Cops and Modders

By PRSD, on Sunday, March 12, 2006

Oh dear. I’ve been brutally mugged and literally killed to death. Where’s a policeman when I need one? Well, they’re all out on the mean streets of Plymouth, moving along ‘unnecessary traffic’, that’s where.
Apparently, your friendly neighbourhood coppers have decided that anybody investing in massive exhaust pipes and bonkers spoilers should be slapped with an ASBOÂ Â or worse (bring back the birch, etc).
So they’re literally stopping our lovely boy-racers in their tracks, questioning them about their cars and then telling them to, like, move along, Sonny.
One poor chap vented his so-called spleen on aÂ local car forum after being pulled (ooh-er) by the police several times in one evening:
Their reason was because I was visiting the ‘notorious boy-racer’ spots (ie. Devil’s Point, etc) and I was driving around the city centre which is seen as anti-social because I am unnecessary traffic on the road!
One woman police officer said that my exhaust was for track use only! I said that there was no restriction in the MOT and was fully road legal but her reply was ‘You know what I mean!’
Sarky, eh? The young feller was also handed this letter….
The People’s Republic checked a few other motoring forums and it seems this clampdown has caused quite a stir among the modding community (modders are people who modify their cars, you durr-brains).
Although there are drivers racing round the place with sound systems that would drown out an Iron Maiden gig, most are just keen to hang out with other modders and show off their multi-coloured rides, dude.
Certainly some of these creations, with their array of technicolour plastic, would look more at home on the set of Blade Runner and there are definitely healthier volumes to listen to your tunes.
But since when should we all drive Kas and use very small in-ear headphones to listen to recordings of mating aphids?
Agreed irresponsible driving should not be tolerated; one litre Vauxhall Novas with noisy exhaust pipes were clearly not designed to go round corners on two wheels Â even if you’re convinced you’re Michael Knight.
But where do you draw the line?
And ‘unnecessary traffic’? Parking at Devil’s Point is hardly getting in people’s way Â unless of course you’re worried about bothering the smackheads.
If we’re talking about unnecessary traffic, why not pick on the 4x4s lined up outside your local Asda?

Posted by Gen ‘Buck’ Turgidson