No More Mods for Cali Cars.
08-09-2005, 01:36 PM
#1
No More Mods for Cali Cars.
http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/05/576.asp
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.
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.
08-09-2005, 01:58 PM
#3
I think it is good almost.
Aslong as you don't do anything stupid like street race you should be fine. Sounds to me like they are targeting the ricers I hate so much. As long as you don't put on a 6 foot tall wing, and a fart can you are fine I bet.
Besides, a max is more of a family car, we should be FINE.
Aslong as you don't do anything stupid like street race you should be fine. Sounds to me like they are targeting the ricers I hate so much. As long as you don't put on a 6 foot tall wing, and a fart can you are fine I bet.
Besides, a max is more of a family car, we should be FINE.
08-09-2005, 07:25 PM
#15
Originally Posted by Deckdout2
Hope they keep that $hit in Cali.
I guess I can go with the excessive noise part (ricer muffers = annoying) but I have to disagree with the whole "window tinting, large spoilers, extra gauges or racing stickers" profiling part. I don't see how those are illegal, except too dark of tint.
Just because you have those things, doesn't mean you necessarily street race. That's like saying "pull over that guy in the Viper because his car is capable of going 180 mph." If I have a Viper, Corvette, Ferrari, etc., does that mean I deserve the same treatment, too? Jeff was right about the Harleys, too. Many of them have exhaust that is as loud or louder than a lot of ricers.
California sucks. The only scary thing is Oregon and Washington are liberal enough to try and immitate a lot of the dopey laws California thinks up.
08-09-2005, 08:45 PM
#19
fawk california... if i were to move there i'd just register my modified car in another state... especially to beat out emissions... as long as you have residency or family in another, more lienient state you should be fine...
08-09-2005, 09:50 PM
#22
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by Nealoc187
I could make a political comment right here but I will refrain and just say that california is retarded in general.
i agree with you on that. california sucks in general in every single way from not being able to find a job to every freaking place is soo expensive to buy or even rent and the economy here sucks becasue california is in a huge debt that who knows when it will get out of it. and the sad part is i live here.
08-09-2005, 11:13 PM
#24
Newbie just Registered
Join Date: May 2005
Location: LA/OC, CA
Posts: 2,795
Originally Posted by enjetek
time to go back stock lol at least to me this has been heard of already. this started at some show called hot import daze where they waited for the show to end and starting stopping cars eh. 
-myke
-myke
They are also have a taskforce with portable sniffers and cameras, or EPA truck with somg machine, targeting "polluters" near the local colleges every couple of months or so near where I live in LA.
08-09-2005, 11:56 PM
#27
i think its wrong to come after a slow car with stickers while faster cars drive on by, i think all motorcycles should be stopped as well as sports cars if this is oging to be fair. people race in minivans so would u pull over every minivan.
and cops drive around in state issued cars with tints but its wrong for the people that pay for the cops to have tint themselves. if i lived in cali i would take them to court for this
and cops drive around in state issued cars with tints but its wrong for the people that pay for the cops to have tint themselves. if i lived in cali i would take them to court for this
08-10-2005, 06:45 AM
#31
Donating Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,931
Originally Posted by MDeezy
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 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.
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.
Um, if they weren't fascist morons, they'd just use the $5 million as revenue for the department and not waste resources harrassing law-abiding citizens. I hope they pick on the wrong rich kid that sues their butts all the way to the Supreme Court.
08-10-2005, 07:51 AM
#37
Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 69
They wont be stopping people to ticket them for having wings or stickers or the such, they'll be using those mods as probable cause to search the car for illegal mods like an engine swap or illegal exhausts aka no cats and what not.
So although yes you'll be getting pulled over for stupid mods that arent necessarily illegal, those arent actually what the cops are after.
Bad time to be a 240 owner with an sr20 in california if you ask me
So although yes you'll be getting pulled over for stupid mods that arent necessarily illegal, those arent actually what the cops are after.
Bad time to be a 240 owner with an sr20 in california if you ask me
08-10-2005, 08:31 AM
#38
Supporting Maxima.org Member
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 744
Originally Posted by Micah95GLE
Um, if they weren't fascist morons, they'd just use the $5 million as revenue for the department and not waste resources harrassing law-abiding citizens. I hope they pick on the wrong rich kid that sues their butts all the way to the Supreme Court.
08-10-2005, 08:52 AM
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 199
Dang that means alot of cars will be for sale.....especially the lowriders i know that there alot of them out there...hopefully that stupid law doesn't reach the east coast cuz then most of us will be screwed.....i think it is time for a revolution lol.....