OK, so ‘most’ vehicle inspections are free. Cop pulls you over, says something like, “that doesn’t look legal” then proceeds to go over everything you’ve ever spent your hard-earned money on your car.

He/she then continues to write you a few tickets and tow your car.

Well, this Sunday August 29th, MPI and Winnipeg Police will be holding FREE vehicle inspections WITH NO TICKETS TO BE GIVEN.

That’s right – NO TICKETS!

You show up between 1 and 8 PM on Sunday and they will let you know what needs to change to make your vehicle compliant with the Highway Traffic Act as well as ensure that it is safe to be on the road ( I know a lot of cars shouldn’t be). The best part? (again!) You won’t get a ticket. So if they tell you your car is too low, don’t go cruising!

As much as I don’t like being told what can and can’t go on my car, one think I don’t like even more are HIDs! For all of you with the ‘retrofit kits’, these are illegal and a PITA for others on the road because you’re just blinding everyone.

Image Newcastle Cruise Night Originally uploaded by aresauburn™

We may have got the Slurpee throne again this year, but this is a title we are happy not to get. Winnipeg is no longer the Auto Theft Capital of Canada.

According to Statistics Canada, Brantford, Ontario now holds the title that Winnipeg has had for several years. They had 686 theft attempts per 100,000 residents in 2009. Winnipeg was in third place with 629.

2009 Theft Attempts Per 100,000 Residents
1. Brantford, Ontario – 686
2. Kelowna, B.C. – 659
3. Winnipeg, Manitoba – 629

The decrease is largely due to MPI’s mandatory immobilizer and Winnipeg Auto Theft Suppression Strategy, a program where police monitor Winnipeg’s worst young auto thieves.

SOURCE

Image Stolen, dumped and torched Originally uploaded by Steffe

MPI reported that over 400 vehicles equipped with immobilizers were stolen in 2009. But how could this be if the system is designed to make vehicle theft nearly impossible?

The answer is easy… thieves steal your keys first, then steal your car. MPI reports the most common way to steal an immobilizer equipped vehicle is for the thieves to follow the driver into a bar or party, then steal their keys when they aren’t paying attention.

Another method, which we’ve heard all over the news, is car invasions – where thieves steal the vehicle while the driver is still in the car. And then the dumbest method, is when drivers leave their car running for seconds while they run into a building to get something.

How can this be prevented?
- Leave your car keys with you at all times
- Do not leave your keys unattended in your jacket pocket if bringing it to coat check or leaving on a stool
- Lock your doors when driving
- Never leave your keys in the ignition if you’re not in the car

SOURCE

Image Ignition.JPG Originally uploaded by billaday