Funny you say the cops never looked at yours on the a piller....
I had one in my last 33 GTR on the a pillar. and the cop that pulled me over said i had to move it or it would be a defect etc.
I asked him why and he said its cos you could hit your head on it in an accident. I then showed him by shoving my head between the steering wheel and the glass that my head wouldnt fit to hit it, plus the fact i have an air bag in my steering wheel but he didnt care.
So A pillar depending on the cop, what day of the week it is and if all the planets are alligned can be a defect