[Dan1971]

He's giving it charlie big potatoes mate....

In those circumstances - "I believe not officer - it was built for the car by a company called long life. It's for road use and has passed the MOT which as you know now includes a noise check" - in a non confrontational innocent tone - say nothing more, just answer questions with factual non-confrontational answers.

Even if an exhaust is blowing terribly, (and with other defects not covered or penalised by a straight 3 point endorsement - eg tyres) - an officer can report you for summons, but should also offer the "Vehicle defect rectification scheme". Basically you get 14 days to get the part repaired and then taken to a testing station for confirmation. They sign a slip which the officer gives you, you report to a police station with the slip, and the offence is then set aside and not proceeded with, the idea being that we get cars legally on the road, nice and safe, not just dishing out fines.

Trouble is that as with so many other inter-actions with officers, it doesn't matter what anyone says - there is a thing called "the attitude test" - and to be fair and if we are honest with each other - I think we all do it, no matter what business we are in when we interact with people.

And like in every profession - there are some people who are arses ..... you may have met one.