Vehicle passes roadworthy test despite fine

Lakash Singh, 29, a civil engineer from Chatsworth, is upset that police suspended the licence on one of his VW Golf VR6s and charged him for having mags on the other one.

"I was caught on the Higginson Highway returning from central Durban at about 1am on January 28.

"The SAPS team stopped me and said that I had a lowered suspension, illegal lights, exhaust systems, loose seats and a loose battery. They fined me R2 500 and took away my licence disc.

"The front facelift on my car has original crystal Hella lights. The suspension on the car is an Eibach system which is SABS approved and has an ISO number.

"The exhaust system is a stainless steel Doug Wallace system which comes with a lifetime guarantee. Not even the VW agents or any other motor vehicle manufacturer can give a guarantee like that.

"The loose seats are due to wear and tear, but they are mounted solidly to the body. Last month I was also charged R1 000 for having incorrect mags on my other Golf."

According to Singh he took the vehicle for a COR test shortly afterwards and the car passed.

"I didn't do a thing and I took the vehicle straight to the COR centre the next day. I was told at the test centre that the loose battery was a manufacturer's problem as the car has a battery clamp and the battery does not have a lip at the bottom that the clamp can hold on to."

Ashley Naicker, 31, a town planner from Hillary, was charged for having a sports steering wheel and mag wheels at the Whitehouse shopping centre.

"The policemen harassed me and said I should not argue with them. I have no plans to change my wheels or my steering wheel. In a few months time police will tell me that it is legal to have these wheels and I would have wasted my money. I paid R350 for my steering wheel and I am comfortable with it as I have more control of my car."

Snowy Smith is currently fighting the case of Naicker, Singh and about 310 other motorists.