California Crackdown on Modified Cars
$5 million in federal money will fund a Sacramento, California effort to stop drivers in modified cars.
Police in Sacramento, California announced Wednesday that they would use $5 million in federal money to begin cracking down on auto enthusiasts who modify their vehicles. The money will be used to form an undercover "Drag-Net" unit to stop motorists who appear to be driving modified cars.
The concept, which originated in San Diego in 2001, has been spreading throughout the state and generated significant revenue for the California Highway Patrol and local departments. In Santa Fe Springs, for example, twelve officers on Drag-Net duty issued 300 citations and impounded 50 vehicles in just one weekend. Several cities have drag-racing ordinances that allow police to auction off seized cars and keep the profits.
Under Drag-Net, San Diego officers come to train other departments how to look out for what they believe to be tell-tale signs of illegal modification such as window tinting, large spoilers, extra gauges or racing stickers. Police say this gives them probable cause to stop and inspect a vehicle and its engine compartment.
In practice, "excessive exaust noise" tickets are the most common violation. California law does not require police to measure sound levels objectively. Instead, according to the California Highway Patrol, the "citation is based on officer's judgment."
Drivers of stock vehicles that come from the factory with some of the characteristics of modified cars have experienced harassment under this provision. One such motorist complained on an enthusiast website that the Calfiornia Highway Patrol was using these programs to make "driving while Asian" a crime, pointing out that the department's own website has several pages dedicated to Asian involvement in street racing and "vehicle modification."
Those receiving a vehicle modification "fix-it" ticket must visit a California Bureau of Automobile Repair office and pay a $35 fee to have their car inspected. If the car fails, a judge can impose another fine of up to $2000 for failing to meet California emissions requirements.
Location: Cola, South Carolina MoFo Status: Teh Black
Posts: 2,641
Quote:
Originally Posted by ak47m203
In practice, "excessive exaust noise" tickets are the most common violation. California law does not require police to measure sound levels objectively. Instead, according to the California Highway Patrol, the "citation is based on officer's judgment."
I wonder if this "excessive exhaust noise" is in place for harleys or muscle cars and trucks with straight pipe. I wonder if they target muscle cars at all. Getting a ticket for street racing is justified. Getting a ticket for modifying your car is just nuts.
__________________ Hendrix
"Have you heard of the chain of command? It's the chain I beat you with until you realize that I'm in command" - Firefly, Jayne. Affirmative Action MoFo
Signature edited to please Scoot
i didn't mean it's an import crackdown ONLY but main point is IMPORTS...and just yesterday, it was about midnight on I-80, my friends and i was just cruising down the highway about 65-70 mph in my lude, completely STOCK, and we were followed by a CHP for a good 2 miles...than a Camaro just fly by about 80-85 mph w/ a loud as hell exhaust... yet the CHP officer didn't do any shit but just kept following me till i exit the freeway...what the hell was wrong? or what did i do wrong to deserve it...and in the eyes of general publics and government officials, any 2 doors japanese made car is just a rice rocket...do we all deserve that?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slow_Sentra322
I wonder if this "excessive exhaust noise" is in place for harleys or muscle cars and trucks with straight pipe. I wonder if they target muscle cars at all. Getting a ticket for street racing is justified. Getting a ticket for modifying your car is just nuts.
Illegal windshield washer nozzle lights. Only white or yellow are allowed. (25106 VC, 24003 VC).
ok, I agree with this part of it. Now if only white and yellow can be banned as well.
it is shitty that its illegal to mod your import, since a header/exhaust might be louder however its still not putting out nothing like a muscle car without a cat or muffler at all. Look at the smog output there.
It would sucks if you were driving next to a 69 camero and you could hear the cams and when he takes off it drowns out the sound of the ambalance driving by, the horn of the person that he just cut off and when he gets off at a ramp, and you downshift to pass someone, you get pulled over.
__________________ SE-R SpecV
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. - Ben Franklin
Illegal windshield washer nozzle lights. Only white or yellow are allowed. (25106 VC, 24003 VC).
ok, I agree with this part of it. Now if only white and yellow can be banned as well.
it is shitty that its illegal to mod your import, since a header/exhaust might be louder however its still not putting out nothing like a muscle car without a cat or muffler at all. Look at the smog output there.
It would sucks if you were driving next to a 69 camero and you could hear the cams and when he takes off it drowns out the sound of the ambalance driving by, the horn of the person that he just cut off and when he gets off at a ramp, and you downshift to pass someone, you get pulled over.
Lol, a kid I used to know had a Honda civic with blue washer nozzle lights, and someone in front of him pulled over because they thought the washer lights were police lights or something. I didn't really believe him, but I guess it can be mixed up with a popo car?
I like how it's a crackdown on rice. BIG wings.. haha incredible.
driving while asian.........bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha..h oly shit now that's funny
guess the black guys shooting each other in compton and watts can rest easy now that they can fire their weapons at people in peace now
Actually Watts is mostly Latino working class folk now.
And no, they don't stop 'merican muscle or hogs, only Imports. San Diego is pretty hardcore about it too.
My co-worker had a completely legal AE86 (not even riced-out) it was a little loud, but within the limits. His air intake even had a CARB number on it, but the cop said he didn't care and wrote him up for it anyways. He fought it, got the cop in trouble (they were harrassing him and his GF, a called him a "riceboy," he happens to be Korean, so decided to make trouble for the cop).
I keep my cars looking stock, and while they might be a little loud at WOT, nothing to bad. The bodies look stock, the height isn't rediculous, and I make sure everything is functional.
Just because a car is modified doesnt make it a street racer.
On a side note, because this law isnt so bad if it gets cars like this off the street
Poor CRX...
__________________
Sun Burst 04 Spec-V: Gen II Nismo CAI - Megan Racing header - IM Pulley - JWT Cams - Motor Mount Inserts - HPA Downpipe - Apex'i WS2 - Faktion Gen2 Short Shifter - Custom Lip - Tinted Windows
Last edited by Butt Hurt : Aug 9th, 2005 at 11:26 PM.
We had one of thoes sweeps here in Fresno a month ago. They sited over 75 cars, and tow a total of 15 cars.
Shitty thing is that they do now go after imports more than the domestics, and loud ass motorcycles. I do think its bullshit. I hate loud ass Harleys always waking me up in the middle of the night.
Its good, and bad all at the same time.
Linear Mode
