Police Persecution

Sir,
I have read with interest the recent correspondence regarding persecution. There are two sides to every story and most of my brushes with the law have been at variance with those related by your readers.

The car which I use in the pursuit of my hobby does not conform with modern regulations in that too much of the wheels is exposed ; there are knock-ons to mow down pedestrians; the hot exhaust runs along the side of the body; there is no windscreen, washers or wipers; sharp projections to the front, sides, top, bottom and everywhere else; absence of safety belts, indicators, accurate speedometer; presence of a superabundance of noise. In short, a policeman’s nightmare (or prayer). The thing is, in fact, a forty-two-year-old MG Magna.

Last summer, the police stopped me on three occasions; each time, it was only because the officer concerned was a fellow enthusiast who wanted to have a chat. When I have been en route to various meetings, I have been shown great courtesy and understanding by the police, much appreciated in view of the problems found by the users of old cars in today’s traffic; for example, boiling in traffic jams!

Horsham. J.C.M. Davidson