Car Culture its growth and birth
From Mod Mania
Car Culture; its growth and birth, and the laws and provisions
surrounding it
Car culture is a term used to describe the concept of automobility and peoples behavior surrounding. Car culture has changed dramatically over the years with some countries having “more automobiles than registered drivers.” This increased interest in the automobile has created a new sub-culture of people that are passionate; some say obsessed, with their cars. Import car culture has been alive and thriving in Australia for more than 10 years and in America since the late 1980’s due to the sudden in flux of late 80’s models Japanese cars such as the Nissan Skyline, Mazda RX7, Toyota Supra etc; have become readily available on the Australian market because of Japans strict laws stipulating that no person can own a car over 10 years old with paying vastly higher registration and fees for it. It financially not viable to keep these cars hence they are sold for a pittance to Australian and world importers who export them all over the world for record profit. But with this sudden rise in popularity and abundance; obvious problems such as green house gases, fuel/oil consumption, theft and congestion, have taken a back seat new problems such as car hoons with erratic driving and excessively modified be that road worthy or not have created much problems for police and government agencies around the world. But not all car enthusiasts are car hoons which has created problems for those who just want to enjoy their car with them too being targeted by police in this crack down on anyone who enjoys modification and are passionate about their car. In Victoria for example police have been given many new powers to take a vehicle away if believed to be involved in hoon activity for a day for two days for a first offence and forever for a third offence. They have also been given the power to take down your number plate if they see you on the street and make the owner present his or her vehicle for inspection at a police station near you where they are extremely critical and even the cleanest of cars are at risk of being taken off the road for good. This essay will be looking into these legal issues and the culture surrounding it.
The car modifying seen is not new to the world in that it has been around since the invention of the chariot. Although it has changed many different themes as newer models came out their has always been a culture surrounding it. Car enthusiasts have grown but with this has resulted in the arrival of ‘Car Hoons’; as they are often referred to are basically the trouble makers that have ruined it for everyone else out there who just wants to enjoy their ride; with the occasional misdeamour, with out being hassled by the long arm of the law. It is now becoming hard for anyone with a modified or extremely well presented car to drive it without having some police presence irrespective of your driving behavior. The reason for this? The growth in its popularity. Television programs such as initial D ( an anime production about the Japanese driving style known as ‘Drifting’ which is the art of controlled oversteer) which has caused a great interest in the art of oversteer known as drifting; in which its popularity in Australia for example is growing as we speak; and the Fast and the Furious movie series has given rise to a new and younger breed of car ‘freak’ that have no care or respect for the law and believe; maybe subconsciously that the real world is in fact like these shows intend; and with the sudden influx of cars relating to this genre at unbelievably cheap prices ( skylines, supras, rx7s etc: known as grey imports) the accessibility of such motor vehicles with a price tag less than you would pay for a new corolla, has made these cars a hit for all young people and not that far from the piggy banks reach. Games such as ‘Need for Speed’ and Gran Turismo also have contributed to this sudden uprise in erratic driving behaviour, and because of this and its severe growth in popularity around the world governments have been forced to act upon it; with tighter laws and penalties for those who disobey them. Some would say that the sudden clamp down has worked against the law as it has made the car hoons angry which in turn has forced them to rebel even more.
The laws imposed on drivers vary in severity from country to country however many countries are gaining experience from the laws seen imposed elsewhere. For example in California, America the police have been given the right to take so- called ‘ street racers’ cars and with no second chance crush their pride and joy in front of their eyes; that most likely they worked all life to create. Australia too has given rise to the power of confiscation. Police now have the right to remove the vehicle from the owners hands if believed to be involved in ‘hoon’ activity, excessively speeding or driving an un-roadworthy or un registered vehicle and driving whilst disqualified. For a first offence the penalty is having the car removed from the owners possession for a period of 48 hours and the payment of resulting fees (towing, fine and impound fee). For a second offence the car is taken for three months with the same fee once again imposed. On the third and final offence the car is removed permanently in which it is too be determined by a judge as too if you get the car back; if not the vehicle is sold at auction. Some may say this is putting an end to this behavior whilst others just see it as yet another way to stamp out car culture and generate more revenue for the governments imposing it. Either way it is doing both. However car culture is not ceasing with the enthusiast just finding new and improved ways of beating the system that tries so hard to put a stop to people having a passion for cars. It would be great if they put just as much effort into the thieves, drug dealers, rapist, pedophiles and murderers of the world. Needless to say that dangerous and stupid behavior sometimes conducted by the stupid few that decide to pursue it does deserve a punishment; regular car enthusiast do not deserve to suffer because of it.
Modification of vehicles and the rules surrounding it have also been hit the same amount attention from police and traffic authorities as it has now become not safe to drive your modified pride and joy on the road with out the risk of getting it taken the roads no matter how clean and safe it may appear to be. For example many show cars that only get driven once in a blue moon are getting taken off the road with the new stricter laws impose on Victorian roads for example. Police and traffic authorities now have the power to send your registration plate details to a vehicle checking facility to have you car vigorously tested to meet standards set by the board. If your car does not meet the standards; depending on severity plates can be asked to be handed in; with the car never to be sold, driven or even dismantled ever again. This must be considered harsh even to those who hate cars as many have poured there heart and soul into the car that now can only reside in their garage. It is must the same as say a gardener having his/her garden checked only to be told by power hungry police that it all must be chopped down for no one to see ever again. It is to be agreed that un safe modification is to be targeted (i.e.: home made seat belts, home made heating using copper pipe, using a deck chair as a drivers seat etc: ) however to pick on those because they are seen to been car hoons is just wrong and is not going to make anyone side with the police either. Police and traffic authorities need to think of much better and effect ways of keeping both parties happy creating a happy medium of safe, yet modified cars that do not have the police watching every move they make.
In conclusion car culture has been around for some time now and with movies such as The Fast and The Furious and initial D, and games like Need for Speed, and the continued uprise of the new found interest in the Japanese art of oversteer known as drifting car culture has taken many turns and created many problems for the police and government/traffic agencies alike car hoons being their main concern. But unfortunately for the innocent car enthusiast; they too are being brought down and punished for what some stupid individuals see as a good time. Laws have been tightened and new powers have been given to the resulting police and traffic authorities. These new powers have given the police to take cars off the road for good and to confiscate from drivers who step out of line. To those who say “good riddens” it must be looked at from both sides as those who are innocent are being punished for others stupidity thus resulting in it being harder to just enjoy building and modifying your car. Although car culture will never cease it will be a shame to see it loose some of its followers just because the government and police think they have the upper hand. It is just hurting those who do not deserve to be involved in this. However whatever the opinion at the end of the day something needs to be done to create happiness on boths sides because car culture is something wemust learn to except as the world is fast growing with and around it, and changing dramatically because of it, it will be very interesting to see how the next generation handles it.
Here are a few articles I reviewed surrounding the issue of car hoons, including my opinion.
Creagh, S 2007, Sydney Morning Herald, John Fairfax holdings ltd. “ Life behind bars: villagers retreat to keep car hoons at bay”
In this article Ms Creagh is discussing a locked up - gated city designed to block out everyone including car hoons. The community has been created so that “mums and dads will once again have a reason to spend time on their front lawns and terraces, watching their kids play in mini-suburb that promises to be free of graffiti and car hoons”. However residents apparently do not like being cut off from part of the community, but it has worked and eliminated car hoons and the like from the area. I found this article quite interesting that a town must resort to having a gated city excluded from everyone else. I do think this is a little drastic in that car hoons are normal people and don’t deserve to be excluded from a community because of cars. They just need to understand there is a time and a place for everything and respect must be given to families.
No author, 2007, Geelong advertiser, news. “Police put the brake on hoons”
The Geelong advertiser was having a look at and discussing the incident that occurred at Noble Park Mcdonalds early this year where people of all ages were involved in acts stupidity and mindless criminal acts, in which 10-15 youths broke into a blockbuster video and destroyed and stole what they could get, hurled objects at passing police and caused havoc for the public; that had a major connection with car hoons. Whilst many were just there to show their ride, the small minority of trouble makers wrecked it for everyone else. The article is arguing that “It is outrageous that residents, businesses and the public using the highways were subjected to this type of mindless criminal behavior”. The article is also discussing ways of stop people incite these types of gatherings. I have to agree that what happened was ridiculous but the people involved have been punished for their actions. However their have now caused the public and police eye to believe every gathering of car enthusiast is a car hoon gathering. This is wrong and police and the public must be made aware of this, because it is wrong to single out a majority because of a select minority.
Vallejo, J, 2006, Daily Telegraph, News Ltd “Police hound car hoons.”
This article is arguing that Kooragang Island needs to be made alcohol free to stop the car sub culture known as ‘car hoons’ from gathering and racing down the notorious strip. Despite many blitzes by the police in the area young drivers continue to use the industrial area as a race rack. They are discussing ways of curbing the problem. I too believe that alcohol should be banned in the area as drinking and driving do not mix; even if the drunken person is in the passenger seat because at these types of gatherings drunken stupidity could result in loss of life.
