September 2006
One of the things that struck me as surprising when I arrived here was that they have no scheduled system for vehicle testing, like the UK MOT. All they do is an emission test (every 2 years in most states, and includes NO mechanical inspection). The US has to be the first Industrialized nation I have been to where this is the case.
I know that in the UK, the MOT keeps many potentially deadly cars off the road. It is concerning that over here there is nothing to prevent these kind of cars from being driven. I dont buy the argument that people drive newer/better maintained cars here, or that the concern about getting sued compels people to maintain their cars properly. If you take a drive to the wrong side of town, you would agree that this is definitely not the case. It is a wonder that the road deaths are not an order of magnitude higher than they are. Lucky the roads are mostly wide and straight, I guess.
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I received a parking ticket in February. I had a summons to attend Court in August.
The summons did not have the offence written on it, but I was told by the Clerk of the Court that when it is obvious what the offence should be, then they can ask the prosecutors permission to continue with the case. He said yes.
The magisrate then asked me if I was happy with that, to which I replied " No, not at all." She then told me that "when it is obvious, and it is obvious" then they can continue.
I then asked for the summons to be ammended, and the words "TO PARK" were written in pen on the summons. ( I also have a copy of the unamended summons).
I am defending myself and the case has been adjourned. Does anyone know if it's legal for them correct a procedural error and continue , or have I been shafted in a kangaroo Court bacause I didn't have a solicitor? I am pleading not guilty.
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Terminological clarification.
Traffic wardens are (usually) employed by the police authority. The tickets they issue are contested/enforced in the magistrates court usually by lay magistrates, though sometimes by a single profesional judge. They are strictly speaking a criminal matter, although you won't get a record.
In London and many other areas parking enforcement has been "decriminalised". Penalty charge notices are issued by attendants (soon to be renamed Civilian Enforcement Officers). Contested cases go to a tribunal run, except in London or Scotland, by the National Parking Adjudication Service. The adjudicator is a lawyer employed specifically for the purpose.
There's something of a sport at the moment in trying to undermine the decrim system, some of it driven more by anti EU fanaticism than any real issues with the adjudication system which for the most part works well, though many of the Councils still need to clean up their acts.
Siena's case is in the mags court stream so none of the stuff about local authority enforcement is going to help.
mondeo 2l auto. driving along as normal no problems. stopped for a cup of tea got back in car but it willnot come out of park. any ideas please. engine starts as normal battery fuly charged
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sorry not to have replied .have been on holiday with your
help.it was brake shift interlock solenoid i removed it have tested
it and it works. so it must be
electrical works ok without it
Good. Glad to be of assistance. I suspect you'll find that this is operated via the brake switch and possibly a relay. So check those out next + wiring. Its a safety feature so really its best to get it working again.
If you had up to £29K to spend, which estate car would you buy ?. either new or up to one year old ?
requirements for this vehicle are
1. Large carry capacity ( like a volvo) 2. reliability. 3. deisel power ( plenty of it )
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>> He,s also looking to buy a new Bently
Martin, If I,m lucky might get a drive !.
In that case DEFINITE the Chrysler - ask Murphy The Cat - he had loads people asking him about his Bently, before they new what it really was!!
Thus actually svaing him some £$£$£ too!
VB
Hi,
Just swapped the radio/cassette out of my Daughters '02 Corsa for a CDR 2005 CD player. All works fine but i would like to change the steering wheel for the same type with audio controls fitted. Is it a straight change or is a harness needed as well? I suspect its already wired but I would appreciate some expertise on the matter.
As always your advice and guidance is appreciated
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These are the views of Robin the Technician with 35 years in the trade. I fix, therefore I am... Read more
The audio control signals must pass through the clockspring. Would be worth ringing the GM dealer and asking if there are two different part nos for the clocksprings (one with audio and one without).
Maybe it's just round here, (East Midlands) but there seem to be an incredible number of road signs obscured by luxuriant tree/vegetation growth. On my short (5 mile) rural drive to work there are several 40 limit signs obscured, and several directional/warning signs which only become visible at the last minute. OK, I know my way and the limits, but what is the legal position with regard to this if there is an accident or you are caught speeding? Do the local authority have a duty to keep them visible?
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Phil Read more
Signing of Motorways and Trunk Roads is the responsibilty of Sec of State (D of T) as you say.
Rest of the roads it is the responsibilty of the Local Authority.
dvd
My car seems to be using more fuel than it used to. I haven't done a proper check-brim to brim but after 70,000 miles of using this car it seems not as frugal as it used to be. It is regularly serviced, everything seems fine mechanically and the driving style has not changed. Tyre pressures are right, the airfilter is o.k and the brakes are not binding e.t.c. Should I check the egr valve? if so where is it and does it work all the time or only under certain conditions? Thank you Read more
i have tried to get answers inb the past but know i will try and explain the best way i can.
the car is a 1997 2.0 se
when i turn the steering wheel on full lock and then relase it i get a clunk. This does this when i turn the steering wheel both ways.
When i am driving and brake i get the same cunk.
i originally thought it was the brakes so i have had the discs and pads replaced.
i am now thinking i might need to replace the shock absorbers? do you think that might be the problem?
could it be my track rod ends? steering rack?
any help is much appreciated Read more
and the clunks are coming from the front not the rear
I was thinking,
*are fuel filter changes really neccessary, at the specified intervals?*
Before everyone jumps on me :)......
Sure, Oil and Air filters visibly clog and I change oil filters along with the oil at half recommended change intervals.....
But Fuel filters....
Amongst the many cars I have had 2 have been in the family long term.
A VW polo bought in 1985 was kept for 16 yrs with me servicing it the whole time.
I changed the fuel filter at the first year end, but from then on just looked at the flow.
As the years went by the plastic and element darkened a little but it was clear the fuel flow was fine ( and very visibly so with the engine running) that was for the next 15 years and 110,000 thousand miles.
On another car, a Maestro with the Perkins prima, I did 130,000 over 6 years and changed the fuel filter at the recommended interval, every time.
I also *drained the water* at frequent intervals, as per the book.
Now this car fueled all over the place between the top of Scotland and Italy and the total water over the whole time came to less than 6 drops.. I used to drain the filter into a glass jar and hold it to the light... Mostly nothing there, at worst a couple of micro droplets the size of a pin head.
I cut one Fuel filter open, at the change interval, out of technical interest and found the whole pleated element to be clean with no trace at all of anything at all. Just slightly darkened by the fuel.
Now I`m aware of the arguments for changing, warranty, water or dirt from a bad fill etc...
But, as you know, modern common rail diesels have a water warning light ( and even with a brand new filter taking on a load of water from a defective tank could overwhelm a new filter)
and where is the evidence that solids would reduce fuel flow enough to be significant, over, say 100,000 miles?
I mean cars fueled from regular mainstream pumps and not commercial vehicle storage tanks.
To conclude, just focusing on the new common rail Diesels, these seem to have a felt type filter and have a water warning device.
Surely changing these on a regular basis increases the risk of getting dirt into the pump and injectors by the very process of changing it?
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He said "well I just empty the old into the new"
( shock) This said in a well meaning way to advise
me.
I was going to do this when I changed my filter, and didn't like the sound of it. Luckily my Dad had a can full of spare clean diesel I could use.
Hi
My missus is taking driving lessons and is progressing alot better than I thought she would, so I am expecting that I will have to fork out for a car in the not to distant future.
Now my problem is I know most people say get an old banger if its her first car cos she will probably crash it, and she can use the bangeer to get experience before getting her a proper car.......but if she does have a crash I don't want her to be in some tin can!
Also if she is gonna be driving me around, i need air con, and I hate the idea of her driving around in a potentially lethal tin can with no creature comforst whatsoever.!
So should I buy her a banger (£500-£1000), or maybe spend around £2-3k on her first car.
Never had to buy a car for a new driver so am completely clueless,and grateful for any views.
Thanks Read more
Sorry, missed a key point, the 98 on Clio has a 4 Star NCAP rating.
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Can you do criminal damage to your own property??
Maybe it wasn't actually his though.