The New Zealand Transport Agency and police are clamping down on cars with illegal modifications - ordering them off the streets as a part of Operation Vision and Checkup.
Among the modifications looked for are: illegally lowered or welded suspension, uncertified seat mods, illegal exhaust volumes, lapsed registration and defective steering and suspensions.

Operation Checkup in action on Friday night.

Held last week, Operation Vision involved checking the warrant of fitness and road user charges on private and light diesel commercial vehicles. About 150 vehicles were stopped at six locations throughout the city. Eighteen were ordered off the road and 37 infringements were identified for follow-up action.
Commercial lawn mower light trailers were found to be a problem with one found to not have had a warrant since 2004.
Operation Checkup began on Friday night as a check on modified vehicles. Fourteen of the vehicles stopped were directed to a vehicle testing station for closer inspection.

NZTA enforcement officers 'green stickered' seven cars meaning they could be driven directly home or to a place of repair along a pre-determined route and at a set speed. Another five cars found to be unsafe were 'pink stickered' and ordered off the road immediately. One vehicle had its licence plates removed as its registration had lapsed more than 12 months ago.
"The most dangerous thing officers discovered was the car with its differential welded," says Iain Rossiter from NZTA.
"This seriously affects the car's handling and ability to turn corners safely.
"While it is not illegal to modify your car, the law says any changes you make must not put you or others at increased risk when you're on the road.
"We'll continue to target illegally modified or otherwise unsafe cars until everyone gets the message - vehicle safety requirements and licensing are non-negotiable."
Acting officer in charge of road policing for Western Bay of Plenty Police, senior sergeant Mark Holmes, says police and the NZTA have further joint operations planned for the area over coming months.
"Uncertified modified vehicles and the actions of their owners/drivers are traditionally a problem in WBOP and particularly over the summer holiday periods.
"The NZTA and police will continue to ensure all vehicles comply with vehicle safety standards to ensure the safety of all road users."