New speed bump for racers (Nitrous related)

[zedtech]

Act amended to ban use of explosion-prone nitrous tanks as booster on public roadways
May 11, 2007
Tess Kalinowski
Transportation Reporter

Pump up your car at your peril.

Drivers caught using nitrous oxide to beef up their rides will face penalties of up to $2,000 in fines and up to six months in jail under an amendment to the province's tough new Street Racing Act.

Nitrous oxide is the propellant used by street racers to increase engine horsepower. It's sometimes carried in a tank hidden under a seat – another practice the amendment forbids. While still legal to buy, canisters of nitrous oxide must now be visible on the back seat or in the trunk.

The government and safety advocates say use of the substance makes street racing even more dangerous.

"We have, in essence, banned it outright," Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield said yesterday. "If you're caught with it on the street, you're not allowed to have it."

It can, however, still be used by recreational racers on private property. Nitrous oxide is sold legally through the Internet and performance shops. But it's highly explosive. In a collision, police and fire officials say, it presents a serious risk to car occupants, to emergency workers and even bystanders.

"It's probably the number two thing people do to their car for speed. They call it the cheapest way to get maximum performance," said Brian Patterson, head of the Ontario Safety League.

Nitrous oxide systems sell for between $300 and $3,000, he said.

Although his association favours banning the substance altogether, tougher penalties for using it are a significant step in the right direction, Patterson said. "If you have it in your car, whether it's operating or not, that should be an offence," he said.

"Firefighters, other first responders and the public are put in an immediate risk situation when dealing with the aftermath of street racing accidents," Toronto Deputy Fire Chief Terry Boyko said in a safety league release. "If the nitrous tank has not exploded on impact, it can explode when rescue crews are near the vehicle. It is a highly dangerous substance."

Toronto Conservative MPP and former transportation minister Frank Klees, who was originally critical of the proposed legislation's failure to mention after-market products used by street racers, said he was pleased with the decision to include the nitrous oxide provisions.

But Klees disagrees with banning its sale altogether.

"There are many people who race recreationally, and those who do treat this kind of equipment with respect. They go to race tracks that are supervised, that have all the necessary safety provisions. Because of irresponsible acts by some, do we then disallow what really has developed into a fairly large recreational activity?"

Since 1999, 35 people have been killed in street racing or suspected street racing incidents in Ontario, according to the safety league.

Last May, Rob and Lisa Manchester were out celebrating their 17th wedding anniversary when they were killed by a suspected street racer, leaving their 7-year-old Katie an orphan.

The Street Racing Act, expected to become law this month, would give Ontario the toughest penalties in Canada, with fines of $2,000 to $10,000. It will also give police the ability to impound cars immediately and suspend the licences of suspected street racers.

[chinsterr]

Since 1999, 35 people have been killed in street racing or suspected street racing incidents in Ontario, according to the safety league.




I am totally against street racing , keep it on the track.

But seriously , only 35 deaths in 8 years ? I really dont see what the big stink is about .

[Wild Weasel]

This is really messed up.

First off...



"It's probably the number two thing people do to their car for speed. They call it the cheapest way to get maximum performance," said Brian Patterson, head of the Ontario Safety League.


That's complete BS. How many people does anyone here know that actually have a nitrous setup? Very few that I know of!

Secondly, they say it's ok at the track but then say that being in possession of it should be illegal. How the hell are you supposed to get it to the track then???

And finally, they make it out to be a ticking time bomb. It's basically a tank of compressed air. It's no more likely to explode than the gas tank or an air ride canister.

I'd love to see a statistic on how many people have been injured on the streets in the past 10 years by exploding nitrous tanks!!

This sounds like it was written by some idiot who watched TFATF and now thinks nitrous is everywhere and we're all going to be killed by it.

So far as I'm concerned, the law should state that you cannot have it hooked up on the street. That should suffice.

[Wild Weasel]

I am totally against street racing , keep it on the track.

But seriously , only 35 deaths in 8 years ? I really dont see what the big stink is about .

I agree. I blogged about this back in June of last year when it was all over the news.

http://www.notweasel.com/index.php?m=06&y=06&entry=entry060621-210118

Just because it's high-profile doesn't mean it will be the death of society!!

[zedtech]

Although I don't condone street racing, I just find it funny they keep on focusing on the whole "35 deaths in 8 years" issue and make it seem like it's a bigger problem than deaths caused by drivers under the influence.

[Kevin@nextmod]

My next door neighbor actually has a NOS tank in his camaro. I think i'm gonna pass this info to him just to let him know.

[zedtech]

Hey Pearly, that was your place I was at this past Sunday getting my GV lip installed? I didn't even know lol. I blame it on the noobness haha. Nice to meet you!

Street Racing Act:
http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=383

[Wild Weasel]

My next door neighbor actually has a NOS tank in his camaro. I think i'm gonna pass this info to him just to let him know.

Good idea. Then he can mail it to the track a few days before he intends to go racing. :chuckle

[IMHIP2]

I am totally against street racing but really. To make it illegal to have it? I think they are going to be coming down on Dentists soon....

"Nitrous oxide is a very safe and popular agent still utilized by dentists today. It is much less toxic than alternatives, such as chloroform, with far less risk of explosion than ether. The main use for N2O is usually as a mild sedative and analgesic. It helps to allay anxiety that many patients may have toward dental treatment, and it offers some degree of painkilling ability."

May need to put a warning on all Dentist offices.

N2O is just laughing gas and needs to be heated sufficiently to explode, like in the combustion chamber of your engine.

[Kevin@nextmod]

Hey Pearly, that was your place I was at this past Sunday getting my GV lip installed? I didn't even know lol. I blame it on the noobness haha. Nice to meet you!

Street Racing Act:
http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=383
Haha...its alright...you didn't recognize my car? :)

[Wild Weasel]

N2O is just laughing gas and needs to be heated sufficiently to explode, like in the combustion chamber of your engine.

It doesn't even really explode in the engine. It's more of a catalyst allowing you to burn more fuel. It basically just gives you more available oxygen than air does.

[chinsterr]

It doesn't even really explode in the engine. It's more of a catalyst allowing you to burn more fuel. It basically just gives you more available oxygen than air does.

and it cools ALOT

I believe this was on howstuffworks.com

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question259.htm

[Wild Weasel]

Yep.

All this jazz about it exploding and what not is just retarded.

[MattC]

They just want people to not street race, they will blame it on anything to make the larger fine justified.

[skunk2]

i like this line: "It's sometimes carried in a tank hidden under a seat" - it's not like you can put it in a bag or something.

[3GFX]

Watch out for that nitrous, its definitly the number 2 mod on this board. Right after the stubby antenna :p

[bluntman]

But seriously , only 35 deaths in 8 years ? I really dont see what the big stink is about .

Are you serious?

[MPS]

i love how they left out that the married couple was drunk and made a turn on a red light and hit that red honda
and its funny how the driver of that honda never got charged

http://tocrime.blogspot.com/2006/05/speed-kills.html




Last May, Rob and Lisa Manchester were out celebrating their 17th wedding anniversary when they were killed by a suspected street racer, leaving their 7-year-old Katie an orphan.

[chinsterr]

Are you serious?

As opposed to other mishaps on the road not caused by street racing --- ie, DUI

[Sean80]

Just because their nitrous oxide is gone doesn't mean they will stop racing, it just slows them down a bit. I don't really think this would help them achieve their goal of stopping street racing.

[chinsterr]

honestly , i have only seen (in person) one car with a nitrous bottle in it . Was a orange protege5 with carbon fiber hood --- used to hang out at the races a lot and always purging the damn thing.

[bluntman]

But seriously , only 35 deaths in 8 years ? I really dont see what the big stink is about .

Good way of trivializing one person's life over another.

[chinsterr]

Good way of trivializing one person's life over another.

ok ... thats not the point i was trying to make , but ya ....

[Gizzmo_jr]

I'll add to this thread instead of making a new one.

license suspension ,Vehicle impoundment for Street Racing

172.1 (1) Where a police officer is satisfied that a person is driving, or has driven, a motor vehicle on a highway in a race, the officer may,

(a) request that the person surrender his or her driver's license;

(b) order the motor vehicle that was being driven by the person to be impounded; or

(c) both request the surrender of the driver's license as provided in clause (a) and order the motor vehicle to be impounded as provided in clause (b).

48-hour driver's license suspension

(2) Upon a request being made under clause (1) (a) or (c), the person to whom the request is made shall forthwith surrender his or her driver's license to the police officer and, whether or not the person is unable or fails to surrender the license to the police officer, his or her license is suspended and invalid for any purpose for a period of 48 hours from the time the request is made.

48-hour vehicle impoundment

(3) Upon giving an order to impound a motor vehicle, as described in subsection (7), to the driver of the motor vehicle, the motor vehicle shall, at the cost of and risk to the owner,

(a) be removed to an impound facility as directed by a police officer; and

(b) be impounded for 48 hours.

Vehicle released from impound facility

(4) Subject to subsection (11), the motor vehicle shall be released to its owner from the impound facility upon the expiry of the period of impoundment.

Release of vehicle before the end of impound period

(5) Despite an order to impound being made under this section, a police officer may order that the motor vehicle be released to the owner before the expiry of the 48 hours if the officer is satisfied that the motor vehicle was stolen at the time that it was driven on a highway in a race.

Duty of officer re license suspension

(6) Every officer who asks for the surrender of a license under this section shall keep a written record of the license received with the name and address of the person and the date and time of the suspension and, at the time of receiving the license, shall provide the licensee with a written statement of the time from which the suspension takes effect, the length of the period during which the license is suspended and the place where the license may be recovered.

Duty of officer re impoundment

(7) Every officer who orders that a motor vehicle be impounded under this section shall keep a written record of the motor vehicle impounded with the name and address of the driver and the date and time of the impoundment and, at the time of the impoundment, shall provide the driver with a written order that includes a statement of the time from which the impoundment takes effect, the length of the period during which the motor vehicle is impounded and the place where the vehicle may be recovered.

No appeal or review

(8) Cool There is no appeal or review from a license suspension or impound order under this section.

Removal of vehicle

(9) If the motor vehicle of a person whose license is suspended under this section is at a location from which, in the opinion of a police officer, it should be removed and there is no person available who may lawfully remove the vehicle, the officer may remove and store the vehicle or cause it to be removed and stored, in which case the officer shall notify the person whose license is suspended of the location of the storage.

Lien for removal and storage costs

(10) The costs incurred in moving and storing a vehicle under subsection (9) and the costs incurred by the person who operates the impound facility where a vehicle is impounded under this section are a lien on the vehicle that may be enforced under the Repair and Storage Liens Act.

Costs to be paid before release

(11) The person who operates the impound facility where a motor vehicle is impounded under subsection (3) or stored under subsection (9) is not required to release the motor vehicle until the removal and impound costs for the vehicle have been paid.

Intent of suspension and order to impound

(12) The suspension of a license or order to impound a motor vehicle under this section is intended to safeguard the driver and the public and to promote compliance with this Act and does not constitute an alternative to any proceeding or penalty arising from the same circumstances or around the same time.

Meaning of suspension for out-of-province licenses

(13) With respect to a driver's license issued by another jurisdiction, instead of the person's driver's license being suspended, the person's privilege to drive a motor vehicle in Ontario is suspended for 48 hours.

Forms

(14) The Minister may require that forms approved by the Minister be used for any purpose of this section.

Regulations

(15) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations,

(a) prescribing the criteria that a police officer shall take into consideration in order to be satisfied that a person has driven a motor vehicle on a highway in a race;

(b) requiring police officers to keep records with respect to license suspensions and impound orders under this section for a specified period of time and to report specified information with respect to license suspensions and impound orders to the Registrar and governing such records and reports;

(c) exempting any class of persons or class of vehicles from any provision of this section or of any regulation made under this section, prescribing conditions for any such exemptions and prescribing different requirements for different classes of persons or vehicles.

22. Part X of the Act is amended by adding the following section:

Nitrous oxide fuel systems prohibited

172.2 (1) No person shall drive or permit to be driven on a highway a motor vehicle equipped with a nitrous oxide fuel system unless the part of the nitrous oxide fuel system comprising the canister, bottle, tank or other store of nitrous oxide is completely disconnected from the other parts of the system, the disconnection can be observed by looking at the interior or exterior of the motor vehicle and the disconnected parts cannot be reconnected from the driver or passenger seats.

Sample inspection

(2) A police officer exercising his or her powers under section 82 may take or cause to be taken a sample of any substance from a motor vehicle to determine whether or not the motor vehicle contains nitrous oxide.

Seizure and disposal of nitrous oxide, etc.

(3) A police officer exercising his or her powers under section 82 may,

(a) remove nitrous oxide, or the part of the nitrous oxide fuel system comprising the canister, bottle, tank or other store of nitrous oxide, from a vehicle and dispose of them, or cause their removal and disposal, at the cost and risk of the driver and owner, who are jointly and severally liable; or

(b) order the driver or owner of the vehicle to remove nitrous oxide, or the part of the nitrous oxide fuel system comprising the canister, bottle, tank or other store of nitrous oxide, from a vehicle and dispose of them appropriately.

Deemed service

(4) Service of an order under clause (3) (b) to the driver of the vehicle shall be deemed to be service on the owner of the vehicle.

Offence

(5) Every person who contravenes or fails to comply with subsection (1) or an order of a police officer under clause (3) (b) is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not less than $200 and not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both.

Sample analysis

(6) The Minister may authorize any person or class of persons to analyze a sample of a substance taken under subsection (2) at the request of a police officer.

Evidence

(7) In any proceeding instituted under this Act, a certificate of analysis of a substance, in a form approved by the Minister, that is issued and signed by a person authorized under subsection (6) is proof, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, of the facts stated therein and of the authority of the person signing the certificate to make the analysis, without other proof of his or her authorization.