| Topic | Author | Replies | Last Post |
|---|---|---|---|
| call out for volunteers! |
 jarjar
|
1 | August 18, 2008 |
| OT - weight distribution (cross-posted) |
Anne
|
1 | August 18, 2008 |
| Monstero! has died. |
Willow
|
0 | August 10, 2008 |
| lighting requirements and mirrors for mutants? |
Brasa
|
2 | August 10, 2008 |
| Wedding Vehicle |
Mac
|
2 | August 6, 2008 |
~ Over 2000 Volunteer HOTTIE hours yearly ~ Service to the community since 1997 ~
2008 DEPARTMENT OF MUTANT VEHICLES
On Playa Mutant Vehicle Approval: In service to the Burning Man community since 1997, your 2008 Department of Mutant Vehicle volunteer “Hotties” are working as a team to review the unique and radical Mutant Vehicle (MV) creations for approved operation on the playa. Licensing a Mutant Vehicle is a multi-step process with Fluffer, Pitboss, Photographer, Hotties and Tech all working together so that a select group of Black Rock City’s population can amaze the community with visual and interactive motive creations
The “Fluffer” volunteer is the first Hottie most applicants will meet. With an emphasis on customer service, the Fluffer will greet and direct incoming applicants to the right resource, answer questions and queue up the creators for the “Pitboss” table, where the review gets underway with the paper work side of the process.
The invitation is reviewed by the “Pitboss” who pulls the vehicles application and places it in the “Photographer” Hottie’s queue box and the applicant is asked to take a seat in the DMV waiting area until the Hottie Photographer pulls their application, calls out for the applicant, and accompanies the creator to the MV in order for images of the Mutant Vehicle to be taken and recorded in the DMV / Black Rock Ranger computer database.
The Hottie Photographer returns the application to the Pitboss table and places it in the Hottie "review team" queue box and the applicant is asked to again take a seat in the DMV waiting area until they are called. The volunteers ask that you please be considerate of us and stay in the DMV waiting area until called. We greatly appreciate your cooperation by staying in the cool shade verses the alternative of Hotties going out in the sun to find you and your machine.
In a short time a team of reviewing Hotties will pull your application from the queue box, call out for you and perform a visual inspection of the Mutant Vehicle for:
(1) Adherence to the original MV application design
(2) Review of the Applicant’s safety considerations
(3) Mutant Vehicle meets current licensing guidelines
(4) Lighting is provided for night time operation
(5) Inspection of Flame Effects
Approved Mutant Vehicles will then have a number assigned and license issued and applied by the Hotties on the MV and associated trailers. Vehicles not approved for operation will be asked to return to the applicants camp for static display or in some cases, removed from the event to an impound area adjacent to the gate.
We want the community to understand that the only alternative to having a DMV was the elimination of Mutant Vehicles from the event. Hotties are here to support your ability to create and showcase your motive display. Please help us, help you:
• Arrive for your first inspection during the day. Even if only applying for night operation.
• Bring your gate invitation to assist us in quick processing.
• Stay in the DMV waiting area until called. Please don’t return to your vehicle.
• Be ready for your review with a completed mutation and all trailers attached. We do not inspect works in progress.
• Be prepared for the process to take time and allow for the possibility of delays due to a number of applicants arriving at the same time.
Some Hotties are volunteers behind the scene. The “Tech” Hotties process the on playa information and images into the electronic database that already contains your personal and Mutant Vehicle information supplied during the pre-playa process.
A “Shift Lead” supervisor Hottie is an experienced volunteer who is responsible for opening and closing the DMV, ensuring adequate staffing levels are met and troubleshooting licensing issues referred by inspecting Hottie teams. The Shift Lead is primarily concerned with the smooth running of the DMV, and for caring for front-line staff members. The Shift Lead reports directly to the Hottie of the Day.
The Hottie of the Day (HOTD) is also an experienced hottie, well-versed in the year-round and on-playa operational responsibilities of the DMV. The HOTD's primary responsibility is to ensure the Shift Supervisor is supported in troubleshooting processing problems as a link in the chain of command, above the Shift Lead. The Hottie of the Day is essentially the top-level operational supervisor for resolving significant issues.
The DMV Department Manager is the person ultimately responsible for all aspects of the DMV year-round. On-Playa, they are responsible to interact with other departments and with outside agencies, and to ensure the DMV generally is performing the function it is set up to do.
Self Safety Inspection: The Department of Mutant Vehicle volunteers ask you to provide for safety in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of your mobile creation. Applicants are to consider community safety to be as important as the visual exhibition and to continually self asses and correct safety cautions such as:
• Sharp edges, trip or bump hazards, pinch points, fall protection, splinters, and protruding hazards.
• Open or unprotected pulleys, drive chain / belt, gears, shafts, motors, and assemblies in motion.
• Structural integrity of platforms, stairs, ladders, handrails, sub-frames, and overhead erections.
• Points of ignition and ignitable materials, fuels, passengers and carry on fandangos.
• Functioning Steering, brakes, and avoidance / navigation lighting.
• Vision restrictions, unusual size or irregular configuration requiring the assistance of walkers and guides during movement.
Movement of vehicles during Burning Man is limited and Mutant Vehicles operators have been given a privileged and select opportunity that relies on their understanding and agreement to continually consider community safety. We ask that you exhibit common sense safety precautions during your licensing review and practice them continually during the event.
Enforcement of Driving Protocols / Black Rock Ranger Intercept: The Ranger Intercept team patrols the event with vehicles and bicycles and addresses issues of reckless driving and speeding by both licensed and unlicensed vehicles. Intercept has two specific tasks. Primarily, Intercept addresses vehicle safety concerns within Black Rock City. Their other key mission is to convey how seriously burning Man takes vehicle safety to the various Law Enforcement Agencies who would otherwise take matters into their own hands. The most important point in understanding about Intercept is that if the Rangers don’t handle it someone else will. Intercept removes or escorts vehicles from the playa and the city, either to long-term parking near the Gate or back to their camps. They have at their disposal a fully operational tow truck for moving vehicles to long-term parking. The Intercept team uses rotating amber lights on the vehicles to keep track of each other and to establish a visible presence as a deterrent to speeders or reckless drivers when a visible presence is required. Intercept's maintains a deep-playa outpost and is linked to the Department of Mutant Vehicles (DMV) in order to share logged instances of repeat vehicle offenders with DMV, or request information on numbered mutant vehicle license stickers. If participants are unaware of DMV rules and regulations, Rangers educate them and/or send them back to the DMV or back to camp if the DMV is closed. If vehicles / participants repeatedly violate DMV rules, the vehicle may be sent to Long-Term Parking outside the Gate. It is important to note that the Black Rock Rangers are not law enforcement personnel. However, because Black Rock City stands at the intersection of several legal jurisdictions (represented on the playa by the Pershing County Sheriffs Department, the Washoe County Sheriffs Department, Bureau of Land Management Law enforcement, Nevada State Highway Patrol, and other Nevada state agencies), Black Rock Rangers are at times required to interface with law enforcement personnel for mutual aid and assistance with safety related issues.
Vehicles at Black Rock City and DMV History: From 1993 through 1996 driving at Burning Man was unrestricted and art cars were popular forms of artistically expressive means of transportation. The Department of Mutant Vehicles was created in 1997 to address the very real challenges associated with driving during Burning Man and was seen as the only alternative to banning outright the movement of all vehicles at the event. Black Rock City underwent a transformation as the community discovered that relying on cars to get around had reproduced a too-familiar world of personal convenience. People were told to park their cars at their campsites and leave them there. Motorized Vehicles were designed out of Black Rock City (BRC) transportation, so that a pedestrian and bike culture could emerge. The Department of Mutant Vehicles (DMV) was created so that Mutant Vehicles could be (1) approved for entrance into the event (2) inspected (3) licensed and (4) registered for authorized operation as required by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Special Stipulations and the BRC Supplementary Rules. 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 are strictly enforced. Note that these regulations do not reflect a mandate imposed by LEOs (law enforcement organizations). Nor do they represent collaboration with LEOs by the Black Rock Rangers. 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 throughout the year around issues of safety. 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.
BLM Special Stipulations: Operation of motorized vehicles within the event area is prohibited. Exceptions to this prohibition are: mutant vehicles registered with BRC, BRC staff and support, medical, firefighting, motorized skateboards (go-peds) with or without handles, and disabled permitted vehicles. All vehicles shall be operated in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and stipulations, and in accordance with supplementary rules developed by BRC. In accordance with 43 CFR 8343 requirements, all motorized vehicles will be equipped with adequate front and rear lighting during night hours, and must be operating in a safe manner. Such use shall be restricted to open streets within the City. All Mutant Vehicles and staff vehicles registered with BRC, shall display their authorization so that it is visible to the rear of the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion.”
BRC Supplementary Rules: Pre-registration approval for Mutant Vehicle entrance into the event is MANDATORY. Applicants must comply with all DMV pre-registration guidelines and deadlines. Online Mutant Vehicle pre-registration is required and includes reading and understanding all information about Mutant Vehicles on the playa, filling out the online application and agreeing in advance to honor BRC driving protocols.
Black Rock City Driving Protocols
1) Do not drive a motorized vehicle without a DMV license.
2) Abide by all applicable federal and Nevada state laws for road safety.
3) Stop immediately upon being hailed by any BRC Staff member, Black Rock Ranger, or law enforcement officer.
4) Drive at a speed of 5 mph or less, if kicking up dust, or in hazardous situations such as tight crowds.
5) Mutant Vehicles must come to a complete stop and remain stopped during whiteouts.
6) Give the right of way to pedestrians, bicycles, and emergency services vehicles.
7) Don't drive in pedestrian-designated roads, on walkways, the Esplanade or in Center Camp.
8) Don't drive if you are chemically impaired or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
9) Mutant Vehicles must create a clear field of vision for the operator and have walkers if the vehicle is large or has a limited field of vision.
10) Have safe procedures for loading and unloading passengers and always come to a complete stop before anyone gets on or off the vehicle.
11) Do not drive erratically (swerving; stopping and starting quickly).
12) Mutant Vehicles are subject to the same sound guidelines as theme camps. Sound systems over 300 watts are only allowed to play music at an unrestricted volume in the large-scale sound areas of Black Rock City. When within the city streets, and camping areas they are to turn down the sound to an appropriate level. They must also be conscience and respectful of art installations on the open playa and stationary entertainment venues by reducing the volume as they approach.
Mutant Vehicle Criteria: Burning Man defines a Mutant Vehicle as a motorized conveyance that represents a visually stimulating, whimsical, beautiful or surreal image, combined with a highly participatory community service enhanced by motion. Mutant Vehicles exhibiting limited performance or community service potential should not represent a dominant visual image of a commercially manufactured base vehicle. Mutant Vehicles to receive licenses are typically radical creations that are enhanced by motion. They combine a visual display, high participation factor and community contribution that exceeds the personal benefit of motive transportation.
Mutant Vehicle licenses: All licensed Mutant Vehicles will be given either a Day and/or a Night license. Licenses will also be designated for Street or Playa driving, based on the size of the vehicle. Day or Night designation is based on many factors, including what purpose the vehicle serves, lighting and how it is implemented. Mutant Vehicles that incorporate flame effects may also receive a Flame Effects license. Any trailers that are a component of a Mutant Vehicle must be licensed as well. Support vehicles will be reviewed independently.
DMV Hotties are HOT!!!
The Black Rock City Department of Mutant Vehicles offers unique and exciting HOT volunteer opportunities. The DMV licenses motorized mobile works of creative expression otherwise known as Mutant Vehicles. Now that's HOT.
DMV Hotties perform a variety of tasks on and off playa including on-line pre-registration processing, and on playa inspection, licensing and processing of Mutant Vehicles.
Volunteering with the BRC DMV is not recommended for individuals who have never experienced Burning Man before. But please stop by and say hello if you think you might be interested in playing with us next year!