this point of time. Enforcement.
Certainly, every country has its problems with enforcement. Even if the overseas countries has more lenient regulations with modifications, “Import” tuners will always be on the wrong side of the law. Especially after we have been given the image as street racers with a series of fast and furious shows, people probably imagine us racing with bikini clad women lining the streets and a girl tossing up her bra to signify the start. Not that we would mind if there WERE scantily clad women all the time. It would make owning a performance car seem a lot more tolerable with the current situation.
If there were women, you can be sure it will shoot you to fame on Stomp, a place that some how teaches all Singaporeans to show zero tolerance to everything. This zero tolerance thing should be quite obvious when spy shots of a person sleeping on an MRT is considered gossip worthy material.
What has been tormenting us in the recent months has been the LTA enforcement stepped up on its aggression in hunting us down. They’re not even just stopping and suspecting cars of illegal modifications any more. They have been literally HUNTING the performance cars down as though Mas Selamat is hiding underneath one of our cars.
My words may seem biased considering I am also a fellow performance car owner. To all people that are not performance car owners reading this, don’t misunderstand my intentions. I have nothing against the Traffic Police and LTA doing their jobs. In fact, I was actually delighted to hear reports of the Traffic Police conducting operations on heavy vehicles several days back (HERE). These heavy vehicles have been hogging almost every lane on expressways except the extreme right one (which is left empty for your everyday road hogger) for far too many months. I am very glad to know that LTA officers are doing their jobs, especially with issues that compromises safety. Too often you see overload lorries that drop a large load of sand and rocks at the slighest bump, leaving little land mines road users jam on the brakes to avoid. These stones that get shot up into the car behind leaving windscreen cracks or damaging the paint on your own car has been and always will be a pain. Which is why it is a good thing that they step up enforcement and do their jobs.
Modifications wise, a simple example could be an excessively dark window tint. It certainly makes the car look good but it is genuinely ridiculous to drive in the night. Its almost impossible to see anything that doesn’t have indicator lights, which is why it compromises safety. You might argue that all it takes is some getting used to but then again, it still poses danger to bicycles or the cars that forget to turn on their headlights. Being completely logical in my argument of issues that compromise safety, I am going to ruffle a lot of feathers but I have to agree, these cars deserve to get stopped. These are perfectly logical rules that have been set on LTA’s part.
The issue with the strict enforcement recently has been the hassling of all cars performance. Proof can be found over various forums of posts complaining about the trouble LTA has been giving car owners. Multiple encounters of owners that drive fully street legal and even stock performance cars getting stopped. Not just once, or twice but one forum member has been stopped as many as four times within a month despite being fully LTA approved. During these stops, they are checked for illegal parts and everything else which wastes the owners time, especially during office hours. Let me illustrate personal encounter with an enforcement officer to explain my point.
A few months back I was stopped by an LTA officer. The incident occurred at 6pm with heavy traffic and I spotted him stopped at a bus stop 4 lanes away. The very second I passed, he hopped on his bike and cut across 4 lanes to ask me to pull to the left and stop my car. Admittedly, I was caught for having an unapproved sticker type licence plate. I have since reverted back to an approved licence plate. What I mean to illustrate with this incident is, 4 lanes away in heavy 6pm traffic. There is really no possibility that he could have spotted my licence plate before stopping me. The only logical explaination I can conclude from this incident is I was stopped simply because of the type of car I drive, before looking for things which I could be fined for.
I must admit, the sticker type licence plate is indeed a safety issue as well which is why I have no complains about being fined. Thinking from a logical point of view, it is indeed an identification mark for a car in incidents like a certain red Ferrari beating a traffic light. Traffic cameras would be unable to identify the car if the licence plate was not visible.
This incident however can illustrate the things that many car owners who drive stock or fully street legal cars have to tolerate on a daily basis, simply being stopped for the type of car you drive is stereotypical and getting stopped 4 times in a month seems to be quite extreme.
All of this hassle performance owners face can be highlighted even further when an Evo owner, a car that comes factory fitted with a Turbo charger got sent a court summon for having a Turbo charger fitted.
The question about whether there is a clear guideline in the things they look for or is it simply up to an officer’s discretion arises.
I did have a short chat with the officer that stopped me regarding the recent heat about performance cars being hunted even in home carparks.
He also said such these trips are usually the result of resident complains and they would not usually make trips to carparks just to hunt for cars to fine. There you go,yet another circumstances brought about by the Singaporean culture of having zero tolerance.
So many people may argue that the simple solution to all these problems is to be fully LTA approved or completely stock and avoid such problems. Many of the cars featured on this website are garage queens as well, parked at home and only utilized on weekend for track duties up north. Not everybody has the luxury of owning two cars which is why I am certain many car owners aim to be fully street legal / LTA approved within their means.
Which brings me to the main issue of being LTA approved, car owners like us are given little, if not zero room for negotiation when facing such matters. Using exhaust systems as example, there is only a very small variety of parts that are LTA approved. This is because there are so many certificates required by LTA before an exhaust can be approved that it is practically impossible for an average car owner to perform.
A “Tomei Manifold Set” for Evos only has 50 pieces which has been approved for road use in Singapore. Even if you bought the exactly the same thing from the same company, the same model, the same size and for the same car with all emissions and decibels within the legal limit, you would not be able to get the set LTA approved. Only those 50 pieces which were sent for inspection by the importing workshop is considered “LTA approved”.
Is this to symbolize that all other manifolds and exhaust systems by other manufacturers are of lousy quality?
Take renown exhaust and manifold maker from the USA, Full Race. They build such a high quality manifold that they are confident enough to offer a life time warranty to the original purchaser of the manifold. Yet it is almost impossible to get the full race manifold approved even if it passes all sound and emissions tests, simply because it lacks a number of certificates and letters required to get LTA approval. A certain level of discretion in dealing with such matters would make life a lot simpler for every single enthusiast out there. After all, sound limit and emission levels are things that any country has. It certainly would not be pleasant if a show off in a crappy car and a loud exhaust kept revving his engine “LEGALLY” with the echoes travelling through the entire neighbourhood late in the night.
This lack of discretion is the reason why any normal exhaust (including stock) which has been welded for repairs, due to cracks caused by wear and tear and exposure to heat and cold is considered illegal because it has been “tampered with”. I would think that such issues would be a lot less common if Full Race manifolds were allowed for road use! (but thats just personal opinion).
Next presents the issue of having double standards. Day time running LED lights installed by car owners are also considered illegal for being “too glaring” but the exact same lights installed by vehicle manufacturers are approved. Why? The explaination is “simply because it is installed by the manufacturer”. Same goes with the issue of roll bars in the Porsche GT3RS while roll bars installed in any other car is and has always been a grey area. Rules that have not been specified clearly by LTA guidelines but car owners can still be issued fines for. The LTA guideline for modifications is certainly filled with grey areas that should be properly clarified.
It is not just the enforcement that holds such stereotypical thinking but this carries on far beyond the law. Many instances during our photo shoots, we were asked to leave by security guards, building owners and many others just because we taking photos. Even if we have paid for the per entry parking and have only been there for less then 20 minutes, we are always told to leave immediately each time we get noticed. I would dare bet my last dollar that this scenario would be vastly different had it been a super car like a Lamborghini Aventador or a Ferrari 458 that we were taking photos of.
This brings me to my point of this editorial and why I have been voicing out the issues that plague us enthusiasts. The stereotyping of performance cars by everyone has been pushing many owners to the limit where they decide on giving up the cars they paid so much for. Enforcement stereotyping, aided by complains of your regular whining Singaporeans about such cars, reinforcing the need for enforcement to get even stricter has been horrifying.
What these owners are forced to give up to avoid all the hassle are the cars they spent so much time, effort, love and money on. They end up settling for a daily car like a BMW where they can drive in peace without having to watch the mirrors every 5 seconds hoping not to spot a big white bike with red blinkers behind them. Having to drive in such fear of being hassled even when most of the true performance / car enthusiasts I know abide by the law when driving. So much more then the reckless zig-zagging of countless luxury cars I have seen driving like its their grandfather’s road. Of course as with everything, there will always be a number of black sheep within every community.
So how far is too far before you reach your limit and succumb to the pressure of giving up the car you dedicated much of your savings to. How far will you allow yourself to be pushed by enforcement and hassled until you finally give up your desires?
I speak for myself and several other like minded individuals I have conversed with but we have long envied the overseas car scenes. The USA, Australia and even Malaysia where they have their own designated track and monthly gatherings openly. Our dreams of a Changi track was nothing more then a façade and holding car gatherings always seem to instil the thoughts of attracting the wrong kind of attention, deterring everyone thinking to participate.
Its not just TheRightWrong crew that shares this vision about having a car culture that we can be enjoy openly and proudly, instead of having to hide our existence and constantly having to worry about getting complained about on Stomp by annoying people who can’t seem to just be a little bit less nosy and more tolerant.
Which is why I spent the time to write this editorial. I sincerely urge all of you to not give up hope no matter how bleak it seems now. Giving up your cars will not solve the problem for any of the existing enthusiasts that love their cars so very dearly. Instead, hold on to your cars and have a little hope that the Singaporeans and society will mature and have a bit more tolerance for cars like ours. It is always the hope that over time, this little bit of car culture will be embedded into our society, just like how Japan values their motoring. A society that can accept modified cars and share it with the general public. People will willingly accept such cars, where in New Zealand race cars were escorted through public roads by the police to raise money for a good cause.
It cannot be a single effort that changes the general perception of the local car culture, but it can only happen with a united effort. Have a presence strong enough and hopefully, there will come the day that LTA would actually be willing to interact with the community to work out a reasonable and clearer list of specifications to follow to allow modifications on our vehicles, instead of just pressuring everybody into fearing driving their cars out or worst, to change their cars.
Afterall our car prices are one of the highest in world.and it should not be a crime for us to want to customize our cars for a more enjoyable drive. The hustle and bustle of city life is already stressful enough and there really is nothing like an enjoyable cruise home, with the windows down and listening to the drone of that wonderful exhaust note, in a car that can put a wide smile on your face each time you drive it.
I’m staying in Malaysia and I am really blessed that over here we do not need to go through so much hastle to even change an exhaust.
But I do hope that you guys are able to enjoy your rides without any fear from any road enforcement officers. You guys deserved to do whatever you want to your car, as long as it is along the safety requirements and what not. After all, y’all paying a lot for cars alone.
And I hope your society would gladly accept the tuning culture with open arms, just like Japan. Such a waste if that doesn’t happen.
A good read though, kudos to you for speaking up on behalf of every car enthusiasts in Singapore =)
do not compare Malaysia n Singapore.period
Thank you for giving time to write such an excellent article to whom it may concern… Thank you for addressing such matters and showing the world how at times that THEY need to know their limits and not abuse it.
i can only say to these white rats – knnbccb
I like how your article reveals the truth about our restricted tuning culture here. Motorsports is a wonderful passion and should be prided upon, not harassed like what they’re doing now.
Maybe it’s time performance drivers teamed up to do something about it. Can’t let our dreams get crushed by an overbearing society, can we?
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Well said Slyvester….I as a garage owner I heard too many crap from my customers been caught.
You may boiled up and laugh about it at the same time. They are really not properly trained to go out to do their job. Remember more than 10 years ago, we are not allow to have safety 3rd brake light ? I got summon on that a decade ago but now if you don’t have one, the action will go reverse.
That rule ” must” have 3rd brake light only when our neighbour implemented it…so when our neighbour gonna implement the DRL !!…europe already done. My German customer came installed one from me and so called us CAVE MAN..LOL.
When you asked why I can’t install ( even didnt turn ON – mean no action) also kana charged. Some even masked out still failed to escape. One said OK and the other one same uniform said not OK!..Hmmm…Replied is distruction, well answer…but how come at dawn I saw so many NTUC
Cab running around with many led on the roof..said buy this ,see this ad. So, mean that action been approved and wouldn’t obstruct other drivers who may focus on the ad and accident next..so blame who? …
tumbs up for the writer
This is a good write up! Gonna share it on my page. Really , LTA rules really really really really sucks to the core! Specially the DRL part.
This is a god damn well written article.. It points out accurately to a certain degree of the ugly truth of what our society is slowly rotting away of. I feel you of everything u mentioned here. My case of mscp raid was, like mentioned of residence’s complain, totally unnecessary.. My exos is street legal, and db was well within but just because some crap installed alarms in their ride that is set to high sensitivity, my normal acceleration for picking up just enough speed to get thru that level would set that alarm off. What a douchebag! At any rate, i too would like to urge us enthusiasts to stick by our rides and project out as an unified entity of what motoring cultute is all about.
Peace out.
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More examples here of White Ants crawling in carparks and issuing summons … Remember ah, if exhaust pipe leaks or gets dented you can’t cut and weld – because it will then be “illegal” and the $500-$1000 summon is on the way … Can already hear the LTA cash register clinking … 1) https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/s720x720/166936_10150782642914428_32401032_n.jpg 2) https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/419075_280376522032096_163401273_n.jpg 3) https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/476232_3797694826017_313336006_o.jpg
I seriously think they need to put themselve in car enthusiast shoes to view the matter and strike a balance. There are many ways to improve the laws to make all goods and really hope they review it from getting ideas from all around. Motorsport is fading away in our country. AND please dont ever think that only expensive car is motorsport or only F1 is consider motorsport. Small car can be motorsport too is the owner is passion enough. A true car enthusiast will respect all kinds of made be it big or small.
Happy Motoring~
Excellent article bro. Especially the touching finish. Pls send this to the local newspapers and have it published.
i second this
How I wish you are part of LTA, and can start implement the new rules for zing chia..
Im so sick of LTA rules and regulations, double standard. I urge the writter to have it published onto our local newspapers for the sake of us.
The goverment wants to promote Motoring Sports in Singapore and yet have a super strict rules on car modifications.
Coming from a Singaporean currently studying in the US, I can only say that I love my own country but I can’t possibly live in this country with my passion for cars. It’s too demoralizing first knowing how much cars cost, second the inability to build your “dream” car, be it changing your headers, exhaust system, or even plasti-dipping your wheels. I’ve learnt so much from my friends in the US, in modifying cars that I am take it as a common practice to weld up holes in my exhaust pipes and I literally install everything on my car by myself as labour fees in the US are too expensive and it’s a natural habit of owning a car. I can’t foresee myself bringing my DD to a workshop to try and get my exhaust leak fixed.
It’s a sad place we live in, I can only whine so much about it, but there needs to be a way where we get our voices heard!! Sleeping beauties on SMRTs in handicapped seats get more publicity than the local car scene.
Seeing facebook posts of people trying to warn others to stay away from certain areas of Singapore due to TPs hiding behind bushes, ready to pounce on any “modified” cars like a predator hunting a prey is just so upsetting, it almost makes me mad. Is there really a need to treat us like wanted criminals?
May our cars not only run on “Hopes and dreams”, but one day, run freely.
CPT SLOW.
My neighbour drives an integra with an illegal exhaust. Everyone in the apartment knows when he comes home, even in the middle of the night. Should such inconsiderate drivers with illegal mods be allowed? Btw I used to drive a DC5r so I do know what I am talking about.
Hi Hamu,
the make of car and model should not be a factor in this discussion because Ferraris and Lamborghinis have far louder exhausts and yet they are usually allowed on the road. So we shall take the factor of your neighbour driving the Integra out of the picture. What I wrote to explain is whether an exhaust is allowed on the road or not should not be dependant on how many certs the exhaust manufacturer provides, but instead it should depend on the emissions and sound level of an exhaust.
Certainly there are many exhausts systems out there that are meant purely for racing purposes only, so no, not all exhaust systems should be approved. I wouldn’t want to be waken up by a loud car coming home late in the night and revving his engine as I mentioned in this editorial, but instead having greater flexibility in allowing an exhaust to be approved for road use,ONLY IF emissions and sound standards that are set have been satisfied.
As it is with our current system, even if the exhausts systems passes all tests (sound and emissions) but lack certificates required by LTA, it is still not allowed on the road.
I hope this answers your question.
Yes! cars with exotic exhausts that bellows loud sounds is not welcomed. If attention is the key point, I think being absolutely silent will get attention. With loud exhausts, it sound more like some big cc motorbike, not a car!
And those silly sounds that people fit unto their cars.. you know, the fake intake sounds of carburetors… gee.. beng a million times over.
you got my vote.. i knew you guys would write an article regarding this mad situation one day. i drove a stock lancer and trust me ive been stopped numerous time simply because my car looked “garang” or fierce looking.. i got fed up and even as i go for my inspection, the people there recognise my car and myself.. and said to me “hey wasnt it you who come for inspection last week?” …
What is happening in your country is exactly the same as to what is happening in Shenzhen, China. Luckily, I live in Xiamen and it is not yet as horrible. I totally agree on every sentiment of yours. This biases need to stop and I do believe putting someone in authority that clearly has the know-how or background in car performance is a must to have our voices heard. I argue that a modified car isn’t bad so long as it passes safety regulations. They view us as criminals, hoodlums that will drive recklessly.on public roads. Customizing is like dressing up, you buy clothes in order to look good and show that you have an identity. What the authorities wanted though is a generic car, stock, all the same for everybody.
Good lengthy article, but riddled with “grey areas” and “urban legends.”
Firstly, once an exhaust part has been approved by LTA’s engineering department, all subsequent products do not require further certification. As long as they come with JASMA/ECE/equivalent certification from the part manufacturer AND sold by the local agent. The local agent has to It’s nothing to do with not being able to find enough pieces for certification as you mistakenly pointed out.
A quick Google revealed that:
“Vehicle owners who wish to install an after-market exhaust system that is not in the list of approved brands, may apply for an approval with the LTA Vehicle Engineering Department. The owner would have to submit the following documents together with the application:-
Technical specifications and installation details, including pictures or drawings, of the exhaust system;
Certification from the manufacturer which certifies that the system is suitable for the vehicle model, and that it would not adversely affect the safe operation and exhaust emission characteristics of that vehicle; and
Evidence or test reports showing that the system has been manufactured and tested according to internationally recognised standards.
The evaluation process takes about one to two weeks.
Once an approved exhaust system has been installed, the vehicle owner may send his vehicle to any of LTA authorised inspection centres for inspection.”
Next, I’m very certain that LTA wouldn’t just stop EVERY performance car on the road. I’m sure the big magnets are loud rims (eg bright orange with huge offsets), larger/louder than usual exhausts, darker than usual tints, illegal number plates. In fact, in my last ride — a very flashy sports car indeed — I was never stopped by LTA, even when we pass each other. Simply because there was nothing audible or visible to suspect that I had anything illegal on the car.
Also, I don’t buy your crap about double standards as well. it is true. car manufacturers from Alfa Geely to Proton to Zonda spend millions of dollars to ensure their vehicles meet basic safety requirements. They may not achieve 5-stars, but meet basic requirements. This is the reason why almost every developed country in the world have strict laws against car modifications. Lights for that matter is an important part because something that isn’t aimed properly at night can become a liability.
Lastly, this bullshit about car culture. I’m an avid motoring enthusiast who has modified all the cars that I’ve ever owned — but I’ve always kept them legal. And I’m not afraid of any stops, inspections or petty neighbors — because it’s all legal. This is called responsible motoring.
What you have written is, in my opinion, purely for selfish reasons. And of course you have no qualms about fudging facts or reproducing myths.
If this is the type of “car culture” you speak of, then I, and several other like-minded individuals,” are ashamed to be part of it.
Agreed, as long as they come with a Jasma certificate.
Jasma stands for : Japanese Automotive Sports Muffler Association (JASMA)
Which means, JASMA is only in Japan which will require USA manufacturers to send it to JAPAN to get approved before it will be allowed on Singapore roads. This does not symbolize USA manufacturers are of any poorer standard then Japan. The only issue is actually sending it to Japan to get tested. For your 1 single purchase of an exhaust system. Sure if you had the money you could do it, which is why I mentioned its impossible for MOST of us to do it. In all likelihood most manufacturers will not entertain such issues with 1 single order. Which is why workshops who order in larger quantities are able to get it approved.
Secondly let me give you my personal example about the LTA approved exhaust system, Manifold, turbo outlet and downpipe. My friend bought the exact same model of manifold , turbo outlet and downpipe as mine. Yes it does come with a Jasma certificate. But in order for certification, Tomei Japan specially made 50 tags to be placed on these 50 exhaust systems that have been LTA approved. Similarly, they don’t entertain individual orders and manufacture this 1 single tag specifically for your order. Thus, till date since being released almost 5 – 7 years ago, only these 50 pieces are LTA approved. Flexibility wise, let me use my own example again. I attempted to use the STOCK manifold with an APPROVED turbo outlet and downpipe. But because its not as a set, even if emissions and sound levels pass all tests and was in fact much softer then using the full system, I’m still not allowed to use it like that. When I tried to reason with the inspection officer he told me that “If I’m expecting to inspect the car like that he will fail me immediately”. It has to be in a set. Strange the way it works isn’t it.
Double standards apply to many things. If you pluck out the Daytime running lights from a GTR and install it on a Honda, is it too glaring? Sure if you install it incorrectly. Since you drive a sports car, I’m sure you would have experienced multiple taxis with headlights that have not been focused properly and end up being like high beams. That causes more glare then any daytime running lights I’ve ever encountered. So anything can be made to be dangerous if it isn’t done correctly. But if it has been done correctly, and inspection shows that it has been focused properly and does not cause and glare to other road users or isn’t poorly installed (eg. mounted with cable ties) why is it still considered a fault?
I’m sure you are and avid enthusiast… So am I and many of the people I know. And their cars are 100% legal… They’re not afraid of getting stopped either because there is nothing to catch. Everything in their car is 100% legal. The issue is, even though they are legal, they have been stopped multiple times within a week. Forced to be sent for inspection which wastes a lot of time. Scroll up a few comments and take a look at one of the comments. His car is a bone stock lancer that has been modified exterior wise. Yet he still got sent for inspection so many times the people at the center can recognize him.. This is even more crucial if it is during office hours. Some people travel around for work. Stops and inspections like these might affect a meeting with an important client they have.
Lastly I’m sorry you feel that way, and that you’re ashamed to be part of anything I mentioned. I would sure be glad to meet you and take a look at how you could have done up your flashy sports car in such a manner that it does not attract the wrong kind of atention. I’d even be willing to write up something to show that being approved while modifications are not that difficult. My car is fully approved as well, but to a certain degree, allowing more flexibility will make the lives of many much easier. I bought my approved manifold set at 1600 second hand, the same price as the that exact same set BRAND NEW from the manufacturer. Why didn’t I buy the brand new set and get it approved? Because it lacked that one single TAG required for LTA approval. Not that I didn’t try, my own research showed it couldn’t
Not quite sure what selfish reasons you may think I have but I’m not gaining anything from a post like that. Its just a call for a little discretion on LTA’s part. They are doing their job and its good that they are, heck I wouldn’t want to be woken up in the middle of the night by cars with loud exhausts. So I’m not saying exhausts meant for the race track should be allowed on the streets.
I’m saying that a little discretion should be used when issuing fines. What should be important is yes, Safety. But in issues like exhaust systems. Sounds and emissions should be more of a factor then the number of certificates you can get from the manufacturer. Its not that full race manifolds are of poorly made quality, or that they cause a car to fail all emissions and sound levels. The only issue is they just lack a Jasma certificate. A certificate which is extremely expensive to attain… And not within the reach of any normal person. The exception being the super rich…
But as I mentioned, many of the super rich have normal second cars which they drive daily. They don’t really care whether the car its street legal or not because they only take it out for track use up north… Thus, its meant for the normal person like me, and most of enthusiasts who have commented and share the same sentiments on this issue.
Perfect to the point…. i wish i can just tell the LTA to read this post and have a HEART ! u freaking human…
Are you using your butt to think? You didn’t being stop by them doesn’t means that you are ok or good. You are just being lucky.
If you are feeling ashamed, you can just keep your mouth shut and join those ignorant general public, take up some technical lesson about cars and aftermarket part. Take a new exhaust system to LTA and get it approve. Come back to tell us what you had encounter.
http://www.sparkmotorsports.com/
& our very own government linked transport operator opens a car modification workshop….
It’s the double standards that ain’t getting them any of my votes next GE
Absolutely Brilliant article! However, I’m a little sceptic over your plead. Not because of the plead cause I think thats perfectly sound, but Singapore being Singapore, you may have just pushed the LTA to cover those grey areas and make our rulebook even more stricter.
As much as I am equally afraid of that happening, I’m always hoping that they will take into consideration valid arguments that I might have mentioned here.
Its really quite a simple thought process, LTA is and will be hunting cars down for the time to come. Whether or not I post this, LTA will still be hunting cars to catch. It was because of this fear that made me hesitate for so long in posting this up.
At least with my explanation of points which I find could be improved, grey areas that could be clarified, there is that hope ( no matter how small ) that some where along the LTA ladder might agree with the points I raise and be willing to take a good look into their rule book and work out something REASONABLE.
Because most importantly, authorities should understand that accidents aren’t caused by modified cars. They’re cause by careless and irresponsible drivers.
Think if you stay in condo or private landed/property..they will not come and check right?? especially landed property…
this article should be shared on the papers or social media where it can garner more attention and hopefully LTA can sit up and pay attention!
I agree.
This reminds me of a certain incident. I am a biker. 3 years ago, Certain dealer in the east brought in the ktm 450excf for inspection, It passed without issues. But when a Japanese dealer brought in a yamaha WR450F which has similar specs (even the emission level is according to UK standard) the Yamaha Failed the inspection. Not only that. After awhile,another dealer brought in the Honda CRF450X which has similar specs. The honda FAILED as well. So, Can LTA pls explain?
Do you actually believe the technical competency of LTA?
I’m the one you mentioned in your article.
From 25-May-2012 to 21-Jun-2012, there are 4 stops namely by LTA 12,19,9 and 14
These had been officially recorded after I complained to my MP about LTA harassing me and making me stop dangerously on the expressway.
Latest being LTA 6 on 14-Jul-2012
I drive a boring plain Jane, no GT wing, no sticker fully LTA legal Evolution x which is almost lancer like. Its amazing they can spot the word Evolution when I zoom past them.
“I stop you because it is an EVO” I got this answer when I ask why you stop me.
Yes, Haha you are the example I used. Not just you but I’ve got friends in Civic Type Rs that are fully legal Same issue as well. Sorry I had to use your example but I had to prove a point on the stereotyping simply based on cars.
“I stop you because it is an EVO” I got this answer when I ask why you stop me <– And now we have a first hand account on such incidents. Thanks for commenting!
HAHAHA!!! Profiling, racist, stereotyping… It is just like telling a negro, “I am stopping you because you are black.” WTF?! Is it a crime to drive an evo? What crap…
i dont now how u manage to write it so well . but thumbz up for u writer , n we will always support u .
Some points here deserve the thumbs up while some points here should be given more thought, but overall an excellent article. I frequently think that LTA needs to get themselves more technically competent before implementing anymore nonsense.
Bro excellent write up. I was stopped last week although it’s a stock car. Just because of being lowered and spoiler, the LTA fella bend down at my exhaust to hear the sound. Mind u it’s an OEM Exhaust. Wanted to laugh as a loud evo passed by. All he could do is to watch.
Excellent heartfelt thoughts put into words. I’ve been driving my S-GT (turbo-charged JDM auto WRX) for 4 mths. The second day I got my car, I got stopped by 2 LTA officers at 11pm. Despite showing them my certs for the LTA-approved HKS exhaust, I was issued a notice to go for inspection the next day. Their statement to me: “If everything is legal as you say, then you have nothing to worry.” The next day was a Saturday, I went to VICOM at 1pm, was told that they were too busy, and asked to return at 3ish 4pm. I had no choice but to hang around the area. Returned to VICOM later and passed the inspection. I told the VICOM staff that I had a cert yet was made to go in for inspection. And they told me that IT IS THE NORM NOW. They even told me to look out for a summon (fine), just in case, despite passing the inspection, as it has happened before. End result? HALF A DAY GONE. Time wasted. Moot.
Couple of days back, I got stopped by an LTA officer again. Showed him my exhaust cert, then he said “Mdm, I got stop you before right? You just got your car.” As it turned out, he was the same officer who stopped me before. I said, “Aiyah.. that time you made me go for inspection, I passed. And I just went for routine inspection and passed some more..” He said, “Sorry Mdm.. Coz ur TYPE OF CAR ar.. exhaust very loud..” & I said, “But it’s approved..” He said, “Ya.. Ya.. Sorry Mdm.. Aiya.. I should have stopped the Civic in front..” And left. I wonder if I hadn’t been so lucky (or unlucky) to be stopped by the same officer who stopped me before, would I have wasted another half a day going for inspection?
To the black Civic in front with chrome number plate.. I saved your arse.. Coz of the TYPE OF CAR I drive..
I was caught on 2 June 2012 and again on 28 June 2012. This is my 3rd time getting caught for illegal exhaust. Do you know the penalty for 3rd offence? I am not sure if I should plead not guilty. 2nd and 28th June are not even 28 days apart. I had not even received the LTA fine and letter for the 2nd June incident before the 28th June incident.
Oh, and to make matters worse. I was not even using my vehicle. It was parked in the carpark.
3rd time is supposed to be court. Yes a lot of people have gotten summons even just parked at home. Officers visit their homes and take photos. If you’ve gone for the inspection for the second time and got caught a 3rd, there’s really nothing u can do. They usually give you a 1 – 2 week period to get your car back to legal so if you get caught before that inspection, you should have a letter with you that says you’ve already been caught