MK5 Golf GTI

General => Random Chat => Topic started by: divweir on October 28, 2010, 08:13:28 pm

Title: police nowt better to do
Post by: divweir on October 28, 2010, 08:13:28 pm
wife got stoped in car the day  90£ fine tinted windows what came with the car that a bought from vw dealer they said they were 40 %   reg plate wrong     W31R DW       SHOULD read W31 RDW  not exactly a bad plate compared to some you see   :mad: :mad: :sick:
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: divweir on October 28, 2010, 08:15:24 pm
wife got stoped in car the day  90£ fine tinted windows what came with the car that a bought from vw dealer they said they were 40 %   reg plate wrong     W31R DW       SHOULD read W31 RDW  not exactly a bad plate compared to some you see   :mad: :mad: :sick:
oh and blue lights flashing and sirens going in  asda car park 
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: 182_blue on October 28, 2010, 08:17:33 pm
wife got stoped in car the day  90£ fine tinted windows what came with the car that a bought from vw dealer they said they were 40 %   reg plate wrong     W31R DW       SHOULD read W31 RDW  not exactly a bad plate compared to some you see   :mad: :mad: :sick:

So the dealer told you it had an illegal tint ?
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: swf7y on October 28, 2010, 08:18:32 pm
Hmmm... They probably couldn't get their daily fix of doughnuts  :evilgrin:
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: QD MBE on October 28, 2010, 08:20:11 pm
Ask your wife if they used a lightmeter to test the windows, a small hand held device that the Copper holds against the inside face and measures the light coming in.

I was stopped once in my old MK4 and the copper had a VOSA chap with him, mine were legal, but they checked anyway.

Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: divweir on October 28, 2010, 08:22:22 pm
Ask your wife if they used a lightmeter to test the windows, a small hand held device that the Copper holds against the inside face and measures the light coming in.

I was stopped once in my old MK4 and the copper had a VOSA chap with him, mine were legal, but they checked anyway.


  yes mate had a meter  great timing just when my insurance is due
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: divweir on October 28, 2010, 08:24:55 pm
wife got stoped in car the day  90£ fine tinted windows what came with the car that a bought from vw dealer they said they were 40 %   reg plate wrong     W31R DW       SHOULD read W31 RDW  not exactly a bad plate compared to some you see   :mad: :mad: :sick:

So the dealer told you it had an illegal tint ?
  no the dident ive been on to them they said ive to bring the car in to remove the tint  is this an easy job   is the tinting laws different in ireland as this car was imported from there
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: tony_danza on October 28, 2010, 08:25:27 pm
It's your responsibility to ensure your car is legal.

Ignorance, "everyone else gets away with it" and "well the someone told me...." are no defence in court. Sorry.

I agree it was harsh getting a fine, most will ask you to rip the tint and prove you've removed it a few days later. The plate maybe should have had an advisory too, but the law is the law. It's like walking around with a kick me sign on your back and then complaining when someone boots you up the arse.
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: tony_danza on October 28, 2010, 08:31:46 pm
Oh, and them having nowt better to do?

I'd have thought catching people breaking the law is exactly what we employ them for???
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: Greeners on October 28, 2010, 08:34:49 pm
To the OP, can you re-size your sig please as it is far to BIG!  :wink:
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: 182_blue on October 28, 2010, 08:39:24 pm
well if they told you it was 40% they sort of did, as the legal 25% iirc


 
wife got stoped in car the day  90£ fine tinted windows what came with the car that a bought from vw dealer they said they were 40 %   reg plate wrong     W31R DW       SHOULD read W31 RDW  not exactly a bad plate compared to some you see   :mad: :mad: :sick:

So the dealer told you it had an illegal tint ?
  no the dident ive been on to them they said ive to bring the car in to remove the tint  is this an easy job   is the tinting laws different in ireland as this car was imported from there

Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: divweir on October 28, 2010, 08:42:21 pm
It's your responsibility to ensure your car is legal.

Ignorance, "everyone else gets away with it" and "well the someone told me...." are no defence in court. Sorry.

I agree it was harsh getting a fine, most will ask you to rip the tint and prove you've removed it a few days later. The plate maybe should have had an advisory too, but the law is the law. It's like walking around with a kick me sign on your back and then complaining when someone boots you up the arse.
oh i suppose you would have  new that the tint was 10% more than should be even if you had bought from a dealer not everone knows a great deal a bout cars  and you sound like one of them :fighting:
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: Hurdy on October 28, 2010, 08:46:53 pm
Cynical me thinks.........*Police trying to pay for the forthcoming cutbacks!  :evilgrin:*
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: 182_blue on October 28, 2010, 08:48:40 pm
?, the dealer told you 40%, if the legal limit is 25%, no need to test it they told you, also looking at your pictures then yes its obviously too dark, i was actually sticking up for you as they really shouldn't have sold you it like that but hey ho !!

oh and you added the plate yourself didnt you ?, its a private one ?, not the one that came with the car, when purchasing a plate you get more than a few warnings about spacings etc, i got a verbal warning from the police about my spacing, i knew it was wrong and got away with it for a few years, but when caught i have now gone legal with it



It's your responsibility to ensure your car is legal.

Ignorance, "everyone else gets away with it" and "well the someone told me...." are no defence in court. Sorry.

I agree it was harsh getting a fine, most will ask you to rip the tint and prove you've removed it a few days later. The plate maybe should have had an advisory too, but the law is the law. It's like walking around with a kick me sign on your back and then complaining when someone boots you up the arse.
oh i suppose you would have  new that the tint was 10% more than should be even if you had bought from a dealer not everone knows a great deal a bout cars  and you sound like one of them :fighting:
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: tony_danza on October 28, 2010, 08:53:35 pm
It's your responsibility to ensure your car is legal.

Ignorance, "everyone else gets away with it" and "well the someone told me...." are no defence in court. Sorry.

I agree it was harsh getting a fine, most will ask you to rip the tint and prove you've removed it a few days later. The plate maybe should have had an advisory too, but the law is the law. It's like walking around with a kick me sign on your back and then complaining when someone boots you up the arse.
oh i suppose you would have  new that the tint was 10% more than should be even if you had bought from a dealer not everone knows a great deal a bout cars  and you sound like one of them :fighting:

Maybe if you hadn't topped it up with your illegal plate, they might have let you off - or did the dealer put that on for you too?

If the dealer had told you to stick your hand in the fire, would you have done that too? If it looks dodgy, then it most likely is dodgy.
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: divweir on October 28, 2010, 08:59:31 pm
i never gave it a second thought  so the dealer motd my car with the tints  is that not ilegal   the police said that the tint was ilegal not the dealers
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: SO8 on October 28, 2010, 09:05:23 pm
The tints should always get you a ticket .... via a Tintman device .... the number plate you may have got a warning for .... but for both no chance.  

Dodgy tints are dangerous.  The officers won't know whether they were on the car when you bought it or not ... loads of people say they were on the car when they bought it .... but I have to say I would think maybe not if I saw the number plate as well ..... not saying that is right, just giving you the view of someone who used to be able to give out said tickets and knows how to use Tintman  :wink:

Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on October 28, 2010, 09:08:40 pm
i never gave it a second thought  so the dealer motd my car with the tints  is that not ilegal
IF you are 100% certain that the stealer knowingly MoT'd the car with said illegal tints - then you need to report them to VOSA.

However, as others have said - it is the DRIVER of the car who is responsible for ensuring full compliance with the law.  There have been hundreds, probably thousands of 'Police-type' programmes on the telly - many of which repeatedly state it is the drivers responsibility - so unless your name is Fred Flintstone, and you live in a cave, you can't really claim ignorance.

You just need to take it on the chin mate, and chalk it down to experience.  :smiley:


the police said that the tint was ilegal not the dealers
That is because the Police are responsible for upholding the law, not the stealers.
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: RedRobin on October 28, 2010, 09:27:26 pm
@ divweir:

Hmm, if you came across to the police who stopped you with the same attitude you started off with in this thread (further confirmed by your topic title) it's no suprise you got booked rather than warned.

I find it too difficult to believe that you were as ignorant as you claim regarding both tints and number plate. Fess up, you chanced your luck but got caught out - It was bound to happen one day.
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: divweir on October 28, 2010, 09:48:22 pm
it was the wife who got stopped fair enough on the plates but genuinely did not no the tints were to dark  as i got it from the vw dealers  i know it may be ignorant on my side but i think the dealers should at least remove tints and pay the 30£ fine  i would not buy a car if i was told there was something ilegal on the car  i have to go and see them tomorow  well the wife has  just hope she dont get stopped again   cause im getting the greef for it lol
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on October 28, 2010, 09:55:32 pm
i think the dealers should at least remove tints and pay the 30£ fine
Fair point - and if they don't - then do as I said in an earlier post - speak to VOSA about the dealers MoT licence, and ask why the dealer is giving MoTs on unroadworthy cars.  That will soon focus the mind of the stealer, and persuade them to get their cheque book out.

And whilst at the dealer, get THEM to remove the tint film.


i would not buy a car if i was told there was something ilegal on the car
Again, fairy nuff - but have you ever heard the phrase "buyer beware"?
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: JPC on October 28, 2010, 10:34:38 pm
Where does the forum name come from out of interest?
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: Poverty on October 28, 2010, 11:01:12 pm
Cynical me thinks.........*Police trying to pay for the forthcoming cutbacks!  :evilgrin:*

Round my area they do seem to be starting to crack down on motorists again, and tbh I think they are doing the same.
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: Golfgirl on October 28, 2010, 11:21:36 pm
 yes mate had a meter  great timing just when my insurance is due

Your insurance should go down when you tell them you have taken one of the modifications off :smiley:  You'll probably find that the cost of the fine will be offset by the reduction in insurance for not having tinted windows :smiley:  I'm assuming your insurance company do know about them?
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: s4lek on October 29, 2010, 12:40:25 am
hi , did you also put the illegal plates on after the mot or before , because my car failed its mot on just the number plates.
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: no golf clubs at all on October 29, 2010, 05:58:47 am
My sympathies to the OP, I can only say that yes I have noticed an increased presence in the Stathclyde area over the past few months. It seems I cannot go 5 miles without seeing a police car stopped at the side of the road interrogating a driver over some or other misdemeanour.

Only yesterday I was sitting in traffic when the car in front decided to take a filter lane left, to do so he committed the heinous crime of entering a bus lane 25 yards earlier than he should have. You would have thought Osama Bin Lorry had been found in Glasgow! Two bikes swept from nowhere and cornered the bloke, no doubt another 3 points and £60 fixed penalty. There is no measure or friendly warning you do wrong these days they will just book you.

I won't rant for or against the police publicly but I do think, in my area recently they are showing an increased presence and a renewed enthusiasm for their jobs. I just hope it leads to safer roads  :wink:
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: MR02LOW on October 29, 2010, 07:48:41 am
im definatly not one to preach mate

BUT.... tbh it doesn't matter what you say they did this, i did that??, you know your plates are wrong just from what you have posted on here??? as for the windows if there is tint film on your drivers pair then your done! factory tint is 25% a film over the top will obviously make it darker, with things like this your and easy cash cow for them, i know as im speaking from a lot of experience of this exact same thing with my previous car, you take your chance buy running like this and its just a matter of time before you get stopped.

sorry to sound like a grumpy git  :ashamed:

the police will ALWAYS win, learn from this mate and put it down as experience :happy2:


get yourself a nice bright interior and you wont want to tint the windows  :signLOL:

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fk148%2Fmidnightsti%2Fcraigscar1.jpg&hash=2c9f6b447da36ae787fc932e4d132b28c6594e20)
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: chungster on October 29, 2010, 07:54:31 am
Is checking light thru front windows part of the MOT test???

Like does all MOT stations have a Tintman device??
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: MR02LOW on October 29, 2010, 08:20:14 am
No mate, its not part of the MOT so it has no relevancy to his argument

god i sound like a to55er today....

sorry!!  :ashamed:
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: jhtrophy on October 29, 2010, 08:41:05 am
as above, dont touch front as most have factory tint, as for plate!!! i hate when people mess about with private plates to make em look better,its illegal and you knew it so stop moaning.
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: joesgti on October 29, 2010, 08:55:15 am
as above, dont touch front as most have factory tint, as for plate!!! i hate when people mess about with private plates to make em look better,its illegal and you knew it so stop moaning.
:grin: :grin:
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: no golf clubs at all on October 29, 2010, 10:09:58 am
I was going to get new plates and leave out the space LT55TNN had a kind of symmetry...but to be honest the way Strathclyde's finest are these days I will just not bother...its certainly not worth the risk...you definately see some mad loons really mess with their plates though, I would book them myself...only cos they are chav looking...  :laugh:
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: SO8 on October 29, 2010, 10:18:22 am
I would book them myself...only cos they are chav looking...  :laugh:

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me  :grin:

If I was in power a number of new offences relating to motor vehicles and their owners would be created  :laugh:
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: RedRobin on October 29, 2010, 10:38:30 am

get yourself a nice bright interior and you wont want to tint the windows  :signLOL:

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fk148%2Fmidnightsti%2Fcraigscar1.jpg&hash=2c9f6b447da36ae787fc932e4d132b28c6594e20)

....Off topic for just a moment but what's the story behing this stunning interior?  :drool:

The only thing I don't like is the use of an Audi badged wheel on a GTI, but otherwise it's a thing of beauty!
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: MR02LOW on October 29, 2010, 11:30:38 am
Thats mine Mr Robin  :happy2:

check build thread for more pics and a bit more story  :wink:
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: Boothy on October 29, 2010, 11:51:11 am
I believe that illegal plates sometimes work better than legal. The issue comes when you start trying to make characters look like something different, like when people mover letters extremely close together or use the screw caps to add/mask part of a letter. The whole idea is to make it legible to other people should you drive away after an accident or something yet making the plate look more like a word or name makes it more memorable to most people which is surely beneficial?
 Unfortunately the law is what it is and you can't blame the boys in blue for doing there job can you. If you do the crime, you do the time....or pay the ticket at least.
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: rich83 on October 29, 2010, 12:07:03 pm
Robin... are you thinking of getting a full Red Leather interior retrim??  :evilgrin:
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: big al on October 29, 2010, 12:33:28 pm
Police cannot win nowadays. If they ticket people they are moaned at for having nothing better to do (despite it being there job) And if they ignore it, then it looks bad, and people start moaning that the police don't give the service the person expects.

If you run a modified number plate, no matter how minor it is, then you need to expect to one day be pulled over, Police do have powers of discretion with motoring offences, but I have seen people continually take the pi$$ until a fine is handed to them, that is the only way to teach people, as education doesn't work most of the time, and then it is a waste of mine and your time.
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: RedRobin on October 29, 2010, 12:50:56 pm

Robin... are you thinking of getting a full Red Leather interior retrim??  :evilgrin:


.... :laugh:

Definitely not! I don't like leather seats in cars for myself - I can appreciate a fine looking interior though. Cloth or alacantara(?) for me.  :happy2:
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: monte on October 29, 2010, 01:03:54 pm
I think nowadays EVERYONE knows the fact that you CANNOT get a number plate made, without showing your docs and having ALL the numbers spaced and sized correctly.

If the plate is made another way, then they are for "show use only" and the place that made them will have stated this. Also they will make them without you producing your documents.

Unless you have been living in a cave all your life, then most people should know these rules.


Also most people know about tinting the front windows. I understand that you didn't, and I think I would be pretty pi$$ed off with the dealer if my sister/mum/gran etc bought a car from them and was then pulled up by the police for the car being illegal.

However, I firmly believe the police would have just given a warning for the tints.

The fact that your plate was illegal WAS prob the deciding factor of your fine IMHO.  :wink:

Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: stealthwolf on October 29, 2010, 03:02:06 pm
Not everyone is aware of the rules and regulations. People who are part of car owners' clubs and forums would be expected to know but those who see a car as a tool to use to get to/from work may well be uninformed.

I heard of one girl who bought a car recently, was involved in an accident and was investigated. It transpired that the car had an aftermarket air filter (but otherwise standard). She was unaware of this, had not been informed of any mods when she bought the car and hence didn't declare it. Got screwed over by insurance. Yet how was she to know?
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: cmdrfire on October 29, 2010, 03:20:06 pm
@OP:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zaphu.com%2Fv1%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2007%2F11%2Fgrammar-book.jpg&hash=43def3bed6cfc7e9208a11d88d0213017789a12d)

Grammar. Use it.

Not everyone is aware of the rules and regulations. People who are part of car owners' clubs and forums would be expected to know but those who see a car as a tool to use to get to/from work may well be uninformed.

I heard of one girl who bought a car recently, was involved in an accident and was investigated. It transpired that the car had an aftermarket air filter (but otherwise standard). She was unaware of this, had not been informed of any mods when she bought the car and hence didn't declare it. Got screwed over by insurance. Yet how was she to know?

Surely she should be aware of what is on her motor vehicle? Ignorance is not an excuse, pleading it is just laziness.
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: stealthwolf on October 29, 2010, 03:23:05 pm
Surely she should be aware of what is on her motor vehicle? Ignorance is not an excuse, pleading it is just laziness.
But my question is how would you know?

If you bought a car, the seller said it was standard and unmodified, and you bought it, would you then check every single component, nut, bolt and screw to make sure it was all OEM? Remember, this is a girl who probably didn't even bother checking the oil/coolant/washer/brake fluids levels up on a regular basis.
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on October 29, 2010, 03:28:53 pm
Surely she should be aware of what is on her motor vehicle? Ignorance is not an excuse, pleading it is just laziness.
But my question is how would you know?

If you bought a car, the seller said it was standard and unmodified, and you bought it, would you then check every single component, nut, bolt and screw to make sure it was all OEM? Remember, this is a girl who probably didn't even bother checking the oil/coolant/washer/brake fluids levels up on a regular basis.
She should have fought the insurance company.  Regulation of UK insurance (all types - cars, house, health, etc) is based on reasonable and/or forseable knowledge.  Because she wasn't told about any mods, and probably didn't ask - then the ins co cant deny the claim.  So in respect of insurance, ignorance does pay.
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: edd666999 on October 29, 2010, 04:48:47 pm
This post turned a little sour at points lol, I think the OP has had enough ear bashing for one day! Lesson learnt! I did always wonder about the not knowing if the car was standard or not as my mrs wouldn't know If a car was lowered or different alloys or an airfilter hidden/ different brake pads, disks. There is a whole host of things that you can change and not even know about!
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: Hurdy on October 29, 2010, 04:59:52 pm
Surely she should be aware of what is on her motor vehicle? Ignorance is not an excuse, pleading it is just laziness.
But my question is how would you know?

If you bought a car, the seller said it was standard and unmodified, and you bought it, would you then check every single component, nut, bolt and screw to make sure it was all OEM? Remember, this is a girl who probably didn't even bother checking the oil/coolant/washer/brake fluids levels up on a regular basis.
She should have fought the insurance company.  Regulation of UK insurance (all types - cars, house, health, etc) is based on reasonable and/or forseable knowledge.  Because she wasn't told about any mods, and probably didn't ask - then the ins co cant deny the claim.  So in respect of insurance, ignorance does pay.

I could have easily sold my car as stock with the Quaife diff not mentioned and the RS4 valve - no-one - even a techie would have spotted them!!!!
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on October 29, 2010, 06:29:49 pm
Surely she should be aware of what is on her motor vehicle? Ignorance is not an excuse, pleading it is just laziness.
But my question is how would you know?

If you bought a car, the seller said it was standard and unmodified, and you bought it, would you then check every single component, nut, bolt and screw to make sure it was all OEM? Remember, this is a girl who probably didn't even bother checking the oil/coolant/washer/brake fluids levels up on a regular basis.
She should have fought the insurance company.  Regulation of UK insurance (all types - cars, house, health, etc) is based on reasonable and/or forseable knowledge.  Because she wasn't told about any mods, and probably didn't ask - then the ins co cant deny the claim.  So in respect of insurance, ignorance does pay.

I could have easily sold my car as stock with the Quaife diff not mentioned and the RS4 valve - no-one - even a techie would have spotted them!!!!
Exactly! :happy2:
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: no golf clubs at all on October 29, 2010, 06:57:32 pm
Look let's just agree that everybody is a barstewards but us  :happy2:

Coppers, dealers, chav number platers, insurance companies, silly bints ....

 :signLOL:

Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: RedRobin on October 29, 2010, 07:00:06 pm
Look let's just agree that everybody is a barstewards but us  :happy2:

Coppers, dealers, chav number platers, insurance companies, silly bints ....

 :signLOL:


:signLOL:

And, after me, you're first!
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: divweir on October 31, 2010, 06:57:07 pm
took car back to  dealers the took tint off windows  and payed the 30£ fine   thanks for all the support guys  if im felling down i now where to get a lift :P
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: Hurdy on October 31, 2010, 07:17:44 pm
took car back to  dealers the took tint off windows  and payed the 30£ fine   thanks for all the support guys  if im felling down i now where to get a lift :P

Buy some Tic-Tacs :laugh:

They're full of little lifts. :grin:
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on October 31, 2010, 09:13:52 pm
took car back to  dealers the took tint off windows  and payed the 30£ fine   thanks for all the support guys  if im felling down i now where to get a lift :P
That's what I call a result! :happy2:
Title: Re: police nowt better to do
Post by: divweir on November 05, 2010, 03:22:08 pm
windows sticky after tint removed wife called dealers and after a bit of tooing and throwing and a wee threat of( vosa) taking it back wed for free valet and a courtesy car for a few hours and they will pay 11£ insurance   :jumping: women like a dog with a bone :grin: