I just thought I'd put this up in a thread to let the rest of you guys know... On the morning of the 19th of August I got pulled over on Springvale Rd in Donvale. I was just driving along and a TMU VZ SS got on at the end of the Eastern Freeway, I knew when I saw the car I was going to get pulled up for a random breath test and a road worhty check. So I continued to drive along the TMU cop right behind me, drove all the way to almost Reynolds Rd where I was pulled over. I got breathalised and everything was fine there, RWC check revealed bald rear tyres, and the cop preceded to pull out his binder of outlawed vehicles for P Platers who got their license Pre - July 07. I was told that I wasn't allowed to be driving my VS BT1 (168kw) because it was over the litres to tonnes ratio (power to weight ratio was fine). 3.7L per tonnes I was informed (according to the police car weighs 1347kg), I was baffled because I was under the understanding that my car weighed 1448kg as I was informed by Holden when I contacted them prior to purchasing the vehicle. I asked the TMU officer if I could have a look at his binder of outlawed vehicles and in particular the Holden page. It turns out that P platers in fact aren't allowed to be driving anything from VN 5L's onwards. The reason is the cops don't use the weights provided to the public by vehicle manufacturers they use another weight which is like 100kg below what we are told. The reason why every P plater doesn't get done is becauce only TMU units carry the binder (so 9 out 10 times when you get pulled over by a general unit or a divvy, they are forced to basicly take your word unless they know better, and your sweet). The binder I found out is issued to them by a higher federal level organisation who does all the weighing for the police i.e they get the car and rip out all the extras etc to find a new weight well below the outlined kerb weight of our vehicles. So basically we're all driving around out there waiting to get done, when we don't know we're doing anything wrong. But the thing that I'm going to follow up is the fact this is so poorly disclosed to the public and young drivers in particular. The weights that the police are actually using aren't publicly known. When I called VicRoads to follow up the issue (which I am still doing) they told me that all my car was required to be was within the power to weight ratio (125kw a tonne) and the litres to tonnes ratio (3.5L per tonne), I also asked them if they had a list of vehicles outlawed etc. which they didn't because the list was replaced by the ratios in order to simplify things overall. I then preceded to ask them where I could get a weight for my vehicle (because they didn't have one) and I was instructed to contact the manufacturer of my vehicle. So I rang up Holden and got the value 1448kg which is the car minus extras (with fuel), which is the weight the cops should be using but aren't. VicRoads instructed me to get that figure and plug it into their ratios. I came out with 116kw per tonne no issue there and 3.44L per tonne, so I was just in the clear according to VicRoads. When I informed them of this list the police had, they had no idea, they just ended up telling me to follow it up with Civic Compliance and the TMU officer who issued me the infringement. It's just crap really, the Police have these figures that we don't know and they think they can just pull us over and do us for laws we don't even know we're breaking. It's like telling the public that the blood alcohol level is 0.05, so you believe if your off your P's you can go out and have a few beers and be fine to drive, but then when they pull you over and you blow say 0.03 they inform you that the blood alcohol is actually 0.01 and that your in breach of the law. There must be something that can be done, I've got to be able to beat this. IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT!!!

Interesting, well written thread, i'll be interested in the outcome anyone got a VS handbook at the ready to see what weight is quoted in it?

aus880 you've been around a bit man, have you heard of anyone getting done like this before...? Because I haven't, or else I wouldn't have brought this car in the first place...

revenue revenue revenue! first thing that comes to mind when i read this ne thing for that extra buck let us know what happens with all this mate...g/l with it

^ its simple as that very sad but

interesting article. that sucks over there ay feel sorry for yous! we dont have any of that here in SA. once you have been caught "hooning" they will impose resctrictions on P plate drivers! good luck with whatever you plan to do to beat it!!

c'mon there must be a stack of p-platers this will effect...how bout some backing!!! and similar stories...

My brother is about to buy a VN Calais 5L manual, so I'm sure we'll be getting a bit of attention from the boys in blue. But I haven't heard of anyone getting done as yet... Good luck man, fight the power.

When i got pulled up by a uniform officer in the know for driving a VL turbo he said "I'am almost 100% positive that these cars are on the restricted list" but he couldnt do jack cause he didnt have the list on him, he then told me to check the list with Vic Roads as he would be doing the same and would "see me later". So later that day i went to Vic Roads checked the list and of course i was fine as i already knew, but (and this is my point) looking through the list i noticed every V8 commodore from the VL onwards was banned, this was about one and half years ago now and at this time i thought a few people would get caught with their pants down. But as you said this list is now not used, try a couple of vic roads offices and maybe youll turn up an old one. anyways good luck beating this mate.

I get pulled up all the time in my SS the cops just love to stare and admire they mention nothing of power to weight, all i have ever heard them say was "does it go alrgiht?" nothing to do with the power to weight stuf?? oh and my previous car was a VLT 5 speed and the same thing, never had troubles with it only got canaries, nothing about being on the black list

CRUZ3N what was the cops name? i know a lo of cops at fawkner TMU, i even spoke to a couple of them regarding my car and licence and they said i can drive it oh and ur car should be 165kw