Car Cruises Banned in Black Country

[Hardcore]

I heard there's a lot of problems in the area but this seems a terrible way of handling it.

BBC News - 'Car cruising' ban in Black Country

""The injunction prohibits two or more vehicles gathering in the combined local authority area "known generally as the Black Country" between 15:00 and 07:00 GMT."

The wording of the injunction is so vague it's painful.
So for example, if you were driving your modified car down the road and someone else in a modified car pulls out behind you and you don't know them, the police might not believe you and you get done.
Same if you had modified cars and wanted to go to somewhere with friends in modded cars together.

Although it was created to kerb modded car meets the legislation covers all vehicles.

[ardenblue]

have they nothing better to do there's loads of modified cars on the roads but what do they mean by modifed full blown kitted civic or civic lowered with alloys and back box and perhaps a front lip they throw the word modified around like it suits every car that a young person drives what if your car came from factory with a kit like a type R civic for instance against a standard one sorry for using hondas as its mainly whats on the road in ireland

so if i drive down the road and a another corsa pulled out behind me with small mods were getting done f**k that its bulls**t just another stupid law getting passed. there was a law they were trying to pass that any modfied car in ireland was to be banned off the road as they were seen as unsafe and unroadworthy but what about when the brakes and suspension are upgraded better stopping power so car is able to react faster lowering the proper way car is more stable on the road and handling is enhanced so more positve feel from the car on the road


they should be more worried about catching proper criminals not penalising people for driving a upgraded car which in my terms can and is better than the way they left the factory

[Hardcore]

They made this an injunction rather than a law, but it's the wording of the injuction that's really vague.

"The injunction prohibits two or more vehicles gathering in the combined local authority area "known generally as the Black Country" between 15:00 and 07:00 GMT"

Although this was made up to stop car meets / cruises happening it doesn't just apply to modified cars in the wording. I'm sure it wouldn't be used against regular cars because there's no reason to but you hear about the section 59's being handed out when they shouldn't so we'll wait to see what happens.

[Tim]

What's the punishment?

[Michael]

have they nothing better to do there's loads of modified cars on the roads but what do they mean by modifed full blown kitted civic or civic lowered with alloys and back box and perhaps a front lip they throw the word modified around like it suits every car that a young person drives what if your car came from factory with a kit like a type R civic for instance against a standard one sorry for using hondas as its mainly whats on the road in ireland

Whoah :'(

[Hardcore]

Since it's an injunction and not a law, seems like a court appearance if you break it if they decide to prosecute

"If you break an injunction you are in contempt of court and can, therefore, be sent to prison. The court will look into the circumstances of the breach, but nobody should underestimate the consequences of breaking an injunction."

[Samo]

Were all good then. We live in Britian, I believe its still known as White country here

[ardenblue]

Whoah :'(

sorry didnt mean to offend i was using it as an example

[ardenblue]

Were all good then. We live in Britian, I believe its still known as White country here

[Tim]

So you would be taken to court? Then it would have to be proved 'beyond reasonable doubt', although magistrates are quite pro-police when it comes to motoring matters.

[Hardcore]

I don't imagine many of they guys are fans of the modified car scene.

[Tim]

Probably not, brake has seen to it that anyone who likes to drive and likes cars is a danger and should be banned.

I understand this came about from a few who ruined it for everyone but it seems like using a sledgehammer to break a nut.

[Dave]

What happens if the meeting occurs on private land, with the land owners permission??

[Tim]

Probably pull you as you drive out.

[nibnob21]

The quote from the BBC is incredibly misleading. Several of these injunctions already exist.

Here's an example of one that provides more detail:

1.
"Car-Cruise" means a congregation of the drivers of 2 or more motor-vehicles (Including motor-cycles) between the hours of 7pm and 7am on the public highway or at any place to which the public have access within the city of Stoke-on-trent, at which any driver (and/or passenger and/or any driver an/or passenger of any other vehicle) perform any of the activities set out at para.2 below, so as, by such conduct, to cause any of the following:

(i) excessive noise
(ii) danger to other road users (including pedestrians);
(iii) damage or the risk of damage to private property;
(iv) litter;
(v) any nuisance to any other person not participating in the car cruise.

2.
The activities referred to at para.1, above, are:

(i) driving at excessive speed
(ii) driving in convoy;
(iii) racing other motor vehicles;
(iv) performing stunts in motor vehicles;
(v) sounding horns or playing radios;
(vi) dropping litter;
(vii) shouting or swearing at, or abusing, threatening or otherwise intimidating (including the use of sexual language or making sexual suggestions) another person.

3.
"PARTICIPATING IN A CAR CRUISE"
A person participates in a car cruise when he is the driver of, or passenger in, a vehicle to which paras.1-2 above apply, and the term "Participating in a car-cruise" shall be interpreted accordingly
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A guy I've met on another forum had a chat on the phone to WestMids Police on Wednesday discussing the implication of the Black Country injunction. The opinion of the officer and the traffic officer he spoke to during the conversation was 'We are after idiot boy racers being stupid and dangerous'. They're not concerned by a bunch of civilised people going to the pub for a meet. It's not in the spirit of the legislation and they'd be in trouble with the judge if they tried to apply it to a legitimate car club gathering. Don't worry, just don't drive like idiots.