Sidecar rego in Victoria (OZ)

[Shmerel]

Here's the relevant regulation:

Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations 1999

S.R. No. 29/1999

Version incorporating amendments as at 1 July 2009

...
805 Attachment of side-car
(1) A side-car attached to a motor cycle must be fixed to the left side of the motor cycle.
(2) A side-car attached to a motor cycle must not—
(a) be of such mass or dimensions; or
(b) be attached in such a way—
that the driver is prevented or is likely to be prevented from safely driving or controlling the motor cycle and side-car.

r. 805

(3) A motor cycle must not have attached to it a side-car, any part of which projects—
(a) for a distance of more than—
(i) 60 centimetres in front of the outer extremity of the front wheel of the motor cycle; or
(ii) 90 centimetres behind the outer extremity of the rear wheel of the motor cycle; or
(b) laterally beyond the extreme outer portion of the right side of the motor cycle.
(4) A person must not use a motor cycle with a side-car attached, or cause or permit it to be used, on a highway contrary to this regulation.
Penalty:5 penalty units.


I called Vicroad. They say that if there are no modifications to the bike's chassis (and there usually arn't) an engineers certificate is not required and it's a case of coming down (without appointment) to lodge a vehicle change of details form. A visual inspection of the vehicle may be required.

The significance of this is that failure to do so will void any insurance policy on the machine, and, exempt you from all TAC benefits. That's significant.

[Andy_unaventurous]

[quote=Shmerel]Here's the relevant regulation:

Neat, Thanks. And look on the even sunnnier side. New regulations about to come into force in Vic mean if you are fond of pooches or tots three wheels is the only way (literally) to go if you like the wind in your (missing) hair as well. You only have a month to take rover for his last run folks.


The following has been cut & pasted from the VicRoads website.

Motorcyclists

From 9 November 2009, there will be some changes to road safety rules for motorcyclists.



The new rules 
There are three new rules for motorcyclists.

No passengers under eight years old. A young child under eight years of age can’t be carried as a passenger on a motorcycle, unless in a sidecar.

Travelling in a sidecar. When a sidecar is used, it can only carry the number of passengers for which it is designed.

No animals between rider and handlebars. Animals can’t be carried between the rider and the handlebars of a motorcycle.

Exemptions 
There is an exemption for farmers. While working, a farmer can carry an animal between the rider and the handlebars of a motorcycle for up to 500 metres on a road.

What you have to do 
If you are carrying young passengers, other than in a sidecar make sure that they are at least eight years old, they can reach the foot pegs and they are wearing an approved motorcycle helmet.

Also limit your sidecar passengers and use other ways to transport animals.

Road safety reasons
Motorcyclists are amongst the most vulnerable of all road users. They are 34 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than car drivers and passengers.

For a hundred, a girl would lend you her Bartok records, have dinner, and then let you watch while she had an anxiety attack.

[nevgriff64]

Was talking tonight about this Shmerel so thanks for the heads up..

Will be taking the outfit down to the RTA on Monday and changing the necessary paperwork..

Nev.

[Shmerel]

be sure to post the outcome here, all the gory details nev.

[tripodtiger]

Originally Posted by Shmerel

I called Vicroad. They say that if there are no modifications to the bike's chassis (and there usually arn't) an engineers certificate is not required and it's a case of coming down (without appointment) to lodge a vehicle change of details form. A visual inspection of the vehicle may be required.

I reckon if you framed the question differently, or asked a different person, you'd get a different answer.

VicRoads couldn't be any more accurate than the RTA, could they?