Pulled over by the cops

[Rave]

My mum's 1.9D Clio Mk1, that I borrow on a more or less permanent basis, started getting hard to start recently. One day, it wouldn't start at all, so I had to go and get my bicycle for the 6.5m, hilly commute to work. Luckily I'd allowed enough time for that eventuality.

Anyway, turned out that the problem, like it was two years ago, was that the battery had boiled off a load of its electrolyte. 69p for a bottle of de-ionised water from Tescos and a quick charge and it was raring to go again.

After refitting the battery, I thought I'd do a quick check of all the bulbs, since I always get annoyed when I see other drivers tooling about with headlights/ brake lights out etc. Shoved my socket set onto the brake pedal and went round the back for a look- no joy. Checked the bulbs- they were fine. Roused my wife from the sofa to come and have a look while I pressed the brake pedal as hard as I could- still no lights.

O.K., so out with the multimeter. After considerable farting about in the footwell, and with a by now increasingly cold and fractious mrs, I eventually figured out that the brake pedal switch was to blame. By physically pulling the switch further away from the pedal on its mounting I got the brake lights working again perfectly- though it seems to me a totally weird failure- I'll definitely keep an eye on them.

So anyway, a week later, I was tooling home from work at about 10.30pm and looking forward to my dinner. Came round a corner on the one way system 1/4 mile from home and saw a load of flashing lights and hi-vis jackets. Probably an ANPR tax/insurance check I thought- nothing for me to worry about. But no- motioned to pull in. I sat there for about 30 seconds with no-one showing any interest in me. So I got out, and a very fat DVLA man inspected the tax disc and saw that it was fine. He enquired of the fat copper still scanning the traffic why I'd been stopped. "I've pulled this one for a condition check" replied fat copper.

Fair enough- the car is a bit of an old shed. I don't wash it, and it's got a couple of dents where my impatient brother had some parking mishaps. But it's well maintained and legal for three reasons: 1) Aforementioned (and planned for) non-start notwithstanding, I rely on it to get to work; 2) I need my driving licence for my job and 3) As I said, I dislike people who drive around in unsafe cars.

So I lit a fag while I waited for fat copper to deal with me. As far as I'm concerned, if they're going to pull me over arbitrarily, they can breathe my smoke while they keep me waiting. Eventually fatty checked my licence (both parts were in my wallet, naturally) and radio'd for an insurance check, which proved I was one of 5(!) named drivers for the car. I was allowed on my way home.

There are two lessons to learn from this long and rambling tale. Firstly, that we have become such a rich and decadent society that a P-reg Clio is considered a suspicious old banger, and secondly: check your car regularly! Waiting for your next MOT ain't good enough. I daresay I'm preaching to the converted here, but just in case....

Re: the first lesson, I dread to think what sort of grief I'm in for when I finally get my L-reg Peugeot 106 running properly.

[Butcher]

My brake light switch went recently, I took it out and refitted and it seemed to work, then it died again within a couple of days. Ended up replacing it - they're not particularly expensive, and it seemed less hassle in the long run.

[Mblaster]

I managed to get pulled over twice late one night with in 30 minutes for having one of my headlight bulbs gone. Since it was summer time, I hadn't noticed it until I started the journey, but it was too late then, had to go pick up a friend like I'd arranged. Second car was unmarked and must have been really bored since he passed me in the opposite direction on a dual carriage way and was albsolutly flying to catch me up again, saw him in my mirror and thought it was a boy racer that was gonna shoot past me, then the blue lights came on

[kalniel]

Brake lights/indicators I can understand, but I thought it was still legal to travel with a headlight out if your sidelights still worked? Every other day I see a car with a bulb or two out.

I'm anal about checking anyway so always replace bulbs as soon as they go just for safety reasons.

[0iD]

I thought they'd seen you coming down the road & thought "That bloke thinks he's driving a f'kin Bus!"

[Howard]

secondly: check your car regularly! Waiting for your next MOT ain't good enough..

This is SO true. The amount of times I see people (often complaining about) failing their MOT for bald tyres, a light out, etc, puzzles me. It takes 30 seconds to check things like this weekly/monthly/whenever, and why people don't think "ok my MOT is due next week, I'd better check the basics" is beyond me

[Mblaster]

Brake lights/indicators I can understand, but I thought it was still legal to travel with a headlight out if your sidelights still worked? Every other day I see a car with a bulb or two out.

It's still illegal, although it's no fine or anything, as long as you get it fixed within 14 days of getting pulled over you're fine, although you need to pay an MOT certified garage to check it over for you which is a pain.

[kalniel]

although you need to pay an MOT certified garage to check it over for you which is a pain.

I've always done the adjustment myself (easy when just one bulb goes) and it's never had a problem at MOT. Or is that just if you're pulled over to prove that you had it fixed?

[DR]

Surely instead of ranting about it you should be pleased they were being proactive in keeping the roads safe?

At the end of the day your car could have been illegal, you may not have had insurance and unfortunately these things happen! If you saw a news story about a Clio being used by suicide bombers no doubt you'd complain that all the taxes we pay don't pay for police to keep us safe.

[kalniel]

Surely instead of ranting about it you should be pleased they were being proactive in keeping the roads safe?

I think you've misread his tone - it didn't come across as a rant at all to me, just an interesting story.

[Mossy]

Surely instead of ranting about it you should be pleased they were being proactive in keeping the roads safe?

At the end of the day your car could have been illegal, you may not have had insurance and unfortunately these things happen! If you saw a news story about a Clio being used by suicide bombers no doubt you'd complain that all the taxes we pay don't pay for police to keep us safe.

Maybe they should be as entusiastic about keeping the streets safe! although that dont make em money so I do understand the non proactivness there.

[Bleak]

I think it's just Clio. This girl from work used to drive one and got pulled over quite often, on one occasion twice in 2 days by the same officers and she's been driving around 2 years. I've been driving 4 years and never been pulled over and I'm almost certain it's because I drive a VW Polo (1997), probably one of the most inconspicuous cars ever

[Tumble]

that a P-reg Clio is a suspicious old banger

Edited for truth

[Mblaster]

I've always done the adjustment myself (easy when just one bulb goes) and it's never had a problem at MOT. Or is that just if you're pulled over to prove that you had it fixed?

It's only if you get pulled over, need to get a stamp from an MOT garage to confirm it's fixed and send the form back to the police.

[Gr44]

This is SO true. The amount of times I see people (often complaining about) failing their MOT for bald tyres, a light out, etc, puzzles me. It takes 30 seconds to check things like this weekly/monthly/whenever, and why people don't think "ok my MOT is due next week, I'd better check the basics" is beyond me

Not to mention you can check lights whenever you're in traffic. I often put my sidelights on, then headlights - you can see the reflection from the car in front and you know they're fine. Brake lights/tail lights are easily done the same way too.

Indicators aren't as easy to do on the move, but late at night you can see the glow on the road... plus indicators are normally obvious because the ticking speed changes... for some reason!

Tyres is a must though... the number of people you see with nearly bald tyres is insane.. I mean, some people don't think spending a couple of hundred quid on tyres is worth it. Do they not realize they're putting their life and everyone elses at risk? Cheap, crappy tyres also make me laugh too... false economy much? *saves £80 in tyres...* *writes off car*

[Howard]

Not to mention you can check lights whenever you're in traffic. I often put my sidelights on, then headlights - you can see the reflection from the car in front and you know they're fine. Brake lights/tail lights are easily done the same way too.

Yep me too. This is how I noticed one of my expensive Philips Xtreme Power bulbs was dead the other week