That is a horrible thought. Has happened in the past when people have used a mag article to target someone to the police.
I'd hazard a guess the mag has packed the vehicle to the rafters for the article and it may not be the norm.
I would be surprised it already has happened. All the competition scene had that happen, photos of the cars in the mag's while competing. It began to be obvious it was only the car photos with the number plate in photo that got a knock on the door. Years ago I was getting knocks, around 6 times in 4mths. I got a call from the Mrs once when not only had they entered my property, they didn't go to the door and announce themselves. They just started writing up a list and sticked the car. Best part was when I pulled into my driveway blocking the unmarked vehicle in. They were on my property yet they were the hostiles in the way the started on me. I asked for ID 3 times and none was given....handy when you have a few mates high up, I called 1 that only lived around the corner.....gee the tune changed when they realised what I'd done
Turned out defecting a car that was not only locked away on my property but was also on a trailer was a waist of time.
I asked the 2 young offices to show me the defective points. 1st thing he pointed to came in the car from the factory....crossed that 1 off.
Then he wanted to defect the flexy flares....crossed off
rear seat belts that held a tyre in back on floor....crossed off as there was no seat there only a tyre
leaf springs lift too high ....springs were dead flat (in fact they were standard leaves)
At this point I asked were this has come from......no answer was given
I asked if in their inspection had the looked at the Rego sticker....I got a yes, its rego'ed
I asked was there any other details they needed to check on there....I got a blank look
I said how about the conditions on the bottom?......to which it was rechecked
Ohhhh he says.....is this vehicle engineered?
....yes I replied.
Where are the papers he asked.....well they were in the glove box high & dry but I see when you helped yourselves to my bonnet release you have placed them in the inch thick mud on my floor "GEE THANKS GUYS"
nope....there was no sorry.
after these guys kept hitting dead ends and were having major troubles reading the report the senior officer that I had called stepped in and read it to them.
in the end he said to them, "well I cant see why your here."
finally I got my apology & defect was cancelled.
unfortunately it didn't end there. Around 2wks later 2 RTA officers were knocking at my door asking to see the car. Wife passed them the phone, I gave them the address. 15minutes later they were in my sponsors work shop. They were there for around 3hrs. Car passed everything. My exhaust Db had gone down....lol mud I guess
They were pretty human after that, I told them of the goings on so they said they will fix my issue, had a coffee & a little social chat and left.
Yes my car was majorly modified. Wheels, tyres, Spring over (cops didn't even notice this), engine & steering. How ever every item passed engineers, EPA & RTA examinations. Car was to be a true street rego competitor yet they tossed me in against cars that would never ever pass in a pink fit!!!!
At least I knew mine was right & legal just cost me a lot of time being stuffed around by people not checking for things like Engineers cert's, EPA cert's or DECCW certs. I dont think I've ever owned a standard car & cant imagine I ever will. But I sure do know they get the right papers.....especially when I know my family will travel in it.
If your car is in an accident and found to be not legal you can find yourself uninsured!!!!!