Hi Alan,
Sounds like someone had a bad day - not you, the copper!
What was the £30 fine for? cans? number plate?
Did you get an improvement notice for either?
Were points mentioned? Apparently if it's not already in, the Government are trying to pass it for one or other or both!!
Ok so the cans may be loud, did he measure the levels? is there anything on the cans that suggests they're anything but legal? Other than the apparent lack of baffle?
Did he measure your plate and / or letter size? or did he check to see if it could be read clearly from the regulation distance (whatever it is)?
Did he just pull you or a group?
Did he have 'reasonable' cause to pull you?
I'm with you mate, bloody petty compared with car meets and also bloody agricultural Harleys with straight throughs on! What about the bloody scroll lettering number plates so many of these Novas, Civics etc with bean cans tacked on the ends of their exhausts have!!!!
I'm in no way blaming or taking the proverbial, I appreciate that you're hacked off to say the least. I'm just interested, because I think on the face of it you've been treated harshly.
So much for the Country wide 'Amnesty' or common sense approach to small numbr plates as the front page of MCN attested too a few weeks ago.
OK so they didn't agree to the same with pipes - but seems like you got done for the plate as well when perhaps you shouldn't have. OK it's technically, on paper still an offence, but that was the whole idea of the MCN article on 'Common Sense'!!!
Perhaps a letter to MCN to let them know the message hasn't filtered through the ranks yet (to Sleepy North Yorkshire).
My plate is smaller than regulation, and my pipes I believe are 'not for road use' although I can't see that cos it's obscured by a Honda sticker on each end plate.
Touch wood I've never been pulled for them and have also never removed either for its MOT!
I feel for ya mate I really do.
Minority? Phooey!
Now let's chill guys - Don't think the forum's the place to bicker
Alans quite rightly hacked off at what he feels to be and on the face of it seems an injustice - any 'reasonable' person would be.
I don't think accusing him or anyone else of giving others (the rest of us) a bad name was quite as tactful as it might have been in the circumstances (Still smarting from last night).
Am I right in thinking that the alleged 'majority' with totally 'legal' cans, number plates etc Never break any traffic or other laws? never exceed 30 in a 30, 50 in a 50 etc?
If I am, then there's obviously another group of 'Angels' I've yet to meet! 
How do they get their helmets on with their shiny halos in the way?
Do they have feathery spine protectors?
And where do they store their harps?
It must be SOOOOOOOoooooooooo Boring being perfect, I'm very glad I'm far from being so .......... 
Soap Box put away for the evening ... on me way to ... Get Me Coat!
G
