DOT pulled my Japanese import over today. Need some help

[Greg_B]

"When I refer to DOT, I really mean CVSE"

If you're going to use acronyms please have the courtesy to define them at first use. So who is CVSE?

"who ACTUALLY is inspecting your vehicle?"

Please be specific this time, OK?

British Columbis only CVSE = Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement which references the Motor Vehicle Act.
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/cvse/ and http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/reg/M/MotorVehicle/26_58/26_58-00.htm

Vehicles brought to BC either from another Province or another Country must pass a Vehicle Inspection (VI) at an approved inspection facility before ICBC will insure it. To come into Canada from another country the Transport Canada Standard and Motor Vehicle Safety Act and Regulations come into play. This is where the 15 year rule lays. http://www.tc.gc.ca/acts-regulations/menu.htm and http://www.riv.ca/

Roadside inspectors in BC are employee's of the CVSE. At times, both the CSVE and RCMP work together at commercial inspection road blocks.

hth's

gb

 

[light_duty]

Hmmm, I wonder if a BC CVSE officer has the power to pull over and inspect my Alberta-registered truck? I visit Nick's neck of the woods fairly often because my brother lives there. I've taken a look at my LJ, and while the glass meets standards, none of my lights (including the vintage SIEM spots that I got at a garage sale for $1) have any DOT or SAE markings.

I'm really hoping not to get hassled as I don't imagine finding suitable DOT-approved lenses would even be possible for the LJ.

Mind you, the taillights on my neighbour's Trooper look fairly similar.....;^)

Robin

 

[crushers]

it is an Ablerta plated truck so BC shouldn't have any juristiction over it.
we could get a convoy of JDM trucks from Alberta and drive them on a scenic putz through the Summerland valley where the biggest jerk lives just to bug him...
not that i am a sh*t disturber or anything...
cheers

 

[light_duty]

I'm really hoping not to get hassled as I don't imagine finding suitable DOT-approved lenses would even be possible for the LJ.
Robin

Duh. As I think about this, I realize that tail light lenses from a CDM-spec 70 series should fit on my truck.

I don't think I'll worry about it until I get pulled over, if I ever do get pulled over.

But I'm still up for a putz through SE BC.

Robin

 

[snowking]

Let's Go Rubber Ducky!!!!!!!!!!!!! I Believe We's Got A Convoy!!!!!

 

[crushers]

Duh. As I think about this, I realize that tail light lenses from a CDM-spec 70 series should fit on my truck.
But I'm still up for a putz through SE BC.

Robin

the CDM lenses will NOT fit your truck, different profile sorry.
just pick a time and place this summer to do the putz... hey, what about for the cruiser days. that should really upset the inspectors...

 

[lowenbrau]

it is an Ablerta plated truck so BC shouldn't have any juristiction over it.

This is absolutely true as long as it stays in Alberta. If you drive into BC, you are subject to all of BC laws.

There is a reason all those really big motor homes head to Alaska through Alberta. BC won't allow them to flat tow a vehicle over 5000 lbs behind their huge diesel pushers. The RV mags have an artical every spring telling snowbirds to avoid BC.

 

[light_duty]

Let's Go Rubber Ducky!!!!!!!!!!!!! I Believe We's Got A Convoy!!!!!

I dig how snowking's post ties in nicely with lowenbrau's signature line...

Wayne, thanks for the info, though it's not what I wanted to hear. It's too bad the BJ7x lights won't fit - they look so similar. Do you think there would be a way to mod them to fit?

Since DOT-marked lenses are probably not available for JDM LD cruisers, maybe us LJ folk going to have to rig up auxiliary lamps on our bumpers?

Lame.

Robin

 

[crushers]

personally, i am not worrying about it on my own rigs. if they want to pull me over then it will be to court we will go...

 

[mreekster]

I knew as more jdm cars started to show up, the cracking down would begin. I would not doubt that toyota canada wants the importing to stop and and wants us to buy fj cuisers. Buy the way If I wanted a 4runner I buy one. Notice it is not called landcruiser.

 

[Stone]

So Robin...you're 100% sure that there are no DOT markings in any of your light lenses?

The only thing I could guess if this were true, is that the LD Cruisers were never offered in NA. With the 60, 70, and 80 series, versions of them were available here somewhere in NA. And Toyota, knowing the reqs for the DOT markings, probably just made all 60, 70, and 80 series light lenses with the DOT markings.

 

[light_duty]

There are certainly markings on the lenses, but nothing resembling a DOT or SAE marking. Believe me, I've looked. I suspect they comply to some standard (e.g. the headlights are marked e13, which I suspect is some kind of glass rating. The glass on my Civic is marked e6). I'll have to google it and find out.

But you're quite right, there never was a North American LD cruiser. Wayne says the tail light lenses for the 78 are different from those on the 70s. I don't know why Toyota would go to the trouble of spec'ing a different lens on these trucks when almost everything else (glass, doors, etc) swap right over to HD 70 series. I'd really like to do a comparison and see just how different they are...

Robin

 

[crushers]

they resemble each other but once you hold them up you will see the difference.
unless the inspection station is anal then the tailights etc will pass with no problems. the thing MV is looking for is visibility. MV wants to know the other drivers can see you at night, common sense should dictate, after all we are not BC...
cheers

 

[Gold Boy]

I would not doubt that toyota canada wants the importing to stop and and wants us to buy fj cuisers.

Penticton toyota is selling right hand drive land cruisers.

GB

 

[nickw]

Penticton toyota is selling right hand drive land cruisers.

GB

I saw that. I wonder how long its going to be before Toyota pulls their license.

 

[andrewfarmer]

There are certainly markings on the lenses, but nothing resembling a DOT or SAE marking. Believe me, I've looked. I suspect they comply to some standard (e.g. the headlights are marked e13, which I suspect is some kind of glass rating. The glass on my Civic is marked e6). I'll have to google it and find out.

Robin

The 'e' numbers are the european spec numbers - Y'ull probably find them on your taillights/indicators if you look closely...

 

[The Dude]

I saw that. I wonder how long its going to be before Toyota pulls their license.

Ens Toyota is also selling RHD imports...

 

[crushers]

now that is funny...
toyota dealerships that sell a product that even they can not get parts for...
cheers

 

[Gold Boy]

I saw that. I wonder how long its going to be before Toyota pulls their license.

I no what you mean, but then I got to thinking about it may be Toyota wants to see how well these vericles do in Canada and wourld wide so the they can increase there market share globaly. And those right hand drive cruisers all need parts (as we know) from toyota... so maybe it a win/win for Toyota... who knows?

I was told by a staff member that thoes Penticton toyota cruisers where the on consighnment from another party.

GB

 

[Psilosin]

I wonder how long its going to be before Toyota pulls their license.

I don't see why Toyota would pull their license. They are USED cars. No different than them selling a used Honda trade-in on their lot. I think their import sales are doing well for them. The lot size has doubled over the last year and they have around 5-10 Hilux's and/or Landcruisers on the lot at any given time.

now that is funny...
toyota dealerships that sell a product that even they can not get parts for...

Penticton Toyota can get most parts. Maybe not the next day and maybe not with the cheapest prices but anything I have asked about is available. Common items like the 90915-30002 oil filters for the 2LTE/2LT-II are usually in stock.

What they DO need to complete the package is get some diesel mechanic experience. I recently asked them if they would do a timing belt change and they said I would be their first crack at that...no thx...