Big Daddy Kane
Hard-core CEG'er
As you can tell, I'm stationed in Germany via the Air Force. Since there's a whole lot of Army personnel here, they devised part of the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) to allowed the US Army to license it's personnel and inspect/register their POVs (Personally Operated Vehicle) to drive on German roads.
Up until now, it was pretty much fair game. They inspected for safety and mechanical violations. Things they checked were brake force on a machine, lights, wipers, horn, first aid kit, triangle, etc. and if it was crashed. They also checked for exhaust leaks, torn CV boots, excessive leaks, and smoking.
Now they just pinned regulations down without a grandfather clause, that we have to abide by.
I have been saving enough money to repair deficiencies on this car and fix it. Biggest things were that the mufflers rusted out, needing replacements, and an oil leak from the bad oil tap done when the car had a supercharger.
Now I go in to get it inspected, and fail due to it being loud. Dude tells me that I can take it up with the NCOIC (dude in charger) of POV inspections, since he has the final say.
So I go and talk to the guy that just put the exhaust on a couple weeks ago, and he says that they were just handed a binder of the new regulations they are to abide by when modifying someone's vehicle.
He knew exactly what I was there for, so he busted out the binder and went to the exhaust section... here is what we saw:
It shows a figure, but it's incredibly hard to read (looks like it's been copied 100 times before being scanned) and just illustrates C-24 above.
Now ok, that seems like I am now subject to have the dB meter pulled out and see if I am over 90dB at 1/2 a meter. HOWEVER, they don't even have meters yet! They're "on order."
So my test was subject to someone's "calibrated ear" to see if it was too loud. :help:
Now, I know A LOT of people that have loud exhaust. I mean, just about every slightly modified Honda up to your random truck has exhaust louder than mine!
That was just the exhaust issue... at least they didn't fully inspect the vehicle for other things they slipped in the regulation, like:
And this one... WTH? Most US cars don't have reverse lockouts!
Obviously a safety issue, but this means modifying, which could cost someone with an otherwise mint condition vehicle down the road...
No spinners! :shocked: Part d is a German law and the source of wide body kits.
None of those loud Harleys are allowed!
So yeah, this is where I'm sitting at. :blackeye:
Up until now, it was pretty much fair game. They inspected for safety and mechanical violations. Things they checked were brake force on a machine, lights, wipers, horn, first aid kit, triangle, etc. and if it was crashed. They also checked for exhaust leaks, torn CV boots, excessive leaks, and smoking.
Now they just pinned regulations down without a grandfather clause, that we have to abide by.
I have been saving enough money to repair deficiencies on this car and fix it. Biggest things were that the mufflers rusted out, needing replacements, and an oil leak from the bad oil tap done when the car had a supercharger.
Now I go in to get it inspected, and fail due to it being loud. Dude tells me that I can take it up with the NCOIC (dude in charger) of POV inspections, since he has the final say.
So I go and talk to the guy that just put the exhaust on a couple weeks ago, and he says that they were just handed a binder of the new regulations they are to abide by when modifying someone's vehicle.
He knew exactly what I was there for, so he busted out the binder and went to the exhaust section... here is what we saw:
USAREUR Regulation 190-1 said:C-23. MUFFLERS AND EXHAUSTS SYSTEMS
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times]Mufflers and exhaust systems not manufacturer- or factory-installed on vehicles or motorbikes that are suspected of exceeding the noise level of 90 decibels must be checked by the inspector using a handheld decibel-meter tester. If the vehicle is found to exceed the noise level in the links in subparagraph a (motor vehicles) or b (motor bikes) below, it will be rejected.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times]a.Motor vehicle: http://www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/wp29regs/r051r1e.pdf.[/FONT]
C-24. NOISE-LEVEL TESTING
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times]a. The test in paragraph C-23will be conducted using scale "A" on the handheld decibel meter. The tester must be located 0.5 meters away, at a 45-degree angle from the exhaust pipe, and the instrument must remain level with the exhaust pipe as shown below. The exhaust noise level will be tested with the engine at idle and during acceleration up to half the permissible revolutions per minute (rpm) for the engine. This test must be conducted at a distance greater than 50 meters from surrounding structures. Figures C-1 through C-3show distances and angles for measuring noise.b. Table C-2lists decibel maximum allowable values for different vehicle types. [/FONT]
It shows a figure, but it's incredibly hard to read (looks like it's been copied 100 times before being scanned) and just illustrates C-24 above.
Now ok, that seems like I am now subject to have the dB meter pulled out and see if I am over 90dB at 1/2 a meter. HOWEVER, they don't even have meters yet! They're "on order."
So my test was subject to someone's "calibrated ear" to see if it was too loud. :help:
Now, I know A LOT of people that have loud exhaust. I mean, just about every slightly modified Honda up to your random truck has exhaust louder than mine!
That was just the exhaust issue... at least they didn't fully inspect the vehicle for other things they slipped in the regulation, like:
That paragraph eliminates any body/suspension mods! The last sentence eliminates a ricers favorite mod! :laugh:USAREUR Regulation 190-1 said:C-7. BODY
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times]a. Operators of vehicles that have had major alterations that change the basic U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)- or [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman,Times]Technischer Überwachungsverein[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman,Times]([/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman,Times]TÜV[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman,Times])-approved specifications (for example, body or frame cut and rewelded, after-market body or suspension parts applied) must provide certified documentation showing that the alterations do not affect the vehicle’s operation and safety characteristics as verified by DOT, [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman,Times]TÜV[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman,Times], or the manufacturer.b. Spoilers attached to vehicles must meet the manufacturer’s installation specifications. Homemade spoilers or spoilers that do not meet the manufacturer’s specifications will be grounds for rejection.[/FONT]
USAREUR Regulation 190-1 said:C-8. ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION
c. A vehicle will be rejected if the gearshift of the vehicle can be placed into reverse gear without engaging the lock-out mechanism on both automatic and standard transmission vehicles.'
And this one... WTH? Most US cars don't have reverse lockouts!
USAREUR Regulation 190-1 said:C-12. SEATBELTS
b. All vehicles made to foreign specifications or American vehicles made before 1 January 1968 must be equipped with at least a lap belt for the driver and front-seat passenger positions.
Obviously a safety issue, but this means modifying, which could cost someone with an otherwise mint condition vehicle down the road...
USAREUR Regulation 190-1 said:C-15. TIRES AND RIMS
c. Spinning rims attached to vehicles are prohibited and will cause the vehicle to be rejected.
d. POVs with tires that extend beyond the outermost portion of the fender well when viewed from above are not authorized and will be rejected.
No spinners! :shocked: Part d is a German law and the source of wide body kits.
USAREUR Regulation 190-1 said:C-18. MOTORCYCLES
Motorcycles with after-market, straight-through exhaust pipes and motorcycles with original mufflers that have the sound absorber removed will be rejected.
None of those loud Harleys are allowed!
So yeah, this is where I'm sitting at. :blackeye: