CASH-STRAPPED motorists are driving death traps and refusing to have them fixed, despite a police crackdown that has nabbed almost 90 dodgy cars in two weeks.

Mechanics across Cairns say dozens of dangerous vehicles are being ordered off the roads by
police, but tightening economic times mean owners cannot afford to have them fixed.

"Some cars have dodgy break pads and that's where the police don't see the accident waiting to happen," said Andrew Mengham, from Cairns Car Wreckers.

"This car brought in yesterday has a dodgy gearbox - it would have been a hazard to anyone near it.

"You see a lot of crap that people drive and you don't know how they get away with it. To me, they are death traps."

Police issued 54 repair orders and found 33 unregistered cars in the past fortnight as part of Operation Check-it.

Cairns Traffic Branch officer-in-charge Sen-Sgt Preben Farbaek said most defects were for tyres, lights, rust or cracked windscreens.

"We find some fairly serious defects to the point where they are ordered off the road straight away," he said.

"With the tough economic market, probably one of the first things that goes is the regular service."

A spot check by The Cairns Post of a car taken off the road on Tuesday found more than 20 defects including sticky-taped exterior, dodgy lights, deflated tyres and rust.

Troy Knight, from Torque Masters Mechanical, said he had six cars waiting in his holding yard because people had not paid for repairs.

"Nowadays, I don't release the cars any more because they just don't come back," he said.

"You can't go into Woolworths and say I'll pay for the rest of the groceries next week.

"I've got a car sitting there since February this year.

"They spent $2400 on roadworthy repairs and I can't even get a hold of the bloke."

Luke Dougherty, from Cairns Dyno Tuning, said he had seen a drop in car services in the past six months and likened it to people going to the dentist.

"They only come in to get a fix when their cars stop or break," he said.

"People are not thinking of their personal safety."

Police and Queensland Transport are targetting major access and feeder roads as part of Operation Check-It.

Sen-Sgt Farbaek said the number of unregistered cars found was alarming and he said insurance premiums would blow out if those vehicles were involved in accidents.

"Again, the excuse people tell us is that they can’t afford their registration," he said.

"Everybody who pays registration pays for these people involved in these crashes who don't have registration."

Sen-Sgt Farbaek said Operation Check-It would continue until the end of the month.

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