21 modified cars pulled off road

Police ordered 21 unsafe vehicles off the road during a blitz on illegally modified cars in Northland.
The unsafe modifications to some vehicles have shocked safety officials and police, who predicted it was only a matter of time before the vehicles caused serious injury or even death.
Of the cars inspected over the Friday and Saturday night in Whangarei, 10 were "pink stickered" and were unable to be driven again until they were repaired, professionally inspected and passed.
Another 11 were "green stickered" which forced the owner to repair the vehicle and get a warrant of fitness check before it could be driven.
Police dished out 156 infringement notices including 11 for seatbelt breaches, six drunk drivers and four for driving while forbidden or disqualified. The rest were issued for a mix of no warrant of fitness and breaches of graduated licences.
An inspector from New Zealand Transport Agency and a court collections officer were also part of Operation Nuisance.
Vehicle certifying reviewer Frank Lundberg said he inspected 31 cars - 21 of which were deemed to be unsafe.
"Most were lowering the springs and there was no suspension. Without suspension the car becomes unstable and going around a corner at speed on the open road, it will just slide off," Mr Lundberg said.
Some car owners were making modifications to make their vehicles stand out but the changes could have fatal consequences.
Instead of taking cars to professional mechanics, they were dangerously making modifications themselves.
As well as cutting suspension springs to lower the vehicle, common changes included altering the exhaust to make it louder, fattening the tyres, tinting windows and plastering stickers across rear windows.
Mr Lundberg's message was simple: "Take responsibility for your vehicle and keep it safe."
A number of young drivers were found breaching their restricted licences by being out later than was legal or carrying other unlicensed passengers.
Northland police traffic head, Inspector Clifford Paxton, was concerned at the number of unsafe vehicles found on the road that were not only putting the drivers at risk, but all other road users.
"At the end of the day any modifications have to be up to warrant of fitness standard ... it's all about vehicle safety."
Courts Department district collections manager Craig Crawford joined the operation, checking outstanding fines and making arrangements for payment.
Two cars were seized - one Whangarei driver owed in excess of $18,000 and another had $600 in unpaid fines. The owners had seven days to pay the fines or their vehicles would be auctioned with proceeds towards the fines.
Mr Crawford said another 25 people were spoken to and arrangements were made for them to pay fines totalling $20,000.