Swoop on illegal cars

POLICE have cracked down on illegal cars on Wanganui roads, taking more than 20 off the road in a Friday night blitz.
Area Commander Duncan MacLeod said the operation, which doubled as a training exercise for officers, was a chance to devote manpower to a known problem.
The number of illegal cars on the road was an area of concern for police, he said.
About 15 officers took part in the operation, which was run separately from the ordinary night shift and took place between 7pm Friday night and early Saturday morning.
Each pair of drivers were assigned a suburb to patrol, with the rest of the time spent trawling Victoria Ave and its side streets for illegal vehicles.
Checks were also conducted at popular hotspots like the St John's Hill lookout.
Illegally cut springs, which lower the body of a car, and windows tinted beyond the legal limit were among the targeted modifications.
Joining the police were two vehicle inspectors from the Land Transport Safety Authourity, who assisted in ensuring vehicles were compliant with regulations.
Once police stopped a vehicle, they were checked on-site or driven to a temporary base for a more detailed inspection. Breath tests were also conducted, and licenses checked to ensure drivers were abiding by their conditions.
Of the hundreds of vehicles stopped, 21 were given non-operation orders, forbidding the vehicle from being driven until it earns a new warrant of fitness.
In addition, five cars were impounded for various reasons, including driving without a license.
A further 82 drivers were given infringement notices for minor faults not seriously compromising the safety of the vehicle.
Mr MacLeod said the operation was planned in secret to catch drivers by surprise, and because drivers often used elaborate means to avoid police.
These included listening to police scanners and sending text messages to friends.
Acting Sergeant Stu Duncan said the operation was a good chance to remind all drivers of their responsibilities regarding vehicles.
"You see people driving round with illegal modifications, and some will know its illegal, but some don't."
"There's a lot of misconceptions out there and our responsibility is to make sure dangerous vehicles aren't on the road."