Stopped by VOSA

[pjw]

I work in a Naval base for those who dont know, and every now and agin you get stopped on the way in by drugs dogs teams, explosives dogs etc or just a car search by the MOD Plod.

Well, today, for a change they had two civvy coppers in a 5 series and a VOSA man. I **** it as i drove in to work in the Audi, and ive only had it three days. He basically checked all my suspension components, all four tyres, tint percentage on the front windows (49%, 4% over the limit!), all lights including indicators and hazards separate, and underneath with a sodding MOT hammer! I bet they thought their christmas had come early, 19"s, lowered, HIDs.. Never picked up a thing.

I sat in the car the whole way through and the civvy copper was being a tool trying to get me to get out and follow the VOSA guy. I said it had been MOTd a week ago and i was confident, and he said "this is far beyond the MOT 'mate', this goes into detail'.. I wonder if its not on the MOT, how can it be declared as a problem? They were all really, really, really dying to pick something up.

I also mentioned that the base was Private Land, what would happen if anything was picked up, and the woman copper (who was quite nice about it all) just mentioned that they would have to prove it had been on the public road.

Anyway, it was kind of nice finding out that the car passed a VOSA man inspection, even if it was inpromptu at the side of the road. Think ill take the tints off the fronts though, a little error in calibration one day could result in a producer..

As i drove away one guy was getting bald tyres ripped into in an Escort, and they had just pulled a 25 in. Funnily enough, all the cars they pulled were older than about 8 years too.

 

[bengal]

Ideally the mots that are carried out should be to the vosa standard its not always the case though. Tbh though parts can still wear out after the mot considering its every 12 months but its unlikely after a week though but at least they didnt find anything. Imo they are just trying to get more convictions out of everday motorists.

 

[sean3794]

What tint % you got on? As for the calibration if they going to give you a producer you're allowed to ask and see the calibration certificate as it should be with the tool they are using (same as speed gun) if they have it take a pic on you're mobile with the corrisponding number on the said tool, check this with a solicitor as you get half hour free and they might be able to get you off with it, I've done this twice and walked away with it, though I will warn you some of the plod get wound up by this so do it after they give you the producer so they can't pick you up for anything else! If they don't take the service nummber on the shoulder and ask what stationn they work at? There name, there rank all stuff they have to tell you by law, if they don't you walk away with it again as long as you contact the police after

 

[N8]

What *****, I'd love them to try it with me, I'd eat them alive

 

[mk1chopper]

What *****, I'd love them to try it with me, I'd eat them alive

What makes them *****? its there job to inforce the law

 

[PetrolAholic]

What makes them *****? its there job to inforce the law

I used to think that too until I got pulled by VOSA a few months back... It's fair play them doing their job but they really don't need to act like Hitler with a small **** whilst doing it!

 

[jojo]

tint percentage on the front windows (49%, 4% over the limit!)

I was pulled over last week by the local plod, I have the lightest tint possible that's not clear up front, the officer insisted that his light meter must show 70% or more for my car to pass, I got 46-47% and had to rip my tints off on the roadside or have my car declared as illegal and impounded. I must add that I have never been pulled over in 10 years and over 100k miles in the car I was in with the tints on. So I think you are lucky.

 

[sportstractor]

iv always had respect for the police, as both times iv been pulled over they have always been polite and reasonable. Doesnt sound like they were out of order though. Must be reassuring it passed, I dont think my s3 would pass to be fair

 

[ScottD3]

MOD land and road ways adhere to road traffic laws for speed, parking, MOT and tax.
The bases i work are always getting checked for tax, MOT, speeding, drugs and we often get coppers with cameras checking us coming in and out of the base.
I dont think they check cars that are parked in the garages or what they class as off the road parking.

They did their job and your car was legal, so nothing to worry about.
I've all ways been lucky when i've been pulled over.
apart from 2 may be 3 times when one out of the two got really ****** and wanted to the throw the book at me for something daft, their partner has always dragged them again and let me go.

 

[Turkster]

What makes them *****? its there job to inforce the law

they are not there to INFORCE the law, they are there to UPHOLD the law, but more to the point, What Law? Maritime, Commercial or Common Law? Now depending on if your on the land or sea will depend on what LAW you can be held accountable to,

Maritime law is the SEA
Commercial law is for co-operations
Common law is the LAND

Now if you have a BIRTH CERTIFICATE when they slid you down the BIRTH CANAL then you must be a BOAT, also if you REGISTERED your BIRTH of your new BOAT is now a co-operation registered vessel that can be held up to MARITIME LAW and COMMERCIAL LAW,

So i ask you, how long have you been ACTing like a boat on dry land being navigated by STATUTES and ACTS?

 

[Welly]

I used to think that too until I got pulled by VOSA a few months back... It's fair play them doing their job but they really don't need to act like Hitler with a small **** whilst doing it!

I agree. Power trip. Big time.

 

[N8]

What makes them *****? its there job to inforce the law

When I get stopped for doing NOTHING wrong, being BUSY BODIES.

 

[jojo]

When I get stopped for doing NOTHING wrong, being BUSY BODIES.

Let's face it, if you get stopped, and you have nothing to worry about, what is the problem?

 

[bengal]

Let's face it, if you get stopped, and you have nothing to worry about, what is the problem?

I know what your saying but N8 has got a point. It depends on how often you are stopped a few years ago i bought a cavalier as a cheap run around. The car was pretty tidy but was an old car at the time and i got stopped in it no less than 4 times a week just for them to check my details were legit but at this time insurance , mot and tax were on the database so they knew that they were ok. When its frequent it can be a pita as your wasting time talking to them and then they always gave me a producer so i had to waste even more time taking my docs to the police station. Obviously i tried to carry the docs on me most of the time but sometimes i would forget to take something with me but tbh i shouldn't have had to as its not something that should happen very often.

 

[aragorn]

The limit for tints is 70% as jojo says, and the cars standard tinted glass will more or less already be at this limit.

So you actually got off with something you shouldnt have!

The MOT is also nothing more than a (very) basic standard of roadworthyness. Just because you passed an MOT doesnt mean the vehicle is actually legal. For instance HID retrofits are illegal, but a lot of MOT testers wont bother about them. Tints are effectively illegal on the front windows, but arent even tested in the MOT.

If i was getting pulled over 4+ times a week i'd be making a complaint, it wouldnt surprise me that there was a marker of some kind on the car, perhaps previously used by criminals or whatever.