Car Accident

[wuchan]

anyone ever get a ticket from the overhead speed cameras? What is the enforcement rate and how long does it take for a ticket to come?

I was driving along and POP a red light flashed above me. Not sure what it was but I suspect it was a speed cam.

[FG Lurker]

anyone ever get a ticket from the overhead speed cameras? What is the enforcement rate and how long does it take for a ticket to come?

I was driving along and POP a red light flashed above me. Not sure what it was but I suspect it was a speed cam.

How big was the flash? If it was just a small glint of light then it was probably a reflection off the lens. If it was a noticeable flash then it was a camera.

The fines and points are the same for camera tickets as they are for personally handed out ones. A few posts back someone posted a list of points and fines so if you know roughly how far over the limit you were going you should be able to figure out what you will be hit for.

I'm not sure how long it takes for a ticket to show up but I seem to recall being told from 1 to 2 months is not uncommon.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I was driving along and POP a red light flashed above me. Not sure what it was but I suspect it was a speed cam.

When I see a red light flash above me, it's usually me who does the popping rather than any camera...

[wuchan]

It was a big red flash and it scared the shit out of me. I was haulin' ass, maybe 30 -60 day suspension. dam. Have to wait and see.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and hope you'll be OK.

[wuchan]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and hope you'll be OK.

thanks. Hope something goes wrong on their end.

[FG Lurker]

It was a big red flash and it scared the shit out of me.

I was haulin' ass, maybe 30 -60 day suspension. dam. Have to wait and see.

It's when you get to 40km/hr+ over that things start to get really ugly as that involves going to court. The even shittier thing is you have to attend court in the jurisdiction where you got the ticket -- a real pisser if that happens to be a few hundred km from where you live.

Some suspensions can be shortened if you attend "reeducation classes" for a day or two. I don't know all the specifics but it shouldn't be too hard to find out.

If you were 40km+ over then insist the police provide an interpreter when you talk to them about it, no matter how good your Japanese is. Sometimes this is really easy for them to do, other times it's such a pain in the ass that they have been known to reduce charges and fines to the point of not needing to go to court. I have no idea how likely this is to happen (certainly don't expect it or count on it!), it probably depends totally on the cops in question and how exceedingly far over the limit you were.

[Taro Toporific]

anyone ever get a ticket from the overhead speed cameras? ...

I've have been nailed twice by overhead speed cameras (that I know of)The flash at night scared the shi[color="Gray"]r[/color]t out of me. However, both times I was not issued a ticket. In addition, I have gone though red lights with multiple cameras without getting any tickets...yet.

I once I was in my neighborhood cop shop to change my parking permit and I asked a friendly Captain of the Watch why I never get any speed camera and red light camera tickets.

He said that individual police departments often have staffing problems and it is impossible to find anybody in the station who was willing to review and issue tickets. That's right...the "automatic" ticket issuing process must be individually reviewed by an officer of the law.

BOTTOM LINE: If you are in a busy police district, the cops only review and issue tickets to cars wildly going over the speed limit (20+ km/h) as identified by the automatic system.Y.M.M.V.

PS: Remember: For the next few months, the shin-jin/new hires at the police stations are being forced to review the output from the automatic ticket issuing process.

[Mike Oxlong]

PS: Remember: For the next few months, the shin-jin/new hires at the police stations are being forced to review the output from the automatic ticket issuing process.

I think they are also going to airports to practice asking foreigners for ID, after they pass through immigration and customs. Apparently most people fork over their papers without any protest when they've already been subject to all the routine hassle of an airport.

[Adhesive]

I think they are also going to airports to practice asking foreigners for ID, after they pass through immigration and customs. Apparently most people fork over their papers without any protest when they've already been subject to all the routine hassle of an airport.

What they need to do is design a camera that has some sort of racial-recognition software, so that the cops know whether or not a ticket is worth investigating.

[Big Booger]

Well here's the update:

I am not being charged with anything.. went to the cops and they say no penalty because I did no damage to the field, to any other structure or person. I was lucky!

Next I have decided to rebuild my car.. insane I know but I have ordered almost every new part that I need from yahoo auctions and ebay. Most of the parts are in transit. (I got the hood/bonnet yesterday!)

My ear has healed fast and my neck is no longer that painful.

My insurance company is dropping me when my yearly policy is up this July! Fuck yeah! Now I have to find new insurance.

This accident just happened on a slippery day with bad tires. I wasn't driving wrecklessly or on any alcohol or popping pills... I was headed to work in the rain and crashed. I think I am lately accident proned. In 17 years I have had 2 accidents all in the last 2 months.



Now my question is how do I get the A-pillars back to where they should be? I need to get that sorted and then the car is repaired because all the parts are on the way!

[wuchan]

you are going to have to find a donor car for the roof. And considering the fact that you already flipped it, you may want to look into a roll cage.

[waruta]

you are going to have to find a donor car for the roof. And considering the fact that you already flipped it, you may want to look into a roll cage.

I second that. You're lucky you didn't get your melon bashed in. No rear end or dashboard damage btw? Glad everything is ok, good luck with the rebuild and as usual, we expect pics of the build:p

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I think you have the makings of a convertible....
It's great to hear you're recovering and avoided charges. I hope the recovery is even faster and more fulfilling than you're expecting.
Bummer about the insurance, though.

[Mike Oxlong]

Good luck with that...

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[Coligny]

Now my question is how do I get the A-pillars back to where they should be? I need to get that sorted and then the car is repaired because all the parts are on the way!

Solution A:

You tie the back of the car to something that won't move by the chassis recovery hook. With a A pillard naked of it's interior trim you trim to see the bending point. Put a piece of wood (2 by 4 you call that in dem US) around the center of the a pillard on the cockpit side, i'd say 80% of the length should be good. The 2x4 should have 2 bolts/hooks on each side where you attach handle like rope of equal length. Attach a winch to these handle on the hood side of the car, winch attached to some solid stuff at proper height (ideally, rope at the end of the pull should be perpendicular to the A pillar). Then winch back to shape. Even a -manual- cargo strap fastener should do the trick.


*___
| \
| O - ------------->
|____/
*

| wood
O a pillard
* side hook on the wood
--> winching direction

This is what I would call the "are you fucking insane" method. But for historical cars, it's sometimes the only thing to do.

B:
If the structure of the car allow it, cut the former A pillard,weld some new onez with reinforcement/rollcage. This would be the racetrack day method.

But for me, some damages make a car unsafe to repair.
crumple zone damage, can't be safely repaired unless you do a costly total rebuild
A-pillard damage, but for new cars only were A pillard a important passive safety piece. I don't think the vette A pillard were designed for anything else than holding the winscreen...

You're lucky as I think the body is mostly fiberglass... easy to repair as strong as from the factory.

[Big Booger]

Solution A:

You tie the back of the car to something that won't move by the chassis recovery hook. With a A pillard naked of it's interior trim you trim to see the bending point. Put a piece of wood (2 by 4 you call that in dem US) around the center of the a pillard on the cockpit side, i'd say 80% of the length should be good. The 2x4 should have 2 bolts/hooks on each side where you attach handle like rope of equal length. Attach a winch to these handle on the hood side of the car, winch attached to some solid stuff at proper height (ideally, rope at the end of the pull should be perpendicular to the A pillar). Then winch back to shape. Even a -manual- cargo strap fastener should do the trick.


*___
| \
| O - ------------->
|____/
*

| wood
O a pillard
* side hook on the wood
--> winching direction

This is what I would call the "are you fucking insane" method. But for historical cars, it's sometimes the only thing to do.

B:
If the structure of the car allow it, cut the former A pillard,weld some new onez with reinforcement/rollcage. This would be the racetrack day method.

But for me, some damages make a car unsafe to repair.
crumple zone damage, can't be safely repaired unless you do a costly total rebuild
A-pillard damage, but for new cars only were A pillard a important passive safety piece. I don't think the vette A pillard were designed for anything else than holding the winscreen...

You're lucky as I think the body is mostly fiberglass... easy to repair as strong as from the factory.

Thanks! When I begin this I'll shoot you a pm or two if I should have more questions. Thanks for your help man.

[Big Booger]

Well this Golden Week I have tackled the repair. I removed the hood, bumper, interior trim, seats, fender panels, headlights, and cleaned the car. I also charged the battery but now either have a dead starter or a bad ground somewhere... because the engine will crank but it will barely turn the crank shaft... something is odd. I will diagnose it tomorrow if I have time.

[hakosukajd]

Well this Golden Week I have tackled the repair. I removed the hood, bumper, interior trim, seats, fender panels, headlights, and cleaned the car. I also charged the battery but now either have a dead starter or a bad ground somewhere... because the engine will crank but it will barely turn the crank shaft... something is odd. I will diagnose it tomorrow if I have time.

With the car in neutral (and off obviously), can you roll the engine with a breaker bar? If you ended up going ass first, the rapid transition from the drivetrain moving one direction to the other can damage internals....normally the diff and driveshaft will take the brunt of it, but it has been known to happen (classic example is cops pitting cars)

As for the insurance thing, my wife is the fucking stereotype.

She broadsided a 5-series with a moped (electric starter wouldn't work and so was trying to use the kick starter while throttling it....dragged her ass across a street and into the BMW)...insurance coughed up 6500 for that one..luckily, left Japan before I was up for renewal, so didn't get hit with any increases - 100% her fault - fair

She rear ended someone with her car three weeks later...nobody hurt, 4k worth of damage to the other car and I fixed the front end of our car - apparently the police said the other driver stopped too short so she was "only" assigned 70% of the blame....the other owner was not happy at all. I would have given her (wife) 100%

And the classic FG, no reach around, my wife had stopped outside our mansion complex, parking brake on, car off. The road came down from a very steep hill (at least a 15 or 20% grade) and abruptly narrowed from two lanes to one (ie, there was a guardrail that cut perpendicular into the road)....she was stopped with her bumper about 2ft from the guardrail). Most of the wives in the complex would park there temporarily to unload groceries. She was IN the car grabbing her purse out of the passenger seat, when an oyaji came flying down the hill and ran into the right rear of the car. He physically went over the car, rolled down the hood and into the street, hitting his head on the pavement....bleeding all over the place. She calls the cops, calls me, and I get there about the time the ambulance rolls out. The cops are telling my wife it was 100% her fault as she wasn't allowed to park there. She refused to sign anything, and called a lawyer. Two days later, we find out the old man was over .2 BAC. Lawyer threatens to go after the guy for damages to the car. The case mysteriously disappears. I ended up paying for the car as the old guy apparently had no money and it would cost a lot more take him to court than to fix the car anyway (damages were about 200 bucks since I did the work myself...minor dents, buffable scuffs and a broken tail light). My wife was still obligated to bring the geezer flowers since "he was the one who was hurt".

[Coligny]

And the classic FG, no reach around, my wife had stopped outside our mansion complex, parking brake on, car off. The road came down from a very steep hill (at least a 15 or 20% grade) and abruptly narrowed from two lanes to one (ie, there was a guardrail that cut perpendicular into the road)....she was stopped with her bumper about 2ft from the guardrail). Most of the wives in the complex would park there temporarily to unload groceries. She was IN the car grabbing her purse out of the passenger seat, when an oyaji came flying down the hill and ran into the right rear of the car. He physically went over the car, rolled down the hood and into the street, hitting his head on the pavement....bleeding all over the place. She calls the cops, calls me, and I get there about the time the ambulance rolls out. The cops are telling my wife it was 100% her fault as she wasn't allowed to park there. She refused to sign anything, and called a lawyer. Two days later, we find out the old man was over .2 BAC. Lawyer threatens to go after the guy for damages to the car. The case mysteriously disappears. I ended up paying for the car as the old guy apparently had no money and it would cost a lot more take him to court than to fix the car anyway (damages were about 200 bucks since I did the work myself...minor dents, buffable scuffs and a broken tail light). My wife was still obligated to bring the geezer flowers since "he was the one who was hurt".

Drunk or not... She was not parked... she was stopped... Have to check the manual on this one for special conditions, but unless their is an explicit no parking or stopping sign... It's not an infraction...

[BigInJapan]

...an oyaji came flying down the hill and ran into the right rear of the car.

Driving a car, riding a bike/scooter, jogging?

My wife was still obligated to bring the geezer flowers since "he was the one who was hurt".

TIJ - nuff said.

[Yokohammer]

Driving a car, riding a bike/scooter, jogging?

Skateboarding? Skipping rope? Pogo-sticking? Doing back-flips?
(Sorry, just thought we should cover as many bases as possible.)

[Mike Oxlong]

BB, what's the set-up you got that allows you to do major mechanical repairs to a car? Friends with an auto garage?

[hakosukajd]

Driving a car, riding a bike/scooter, jogging?


TIJ - nuff said.

Whoops...Bike...of the pedal variety.


TIJ....don't I know it.

[Big Booger]

With the car in neutral (and off obviously), can you roll the engine with a breaker bar? If you ended up going ass first, the rapid transition from the drivetrain moving one direction to the other can damage internals....normally the diff and driveshaft will take the brunt of it, but it has been known to happen (classic example is cops pitting cars)

As for the insurance thing, my wife is the fucking stereotype.

She broadsided a 5-series with a moped (electric starter wouldn't work and so was trying to use the kick starter while throttling it....dragged her ass across a street and into the BMW)...insurance coughed up 6500 for that one..luckily, left Japan before I was up for renewal, so didn't get hit with any increases - 100% her fault - fair

She rear ended someone with her car three weeks later...nobody hurt, 4k worth of damage to the other car and I fixed the front end of our car - apparently the police said the other driver stopped too short so she was "only" assigned 70% of the blame....the other owner was not happy at all. I would have given her (wife) 100%

And the classic FG, no reach around, my wife had stopped outside our mansion complex, parking brake on, car off. The road came down from a very steep hill (at least a 15 or 20% grade) and abruptly narrowed from two lanes to one (ie, there was a guardrail that cut perpendicular into the road)....she was stopped with her bumper about 2ft from the guardrail). Most of the wives in the complex would park there temporarily to unload groceries. She was IN the car grabbing her purse out of the passenger seat, when an oyaji came flying down the hill and ran into the right rear of the car. He physically went over the car, rolled down the hood and into the street, hitting his head on the pavement....bleeding all over the place. She calls the cops, calls me, and I get there about the time the ambulance rolls out. The cops are telling my wife it was 100% her fault as she wasn't allowed to park there. She refused to sign anything, and called a lawyer. Two days later, we find out the old man was over .2 BAC. Lawyer threatens to go after the guy for damages to the car. The case mysteriously disappears. I ended up paying for the car as the old guy apparently had no money and it would cost a lot more take him to court than to fix the car anyway (damages were about 200 bucks since I did the work myself...minor dents, buffable scuffs and a broken tail light). My wife was still obligated to bring the geezer flowers since "he was the one who was hurt".

I will try this tomorrow if I have time. I have just been so busy this past week. I hope I can roll the engine over and haven't locked it up... the car did run post-accident for about 5 minutes.. enough to warm it up... but since it appears to have locked up.. but who knows for sure.

[Big Booger]

BB, what's the set-up you got that allows you to do major mechanical repairs to a car? Friends with an auto garage?

I have a garage with the house that I rent. It's not big enough to put my car in, but it holds all my tools, parts etc... The car is covered during rain and uncovered in good weather to allow it to air out.

I also managed to mostly get the A-pillar up and in alignment but found out that the B-pillar is a little off kilter. So I had to remove the Fiberglass from it and will tackle straightening it probably next weekend if I have time. The A pillar just needs to be centered a bit with the winch that I bought.

And now I am waiting for a few extra parts and then I am off to the races!