Why do imported cars get pulled over and american cars dont. For example. Two cars side by side, one a mustang, the other say... A maxima. Both exhausts have the same decible rating and both look modified. Why is it that the Maxima would probobly get pulled over?

This is for a class so please, your 2 cents would be nice.

 

Because domestic racers have been around for decades and is a culture that is followed by both younger generations and older generations, for example, a 67 stang, barcuda, etc..

The import scene is fresh and there are more kids involved than the older crowd. And when there are younger kids, there is bound to be more trouble..

ED

 

A. What are the cops driving - domestic or import?
B. Which car is most likely to contain a "good ol boy" and which is most likely to contain some minority?

 

I don't even think your statement is valid. I drove Philly to Manhattan yesterday and it was a NJ State Trooper festival, no joke. Several of the vehicles pulled over were vans and minivans. The driver and his/her behavior is what causes a traffic stop. Do you honestly believe an officer mentally notes domestic vs. import before deciding to proceed with a stop? What type of class are you enrolled in?

 

Invalid Assumptions 101

 

Huh? I thought the mustang would get pulled way more than a Maxima. Being a 4 door sedan gives the Maxima the sleeper camouflage effect, I would think.

DW

 

he said if both are modified.... "riced out"

 

OK, but still, from the front, a Mustang will still look more aggressive and racey than a Maxima. From the rear, the only thing that would be different than a normal Maxima would be the tailpipe. Other than that, 4 door sedan.

DW

 

i highly doubt it would have anything to do with racial profiling

in regards to lets say a civic and a mustang.. i think the civic would be more targeted do to the fact that cops know more irresponsible teenagers that think they are invincible are driving them

 

well this is my $.02....although the chances of this happening vary depending on the officer.....its plain and simple that seniority rules.....domestics have been around for ages and tend to be driven by middle aged to older men, who are seen to be responsible, etc.. they are also a "symbol" of American culture(gas guzzling, environment killing, bigblocks something to be proud of!!) also the import crowd "tends" to be youunger thus it gets the reckless, speed racer label. and plus majority of the time the import car will be decorated in ridiculous lights and so forth!

I doubt that there is that much(but there is some) racial profiling when it comes to the import/domestic, personally I think its more of a "age profiling" thing if anything.

 

I dont knw much about the east coast but here in sunny california, many people get pulled over for having an exhaust. My class is a writting class in which I have to do a reasearch essay. I chose this topic cause all the good ones were taken. OUt of all the minivans and vans and cars that you saw, how many cars there were fixed up imports? Maybe you guys have more educated or informed police. My argument is that there are some local police officers out there that dont know what they are talking about when they pull a person over because of mods.

I agree with you totally on this matter but im not speaking of just maxima's. Using a max was just an example. Im mean all modified imports.

 

Fellows, let's give this young man some answers he can use in his paper (he said this was for research not necessarily what he thinks, I think he has to prove his thesis).

One of the good reasons has already been mentioned several times: The domestics have always been a part of the scenery. Back in the Late 60's to early 70's the same thing could have been said about "muscle cars" being picked on. Remember that imports, specially modded ones, do not have the same popular view as domestics. Remember The Fast and the Furious? Seen stories on TV about young driver(s) being killed in street racing? That is why, if your thesis were to be true, that Law Enforcement target one over the other. Stereotyping.

Another possible reason is the other side of the coin: The modded import crowd has always had the trouble makers. Young kids w/mom and dad's credit card that went out and got a fast "looking" car and likes to show off. There's a few in every crowd. After a while, a pattern emerges and unfortunately we live up to our stereotypes. Deserving.

If you are referring to noise issues as your basis, I think that if you have seen a pattern of biased enforcement then you will probably not see much input unless they are in the west coast. Here in the other side of the world most of the time exhaust is not the main reason for being pulled over. I have heard overwhelmingly more times of getting pulled over for racing, speeding, or loitering than noise ordinances. Atleast here in GA.

My .02 cents. Long as always, but mine nevertheless.

 

I know of a much better question.

Why do import cars w/ loud annoying exhausts get pulled over all the time but Harley's with even more annoying and louder exhaust do not?

 

OK Here's essay material for ya;

Import cars in a way represent the change in American society. No longer putting our trust in domestic vehicles, we don't want the union worker's un-acceptable strangehold on the auto industry. The american public has voted no with their dollars. Hi wages for low quality are just not having it anymore. The import vehicles are a slap in the face to domestics, and America. Foreigners can build better cars, for less money. A politician once remarked "we've been invaded by Japan yet again. Look at all the Toyotas and Hondas littering our streets"

For the Police officer, he represents all that is "good" in America, and it is his duty to preserve the cherry pie, the hot dog, and the mustang. Anything that represents America. So, he is just doing his duty by enforcing the laws of the road more on import vehicles than the domestics.

God bless America


You're welcome

DW

 

It's an age thing. My brother in law was a King County (Read:WTO Riots) cop for 7 years, and when I was a teenager would search my room when I wasn't home, pull friends of mine over to check on them, and generally be a d!ck.

He left the police force and a year ago called me to let me know that when you'e a cop, you get sucked into hating teenagers. They're the ones that do the crimes, most often.

He apoligized for being such a d!ck to me and my friends, and really feels bad about it, but says it's an attitude that most cops have, because teenagers cause so much trouble.

Most modded imports are driven by teenagers....
Many modded domestics are driven by older people.

SO sub-conciously, the cops pull over the modded imports.

Although the Maxima is more camouflage then say a TT Supra.

IanS

 

In New Zealand, they use Maximas as Police Cars and Fast Pursuit training vehicles. Someday we will learn too...

As for the profiling and whatnot; I have heard from a State Troopers mouth... that it doesn't necessarily have to do with the car or driver as much as the mood.

For example, in the Chicago land area, you could pull just about everybody over... same in some areas of California. I mean, the speed limit is 55 and everyone is doing 75, so take your pick.

Sometimes the officers get bored and say... I am going to stop blue SUVs with male drivers today. Believe it or not, there are enough people speeding that they can sift through and do just that. Is it unfair? I don't think so... as long as the person is breaking the law than it doesn't matter in my opinion.

With that said: I don't care if there are a hundred people doing the same thing you are, if you get pulled over for a legitimate reason (i.e. Reckless Driving, Speeding, Running a Stop Sign, Etc...) then you deserve it.

Whether you get a ticket or not is all about your attitude, and you can ask just about any Police Officer that. I can prove it too, because I have 2 warnings for 75 in a 45 over the last 4 years and two more for 85 in a 65. (Those are rounded off) I have one ticket in that time frame for 85 in a 65, and a friend that was in the car was being a smart ***.

HTH

 

No s%&t! You can hear those things a mile away when they are coasting. Then when they hit the gas, it hurts your ears. Those guys must be deaf.

 

I dont think a maxima would get pulled over unless it has all the goodies like bodykit, 20s stickers, exhaust lights and stuff like that.

Honda boyz get pulled over the most because they are famous for illegal JDM engine and stolen parts swaps. My friend with his realy loud but also really fast civic allways gets pulled over in a road block . Cops check his papers for his viteck engine and all the other sh*t.

Most of these cars are driven by teens, drug dealers, low lives and people who like to speed and have no license. Thats is why imports get pulled over more often then domestic in my town. Good Luck with the paper.