Drivers wary of inspection event

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Mark Burton, a vocational automotive instructor who heads out on cruise nights, says the inspection event is a PR move.

Police say an upcoming event is meant to help drivers learn if their vehicles are up to snuff for city roadways and avoid pricey traffic tickets.

Some drivers who participate in cruise nights, however, are wary about the free vehicle inspection night planned by police and Manitoba Public Insurance, apparently still miffed that police clamped down on them earlier this summer.

This Sunday, officers from the Central Traffic Unit and inspectors from the Manitoba Public Insurance will look over vehicles at a Pembina Highway claim centre.

Each driver who voluntarily shows up to 420 Pembina from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. will get an inspection report detailing problems with his vehicle.

Police emphasized no tickets will be issued and people with serious equipment issues can arrange to get their vehicles towed to their homes.

Andrea Shaffer, a 21-year-old Sunday night cruiser, said she's "sceptical" about the information police might collect after a summer where she said police have regularly put Sunday night cruisers under the microscope.

"Right now, a lot of us don't even want to go out," she said.

"It's gotten to the point where it's not enjoyable for us to go out anymore.

"We feel that it's been taken to a whole other level and it's kind-of ruining the whole Winnipeg cruise night aspect of things...people just don't want to go out for the fear of getting a ticket for the smallest thing."

During involuntary inspections -- unlike this Sunday's voluntary inspection -- officers in patrol cars pull over vehicles and send them to an inspection site.

Mark Burton, a vocational automotive instructor who heads out on cruise nights, says the free vehicle inspection event is a PR move.

He disagrees with some of the vehicle standards set out in the law, and has made entreaties to Manitoba Public Insurance about why certain vehicle modifications are illegal. He says many car enthusiasts are staying off the roads Sunday nights -- the city's traditional cruise night -- because they're afraid of being ticketed by police.

"It just sounds like a public relations thing to make it sound OK what they're doing (like) 'Well, we offered you a day where you can come in and take a look and that way we can nail you the next night and you can't complain about it,'" he said.

"It's not going to make the people in the car community feel any better about what's happening on Sunday night."

However, Central Traffic Unit Sgt. Doug Safioles said the event is in response to Sunday night cruisers from organized car clubs.

"Over this last summer, we've ticketed many, many cars for failure to comply with basic conditions, and so at their request, they're saying, 'Can we get our cars checked before we're going to get ticketed?,'" said Safioles.

He said the event will likely be a "one time thing" for 2010. He said that will then give the vehicle's owner a chance to seek repairs if they wish.

Police have said they will not be recording any vehicle inspection numbers, licence plates, or owner's information on the forms they fill out, and only putting down the vehicle's model and year. Safioles said if the vehicle has "significant" problems owners may have to arrange a tow.

"If you come in, and you have no brakes, and it's a danger, you'll have to find a way to get your own vehicle home," he said.

"We're not going to seize it or anything, but you can't drive it home."

There will be no patrol cars assigned to the event, said police, and inspections will be voluntary.

"We're not leaving the building. No one's going out to find anybody," said Safioles.

"We don't want to write tickets, we just want everyone's cars to be compliant and safe so if this saves you a ticket and everyone gets compliant, then that's great."

He said the event is set on a Sunday so they can use the claim centre and scheduling for police and MPI staff.

John Dyck, the Manitoba Association of Auto Clubs vice-chairman, said he supports the event and called it "a step in the right direction" for drivers.

He said some youth incorrectly believe police have an agenda to target them.

gabrielle.giroday@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 27, 2010 B2