A CRACKDOWN on modified four-wheel-drives by police at the Gold Coast has Redlands car modification businesses worried their customers' vehicles, lifted for off-track adventures, could be illegal to drive.
Hammond 4WD Tyres and More owner Mark Hammond said confusing information on the Transport Department’s website and differences in state and national vehicle modification codes were to blame.
Queensland automotive aftermarket providers had been fitting larger wheels in combination with suspension lifts to boost ground clearance for all-terrain driving, increasing vehicle heights to 75mm.
The lift combination is considered a standard 4WD safety adjustment, accepted across Australia.
However, lifts past 50mm are illegal on cars with Electronic Stability Control in Queensland unless expensive and hard-to-obtain certification is sought.
This was realised by Mr Hammond and other car modifiers like him for the first time after 4WDs were targeted by police in Operation Lift earlier this month.
Mr Hammond said enforcement of lift limits, which some industry leaders have claimed were changed by the state government this year, had hurt his business and already impacted Queensland’s four-wheel-drive tourism sector.
He said he had since advised his customers to re-fit standard wheels and tyres to make sure their 4WDs were not in breach of the law or considered defective by insurers.
“It’s ridiculous. From a business point of view, it’s going to hurt dearly,” he said. “My customers are appalled. I (also) can’t sell mud tyres.”
It is understood more than 60 4WDs were targeted by police in Operation Lift at the Gold Coast earlier this month after police were given Transport Department compliance training.
The peak body representing car modifiers – the Australian Automative Aftermarket Association – has accused the government of enforcing laws that were still under negotiation.
Association president Stuart Charity encouraged owners of lifted 4WDs issued with compliance notices to dispute the fine.
Mr Charity said owners of 4WDs lifted by reputable modifiers had been targeted unfairly.
“Owners that undertook a 75mm lift late last year had a modification that was well within the law – today that lift is outside of the law,” he said.
A spokesperson for Transport Minister Bailey said this was incorrect. The the last rule change was six years ago and a review was under way into further lift changes.
“Feedback on these proposed changes from industry has been positive and the Department of Transport and Main Roads aims to introduce them in Queensland in October this year,” the spokesperson said.
“The review has proposed changes in Queensland that would see the maximum combined lift that can be certified increased from 125mm to 150mm (and) the maximum lift by suspension that can be certified increase from 50mm to 75mm.”
