AutoTazer - is it legal in UK ?????

AutoTazer - is it legal in UK ?????

Author
Discussion

CarZee

Original Poster:

13,382 posts

273 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2002
quotequote all

plotloss

67,280 posts

276 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2002
quotequote all
I remember a case where a fella wired his Cossie up to the mains, cant remember the outcome though.

That however looks just the ticket!

Matt.

Roadrunner

2,690 posts

273 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2002
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Won't the device be useless if your wearing gloves?

ap_smith

1,997 posts

272 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2002
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I very much doubt this is legal, imagine the litigation that would fly if a thief got into your car, got zapped and died from heart failure? I suppose the same law stops you putting mantraps in your house etc.

The idea of barbequed scrote does appeal though. However, if you're going to do it, do it properly. A 50Kv @ 15 Amps would be far more suitable. Might have to send the car to the valet afterwards though.

CarZee

Original Poster:

13,382 posts

273 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2002
quotequote all
And you might need an uprated battery

nevpugh308

4,410 posts

275 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2002
quotequote all
I almost bought one of these about 3 years ago. They work off a normal ickle 9v battery, so the "shock" given isn't nearly enough to hurt anyone (and nothing like in the picture).

If you read the bumf on the web site (assuming it hasn't changed, I haven't checked) they say that it's legal coz it wont hurt anyone permanently, just give them a shock. And apparently it does work through gloves (though personally I have my doubts).

Didn't buy one .... too gimmiky, it was expensive (>200 quid) and I thought I'd end up spending a fortune on 9v batteries .....

JohnLow

1,763 posts

271 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2002
quotequote all
quote:

I remember a case where a fella wired his Cossie up to the mains, cant remember the outcome though.

That however looks just the ticket!

Matt.


Guy was done for assault/gbh/etc. IIRC he didn't do time though, just a fine.

Nightmare

5,222 posts

290 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2002
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Carzee....well they were demonstrating it at the Autosport show a ouple of years back (the topgear one0 so I guess they may still be leagal..however....

Was there with few mates so we decide to go and see who could hold onto it the longest (cos we're children)....which of course attracted other people to come and try. It is a bloody big jolt, and I held on for all of 10 seconds. But it does turn off after 30 seconds, and the one guy who looked just like a psycho car thief (what a favourable description!) walked uo, gritted his teeth, and held on till it stopped. didnt actually look all that bothtered either! It should blow up after 30 seconds - that would be far cooler

Night

Fatboy

8,064 posts

278 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2002
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Surely a pet wolverine in the passenger seat would be far more effective? Or my cat, who has the ability to let rip badly enough to make your eyes water at 10 feet if you piss him off!

ZZR600

15,605 posts

274 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2002
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i think my mates got on in his attic he had it to protect his RS turdboat escort bloody good fun tap the steering wheel and watch it charge up with lots of sparking going on not sure if hes still got it but i will check with him

domster

8,431 posts

276 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2002
quotequote all
Trust Nightmare to hold on to the sodding thing for a laugh!

I bet you do the wiring with the mains on, don't you Night?

Rgds
Domster

Don

28,377 posts

290 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2002
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quote:

Surely a pet wolverine in the passenger seat would be far more effective?


*That's* what the parcel shelf in the Chimaera is for...

My wife's last defence against us having a [Timber Wolf] err dog is crumbling....

gnomesmith

2,458 posts

282 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2002
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Shouldn't it be TASER (T A Smith's Electric Rifle on the original patent I believe).

I'm still working on the Gnomeknobler.

Nightmare

5,222 posts

290 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2002
quotequote all
quote:

I bet you do the wiring with the mains on, don't you Night?


you mean there's another way??

powelly

490 posts

288 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2002
quotequote all
quote:

I remember a case where a fella wired his Cossie up to the mains, cant remember the outcome though.

That however looks just the ticket!

Matt.



Guy was in Runcorn I think @ 1988 (I'm sure my old man used to work with him), scally trying to rob it ended up in Casualty, the owner ended up in court for GBH or something...

JMorgan

36,010 posts

290 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2002
quotequote all
I seem to remember he wired up his car big time. Car park attendant had a prod at a wire hanging down and got the shock of his life. I think in the end he was let off as his car had been stolen several times plus attempted breakings and at his wits end.

domster

8,431 posts

276 months

Thursday 23rd May 2002
quotequote all
Yes, it was the car park attendent who got shocked. He thought it was a car bomb because of the wire hanging from it.

In law, electricity is classed as a 'noxious substance' and wiring your car up will be illegal under most circumstances. The problem with the cosworth case was that it was a 'hidden' trap and it was also indiscriminate (ie a kiddy could have been fried).

The Autotaser thing is legal, if they say it is, probably because it has large warnings on it, is highly visible, and will only shock someone in your car (ie within your private property).

However, I'm sure that if injury resulted, you could be sued in a civil court by the thief, or prosecuted by the police.

Maybe a real lawyer could shed light on this - my law degree is a bit rusty!!!

Domster

>> Edited by domster on Thursday 23 May 10:02

nevpugh308

4,410 posts

275 months

Thursday 23rd May 2002
quotequote all
Wonder how long the batteries last under duress .... what's to stop a thief from keep tapping it, until it runs out of juice ?