2004 Vehicle Protocols and Driving Enforcement

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 7:37 pm

2004 Vehicle Enforcement Policy

As the 2004 event draws closer many folks planning to make the sojourn to Black Rock are asking lots of questions and seeking clarification around the myriad issues that make coming to the event both challenging and rewarding. One of the most repeated requests for clarification has to do with issues related to mutated vehicles (i.e. ‘art cars’) and the current policies regarding registration and approval of mutated vehicles as well as driving policies at Burning Man. This single-subject missive is an attempt to clear up some of the confusion and to clarify current policies regarding vehicles at Burning Man this year.

In response to the growing number of safety problems of vehicles being operated in an unsafe manner during the event and the complaints generated as a result, the driving regulations this year will be strictly enforced. Note that these regulations do not reflect a mandate imposed by LEOs (law enforcement organizations). Nor do they represent a collaboration with LEOs by the Black Rock Rangers as some have suggested. The decision to place a greater emphasis on long standing regulations is in response to the innumerable complaints expressed by participants both during the event as well as input submitted afterwars throughout the year around issues of safety. We’re appealing to a higher instinct here folks. Simply put the rules for driving on the playa have not changed. The amount of emphasis being placed on those regulations has. It is about taking responsibility for ourselves when we need to.

In their purest form mutant vehicles serve as a form of mobile interaction with a great number of participants and contribute dramatically to the surreal experience which many of us experience each year during the event. They are, as DMV Director Jewelz Cody notes “A thread that binds Black Rock City together. They are ‘art on wheels’: radically, stunningly beautiful...and are core to the culture and community of Burning Man.”

A corollary to what mutated vehicles represent to our event can be found in the annual Rose Bowl parade in California each new year. The floats in the annual Rose Parade represent a year of work by teams of people dedicated to making this yearly promenade of beauty happen. While it's true that the folks riding on the floats start at one end of Colorado Boulevard and end up at the other, that's really not what the whole float thing is about: it's about artistic expression in a form that happens to move.

Likewise, that's the intent of having mutated vehicles in Black Rock City. They are ideally no less artful than the beautiful static sculptures we enjoy each year, but have the added benefit of being able to move about the playa, offering another dimension to their expression.

This year, vehicles on the playa will have a lot in common with floats in the Rose Bowl Parade. Just as you wouldn't expect to tie a carnation to your golf cart frame and pull in for your slot in the Rose Parade, so this year the DMV is carefully reviewing the proposed art vehicles for the playa. Mutated Vehicles will have to be reviewed and approved for the playa in advance of the event. If your mutated vehicle hasn't been invited to the playa parade, it will not get in.

It would be great if folks would voluntarily leave non-mutant vehicles (mopeds, golf carts, ATVs, etc.) parked at home rather than arrive at the event only to have them turned away at the gate and placed in the holding area outside the event boundary. Unfortunately that’s not been the case for the past several years. The past few events have seen a substantial rise in the number of non-altered vehicles being brought to the playa for no other purpose than a means to traverse the city for the sake of personal convenience. That’s not to say that certain vehicles are automatically excluded. For instance, If a motorcycle is your primary vehicle to get to the playa, you will be allowed to drive it to your camp and park it. If you bring a cart or other means of alternative transport due to being physically challenged you’ll be allowed to operate the it but ONLY after showing appropriate documentation and necessary placarding identifying you as being handicapped.

Remember, Black Rock City is first and foremost an alternative city where pedestrians and bicycles hold sway. Purchase of your ticket does NOT entitle you to operate an non-approved vehicle within the event once you have set up camp.

In 2004, unauthorized vehicles (unmodified ones not registered with DMV) caught driving in Black Rock City may be fined by outside law enforcement agencies or removed by escort or towed by the Black Rock Rangers. Repeat offenders may be evicted. Further, unsafe operation of licensed mutant vehicles (speeding, recklessness, impaired driver, etc.) can result in revocation of your ability to operate your vehicle and will be subject to the same sanctions as outlined for non-approved vehicles.

For further information on vehicle registration and driving protocols please see the following:

Department of Mutant Vehicles:

http://www.burningman.com/on_the_playa/ ... _2004.html

Vehicles at Burning Man:

http://www.burningman.com/on_the_playa/ ... index.html

Black Rock City Vehicle Protocols:

http://www.burningman.com/on_the_playa/ ... iving.html

Registration Form for Mutated Vehicles:

http://forms.burningman.com/dmvq/

PurpleKoosh · Post by **PurpleKoosh** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:16 pm

Badger wrote: input submitted afterwars

This typo just amuses the hell out of me.

Seriously, thank you for posting this, Badger.

Iago · Post by **Iago** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 9:05 pm

Badger, Hope your post gets taken seriously. Yes, get rid of the dumb fucking golf carts. Watched some kids one night having a ball slamming into the Porta Potties, total fucking Yahoos. The open playa got out of hand last year with speeding at night. OK, 'nough said, good luck and thanks for posting the reminder...

Tancorix · Post by **Tancorix** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 12:06 am

I'd like to see that post mentioned as part of the E-Playa BBS link on Burningman.com! It definitely deserves attention.

Sharky · Post by **Sharky** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 6:53 am

Just wondering....... I know you can drive into Black Rock City when you arrive to set up camp, but when can you drive off the Playa? Is there some sort of set "no driving" time period or can you drive on the playa anytime you are coming or going from the city (leaving early or arriving late, for example)? I've scanned the message posts and the event info, but can't seem to find an answer.

Tancorix · Post by **Tancorix** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 8:33 am

If I understand your question correctly, you can drive in to access your camp and to leave BRC at ANYTIME. What the policies are speaking of is the people that drive in to their camp and after setting up take that same vehicle to cruise around looking at the city. That's part of what the DMV wants to stop.

So if you need to leave at 4 am, you can break camp and go. Just remember to drive 5 mph, literally and not make any dust if you can help it.

One side note...if you arrive at BRC after dark and don't know where you'll be camping, the greeters will recommend that you park on the outside ring road of the city and wait to scout out a camp spot when it's daylight. If this doesn't answer your question post something and let everyone know.

Tiahaar · Post by **Tiahaar** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 9:25 am

Sharky wrote:Just wondering....... I know you can drive into Black Rock City when you arrive to set up camp, but when can you drive off the Playa? Is there some sort of set "no driving" time period or can you drive on the playa anytime you are coming or going from the city (leaving early or arriving late, for example)? I've scanned the message posts and the event info, but can't seem to find an answer.

Also note this for those inclined to want to drive out and come back in again:

"In-and-Out policy

Movement of cars is a safety hazard, and protection of the environment is of paramount importance to Burning Man. Casual traffic in and out of Black Rock City is strongly discouraged.

Participants who leave and return by personal vehicle will be required to pay $20 per person."
from http://www.burningman.com/on_the_playa/ ... rvice.html

Sharky · Post by **Sharky** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 9:42 am

Thanks..... that clears things up. I thought I was missing something on the whole vehicle / playa thing.

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 6:38 pm

Bumping it up.

Keeping it afloat.

Tancorix · Post by **Tancorix** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 12:50 pm

Tancorix · Post by **Tancorix** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 1:15 pm

Tripod can go take a flying....

Bump!

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 6:47 pm

Why are some vehicles more worthy than others?

What is art, wrt cars?

twister · Post by **twister** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 12:00 pm

I would like to fill out the pre-registration form, but when i go to the form page, there is no form. There is only a description of what sorts of questions are on the form. Really. Here's the page where the link should be: http://forms.burningman.com/dmvq/

There is a PDF version of the questions, but it says *not* to fill that out and send it in - that you must use the mysterious but invisible form.

I've emailed the dmv and asked them. No answer.

I'm leaving in 2 days to go run our regional burn, and won't be back until after their deadline. waaaaa!

HELP?
-twister

PurpleKoosh · Post by **PurpleKoosh** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 12:18 pm

twister wrote:I would like to fill out the pre-registration form, but when i go to the form page, there is no form.

Did you log in on the front page?

You must be logged in to fill out any of our questionnaires. If you have an existing account in the ePlaya discussion board system or in the Black Rock City Extranet, you should be able to log in using your ePlaya or Extranet username and password. If you do not have an account in either of these other systems, or if you do have an additional account but you do not wish to link it to the questionnaire submissions, then you should create a new account for this system.

twister · Post by **twister** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 1:52 pm

Yes, I created an account and then logged in on each page. The first page i logged in on is http://forms.burningman.com/

Then i click the link for Mutant Vehicle registration, and a new window opens and says i'm not logged in. So i log in on that page. Now it says I'm logged in, but there is still no link to a form.
-twister

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 2:48 pm

Based on past experience, the network, s/w, etc., like anyone else's, is subject to glitches. Try later.

Tancorix · Post by **Tancorix** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 8:12 pm

BUMP!

This thread deserves the attention.

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 9:00 pm

Non-smartass PM sent to Twister.

Remeber to get things taken care of by 15 July (this Thursday)

PurpleKoosh · Post by **PurpleKoosh** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 9:59 pm

twister wrote:Yes, I created an account and then logged in on each page. The first page i logged in on is http://forms.burningman.com/

Then i click the link for Mutant Vehicle registration, and a new window opens and says i'm not logged in. So i log in on that page. Now it says I'm logged in, but there is still no link to a form.
-twister

At the very bottom of http://forms.burningman.com/dmvq/ you should see the following:

If you are prepared with all necessary information, please continue on to fill out the application.

"fill out the application" should be a link to the following page: http://forms.burningman.com/dmvq/createQ

Both one of my DMV supervisors and I have been able to successfully log into the forms website - I did so using my ePlaya login - and open that last link.

Mithra · Post by **Mithra** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 12:31 pm

BUMP....

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 5:51 pm

Art cars still suck.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 5:55 pm

Chai Guy wrote:Art cars still suck.

Good ones don't.
Shlock like you would be capable of building might suck...

Any moron can make chai.

gilmore · Post by **gilmore** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 5:59 pm

.
Ouch!!!!!!

ckburn · Post by **ckburn** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 6:03 pm

Chai Guy wrote:Art cars still suck.

Only sucky art cars suck.
.

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 6:10 pm

Good ones don't.

Insecure much?

Don't take it personally ok? The average (not your's of course) art car is much more car than art, and as Badger said earlier, they usually serve as a means of personal transportation.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 6:35 pm

Chai Guy wrote:
Good ones don't.
Insecure much?

Don't take it personally ok? The average (not your's of course) art car is much more car than art, and as Badger said earlier, they usually serve as a means of personal transportation.

Well O.K., that's true.
I still want you to take the helm of the 'Cruizer this summer, you might like it.
You know where I am, right?
www.playacruizers.com

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 6:41 pm

And also I'm a little edgy lately... (personal crap going on...)
Will take chill pill.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 7:10 pm

Hey you damn bilge rat. I'll be expecting a playa tour. In search of a good cup of tea. Dogdamnit

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 10:24 pm

Will take chill pill.

Maybe two.

Chai didn't deserve that.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 10:29 pm

"Art Cars" should have been made irrelevant the day I saw one owner changing tranny fluid in a ditch on the playa, if not before. They've been a joke for years, and the rules should be ditched in favor of all-scratch-built vehicles with no motors bigger than a model airplane's, and even those should be scratch-built.

2004 Vehicle Protocols and Driving Enforcement

2004 Vehicle Protocols and Driving Enforcement

Re: 2004 Vehicle Protocols and Driving Enforcement

When can you drive?

Re: When can you drive?

Thanks

where is the link to the pre-registration form?!

Re: where is the link to the pre-registration form?!

yes, i did create an account and log in

Re: yes, i did create an account and log in

Ouch!!!!!!

Hoovering