Gardaí intercepting illegally modified cars in Midlands

Tipperary's Roads Policing Unit, assisted by Gardaí from the Nenagh Garda District, mounted an operation designed to identify and intercept illegally modified vehicles. 

Local representatives have received numerous complaints from people in areas including Roscrea, Nenagh, Birr and the Slieve Bloom mountains, where illegally modified cars congregate and cause loud noise disturbances into the night.

One local parent contacted this newspaper recently appealing for the issue to be highlighted as the race-volume exhaust systems frighten her autistic son and repeatedly disturb his sleep - making life a nightmare for the entire family who live on a busy town centre road in North Tipperary.

Another local man, who cares for his wife who has dementia, are often disturbed by the cars, who he said blare loud music and use the roundabout located near his front door to circle and lap the Offaly village where the couple reside.  

During the recent operation in the Nenagh Garda District, which incorporates the Roscrea and Borrisokane areas, Gardaí deployed the latest tech available to accurately ascertain if modifications made by owners to their vehicles are illegal.

Often such modifications are not carried out professionally and dramatically affect the car's safety and exhaust emissions - in some cases voiding motor insurance policies because the modifications are not declared to insurance companies. 

Changes to lower suspension can dramatically affect how a vehicle handles and can make them particularly unsafe on rural roads and Gardaí said they intend to continue to crackdown on illegal modifications.

Vehicles in the local Garda District were inspected for illegal window tinting using a specific tint reading device, as well as excessive noise levels being detected by using a sound meter on exhausts. Vehicles were also examined by the Garda PSV inspector for defects. 

A number of offences were were discovered during the operation, including one motorist who was arrested after being discovered driving while disqualified and testing positive for Cocaine. 

Gardaí also provided information to motorists and guidance on correct lighting and tyre thread depths to young motorists and have reminded young motorists it is an offence to drive unaccompanied on a Learner Permit, which can result in the roadside seizure of vehicles.

Gardaí are also reminding motorists ahead of the busy Bank Holiday weekend on Irish roads that they will be out in force and to never drive intoxicated and watch their speed in what might be poor weather conditions for driving across the Midlands region.