OK. So now I've got your attention.

What I want to know is if any of you California 5th Geners have ever gotten a ticket for violating Vehicle Code Section 27156. And what, you ask, is Vehicle Code Section 27156?

Well here it is in all its gory detail:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27156.htm

PS: In case the rest of you think you're off the hook because you don't live in California, guess again. I'll bet you've got a statute just like ours. If you do and if you've been cited for violating it, let me know.

 

Link dont work...

 

You're right. That's our tax dollars at work! Well, give it some time and try it again.

 

as title.....I think Uncle Sam is still on dial up.

 

since the link doesnt work how about you tell us what it says?

 

Basically what it says is that you're fockt if you knowingly remove or alter anything having to do with emissions control equipment on your car. In fact, if you're convicted, the court is required to levy the MAXIMUM fine available.

That's it in a nutshell.

 

That's only if you get caught,

 

oh okay, virginia is basically the same way. any and all exhaust modifications are illegal if i am not mistaken but it is hardly ever enforced.

 

Yup. That's what I'm trying to find out all right. To drill down even further, I'd like to know if any 5th Gen owner has ever been busted for having an aftermarket intake or exhaust. If so, what happened?

 

My brother got busted for his exhaust. He has a 92 civic (my old car) and he had straight pipe all the way back. It was REALLY loud so I wasn't surprised he was busted for it. I think that if you keep a low enough profile and don't speed around the cops too much then you don't have much to worry about.

 

That's probably a true statement. It won't be too much longer before the 2Ks start having to be smogged. It will be interesting to see what happens to those people who have installed aftermarket intakes and exhausts, particularly Y-pipes, when they take their cars in for smog checks . . .

 

I posted a thread about this after listening to a HORROR story at Napa about a guy with a homemade intake...... I live in a quiet area, so I have no problems here, but san Diego is popular for RICERS. Thats why I am planning on keeping my exterior stock. I was planning on getting wheels, but I will just stay stock and get them chromed.... If some AHOLE cop pops my hood and sees the intake. I could get impounded !

 

I really don't think most intakes apply here. Only because you are not changing out the sensors involved with emissions (O2, air temperature, etc.) This vehicle is more so designed for exhaust modifications. And I want to see a Cali-Spec 2k Max smog results with a y-pipe. I am looking to get a y-pipe, but I also want to be able to pass the smog check.

 

A lot of 4th gens have passed smog with a y-pipe on. As long as the car is warmed up (drive around for at least 15 minutes) before the smog inspection, the car will pass.

Most smog stations won't know you're missing a pre-cat anyway. They just look the main cat.

 

Great I'm a "gross emitter", but the problem is my car looks stock, and my intake isn't as loud as before, its the other item under the hood making all the noise

BOVs are bad, ByPass Valves are good

 

Thanks for the heads up that the DMV site is working now. Once again, here's the URL for you other "gross emitters":

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27156.htm

FYI, foodmanry, my mechanic who runs a smog inspection station told me that I cannot pass a smog inspection with an aftermarket intake unless the intake has an EO number. Unfortunately, no aftermarket intakes currently available for 5th Gen Maximas have EO numbers. So by definition, no 5th Gen Maxima with an aftermarket intake can pass a smog inspection in California unless, of course, the inspector doesn't know what he's looking at.

For those interested in EO numbers and the like, check out:

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/aftermkt.htm

 

I know a lot of people that have been pulled over from an intake to an exhaust mod and everything inbetween... Their punishments have varied from a minor fix-it ticket (if you're lucky) to a fine and a friendly visit to your local smog ref, but NEVER impound. The only reasons that I've heard of getting your car impounded would be to get caught and pulled over for something like exhibition of speed, wreckless driving, etc...

 

I agree, HulaMAX. Once again, we're back to the sensibility versus stupidity factor. The sensible approach says that if you're going to make illegal modifications to your vehicle (and you have to begin by questioning the sensibility of even doing that), you want your vehicle to remain as inconspicuous as possible. The stupid approach says that if you're going to install, say, a Y-pipe and a supercharger, you also want to install a Greddy EVO catback and a test pipe, slam your car as far as possible, run 20" chrome rims and white bulbs in your clear side markers, put neon all over your vehicle, install limo tint on all your windows AND your windshield, shave your door handles, advertise the manufacturers of your illegal mods by putting their stickers all over your car, purchase the loudest stereo on the planet and turn it up as far as possible while street racing in front of your local police station.

 

I should do that, and add suspended license and no insurance on the car due to a speeding ticket that ended up in my suspension.

- A+

 

Damn! I knew you guys would come up with more stupid stuff!

 

But my car is stock outside, looks stock under the hood, have a NOS Dry kit shooting 100 shot of nitrous, gutted out pre-cats and main cat is punched out... 2.5" SS mid pipe to a factory muffler...

My license is suspended along w/ Toylet's. Due to my driving record, my insurance company gave up, so my parents got insurance under their names as well as registration now, and I MUST drive cleanly for 2 years at the minimum.

 

I think the only time you'd get actually stopped is if you have a ricey exhaust. I am also in San Diego, and there is serious amount of rice and I've never seen anyone getting stopped for their exhaust.

 

I live in L.A. and the cops around here only get **** when you become one of those speeders weaving in and out of traffic and going 60+ on a 35 mph limit zone.

My cousin did that in his subaru and got cited for lowering the car, the cleared out lights, the white bulbs, intake, exhaust, speeding, reckless driving, and sent the next day for a smog check.

 

I think that's the way it normally goes. Cops will generally only mess with your mods if they bust you for speeding or reckless driving. But I was cited in L.A. County for not having a front license plate displayed (although my car was parked at the time) and I know of one person who was cited in Orange County for having white lights in his clear side markers. So it DOES happen.

 

Hey y2kse, is it just me or there aren't many ppl on this forum that drive 5th gen in L.A.? All I see around here are old grannies and family packed 5th gens.

 

More than that!... the "or leave standing on any highway" clause is what's really scary! Technically if, while doing a tuneup on the street in front of your apartment, you hot-foot to the car parts store to get a new... oh... oxygen sensor. A trooper could come along and cite you, because you "left it standing", and obviously it could be a polluter since the oxygen sensor is off it!

Scary... just think about it.

Buddywh

 

I think Californians can look for CARB certified mods and avoid citations. See sub-section H(1) below:


"(h) This section shall not apply to an alteration, modification, or modifying device, apparatus, or mechanism found by resolution of the State Air Resources Board to do either of the following:

(1) Not to reduce the effectiveness of any required motor vehicle pollution control device."

BuddyWh

 

I can tell you from personal experience that grey hair is an advantage, Larrio.

 

You are correct, Buddy. That's what the "EO" number is all about. The problem is, no intake currently available for the Maxima has an EO number. And obviously, neither does any equipment that eliminates a catalytic convertor.

 

I wonder what the story is behind that. I mean... don't cars with intake mods regularly pass California's pollution inspections (which are pretty involved, as I understand it). If so, doesn't it make sense for an after market intake mfr to get the certification since it doesn't hamper pollution control performance?

Maybe it's because they don't consider this law a serious impediment to their ability to sell their product.

Are there exhaust mods that are certified? Obviously they would leave catalytic convertor and oxygen sensors intact.

BuddyWh

 

They're not supposed to if the intake doesn't have an EO number.

Time and expense prevent most aftermarket intake manufacturers from obtaining C.A.R.B. exemption.

I'd say that's an accurate observation.

From an emissions perspective, you're fairly safe in modifying your exhaust to the rear of the catalytic convertor(s). But obviously, no exhaust mod will be certified if it removes or modifies emissions control equipment.

 

Ditto