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California Crackdown

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/05/576.asp

Quote:

California Crackdown on Modified Cars
$5 million in federal money will fund a Sacramento, California effort to stop drivers in modified cars.

Unmodified Subaru looks modifiedPolice 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.

fuck that.... i can understand if they get mad if you have a uuc exhaust, or a honda...but wtf... stickers? wings? gauges? thats probable cause? window tint? uhhhhhhhh

Thats crap dude, those cops have no idea what ther doing. Thats just stupid, their spending serious money to try to make more money, thats all it is.

i hate this goddam corrupted government. one day i'm goin to some island, close to mainland hopefully, and have a specially designed race course and every year have special races. not to mention sometimes the cops can have your car impounded and crushed, if the police would say you were street racing even if you weren't

Hoorah! i live in sacramento...oh shit... ;) thats why i have more than one car...and my car is now destickered

Have I mentioned how I hate cops?

This law is stupid....first gas prices goes up the roof... now this crap... I feel very sorry for those of you who live in the LA area...

yo, thats gay, if someone has rims on their car and a bodykit, nothing to do with performance, than they get a ticket, how gay

That is fucking retarded.

boy the CHP (cali highway patrol) where I live are going to love this.

Dont hate the cops, hate the people who passed it. Cops just do their jobs.

another thread from the dead baby.

"don't hate me, i'm just doing my job" ... ugh, ok.

Damn im so glad i Moved outta So CAL! Woot! Fuck That and Fuck Smog chex!

I agree with the statment of more of an excuse to make more money I would understaind the street racing crack down but sighting cars with kits and stickers is far fetched.

That is BS! Keeping the roads safe is fine, but detering people from expressing their individuality is against our constitutional right of freedom of speech and expression.