California's Crackdown on Modified Cars
 

Might be a repost, but oh well... my friend linked me to this article yesterday.... makes you wanna think twice about bolting up that exhaust onto your car....

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.

[img]/rlc/pix/sti.jpg[/img]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.

Article Excerpt:

"We're looking to make a heavy impact on speeding and street racing in this area," Sacramento Police Deputy Chief Steve Segura said during a press conference with local and state officials on Del Paso Road in North Natomas.

damnit and I just got a test pipe.............................what happend to freedom? I think if you can pass the sniffer that should be the end of it......another reason to move......

then again 5 million bucks is a drop in the ocean to the GOV.

won't take them long to get that $5million back.


unfortunately people who fight it will almost always probably lose. can you even get a new stock exhaust system anymore? what is considered "non modified" exhaust? considering their wording even if you take your car to a muffler shop and have some cheap ass stock style cans put on with some chrome tips it would be illegal.

everyday i think we sink further into the abyss and it really disappoints me how our society is progressing. this will just produce revenue for the state and hurt the enthusiasts, if they think it will dissuade people from street racing they are sadly mistaken.

cars produce more horsepower every year, this is just stereotyping is all it is.


they should be hunting the people who do actually race on the streets not people who "look" like they will.


my car probably fits this description because of the modified exhaust but it is for autocrossing and track driving not for street racing.

hmm that sucks... but while on the topic.. could they fine you for having a modified engine/turbo/exhuast etc.. on an emissions except car? Like my 73 duece. I asked my buddy thats a cop.. but she does't know jack shit about cars.. So yea just want to double check that so if they bitch about the engine and stuff I know they can't legally do anything.. other then exhuast noise.... right?

There should be class action law suit for this.

:werd:

nope, the only laws that apply to smog exempt cars are noise and safety regulations.

Time to move... Damn it sucks to be an asian with an FD .:(

man this really sucks.. this really makes me think twice driving my car now. There should really be a class action for this.

Well next year get out and vote, write your mayor.. do somthing..

and what safity regulations apply? Would they bitch about bucket seats and harness?.. its alot better then the pos seat belts that came with from the factory..

i doubt they would do anything about upgraded safety equipment so long as it is done properly. if a cop pulls you over and finds the 5 point harness zip tied to the headliner i think he might write you a ticket for that. :p:

i'm not sure what regulations they had for '73 so i can't say what all applies, basically lap belts were about the only safety regulation i believe.

As I said, buy an old school and thats the end of it. oh yeah, thats 1975 and below; in other words, for ya nooobbbsss, its pre-76 cars. ;)

its all cause of that lil f*cker that killed that lady here in sac at natomas, they used his sorry a$$ as an example here in SAC

ouch......makes me wanna do a burnout.....

Good thing I am white. :D

Damnit, just my luck, living in Sac and not exactly smog legal. yup, that dumb ass, racing in the middle of the day with rush hour traffic.
-Bert

Aint that the truth LOL

Sad but true...

and they call this the land of the free? so where's the freedom now? everyday new rules come to play to limit what we can and cannot do.

^ True.. but have you ever lived any other country? Go to china, germany, russsia... this is the land of the free.. not as free as you would like... but you can sure get away with alot of bs here.

Wacky does have a point. I have a lots of C.H.P, and Sheriiff's customers that come in with Classic Domestic's (mustang, camaro, corvette) and Imports 240Z's corollas, Opel, Maserati's etc), some even tell storys to me how they love these cars when they drive around, that they'll "let them slide". "one said he wouldn't even pull any of them over just by Visually how much the enthusiest spent on his car cosmetically and Modifiying. giving a ticket to he/she would just make him feelbad..:(

Yes, but in other countries you can get away with a lot of bs too. In japan one of the "local drift spots" that slide squad talks about on their websites, which is a public mountain road, is right next to a police station, and while they can hear the cars from the station, they rarely break it up.

^this could be simply untrue, as I havent been there myself, but thats what the webpage says

Leave then. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

hey what the hell happened to the old guy who killed 20 people in 3rd st. promenade, Santa Monica.....two years ago....

so people over 60 can drive and kill....

oops speed bumps.....

hey it's too many people over here anyway..... Hurray for the twins (grandma and grandpa)...hehehe