Most of the time , the copper will only do that sort of defect (the pointless ones) if you've been arrogant to him or annoyed him somehow , or someone has reported you for squealing the tyres etc and he wants something to stick . Or of course if he just doesn't like you . A neighbour is a general duties copper and he was telling me a month or so ago about a kid in a commodore that was lairising about so he pulled him up for a "chat" . The kid abused him for wasting his time when he should have been stopping criminals etc so he had a closer look at the tyres and defected the car because one was bald . The kid abused him further so he had another look and found a brake light didn't work . The kid lost it this time so he ticked the box on the defect saying the car couldn't be driven home (they have options on the defect notice apparently ranging from get fixed , drive straight home and then to mechanic , to immediate defect , must be taken on tilt tray) and had to be taken on a tilt tray , any other means of removal would result in another fine .... Basically , don't push it , as mini Mike said , the way you respond to them will often make their mind up as to how hard they are on you .

Eddyb , I'd be checking that one personally , it's a bit of a myth really , police can look at any car anywhere , you might have half an hours grace if you lock it in your garage but they'll get the paperwork and come back for an even closer look , not worth it really .

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