California Crackdown on Modified Cars
California Crackdown on Modified Cars
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.
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.
$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.
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.
terrible news...
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: So Cali
bad news that they are getting more money to do this... but this has been going on for years... i dont know how many times I have been pulled over for absolutely nothing... its just the way the peoples republik of kalifornia is going... too much bs...
i wouldn't mind if drag-net's primary concern was to crack down illegal drag races, but a senseless pullover due to certain modifications is pissing me off.
imagine a pullover because of huge vinyl stickers and aftermarket mufflers.
imagine a pullover because of huge vinyl stickers and aftermarket mufflers.
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 500
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From: SoCal
It seems like they are pulling people over for the wrong reasons. If they are targetting people with window tints, they will also probably look for people with smoked tail lights... poor Bluebatmobile would go out of business 
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Encino (L.A. 818), Killa Kali
all i got to say is this. F THE POLICE. im sick of this crap, this is another way for them to make more money off of us. But hey wat can we do. They pull over the asian and german cars but leave the domestics alone.
Registered User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 17,096
Likes: 12
From: East Bay, Cali
Sedan
I understand the logic here, but just because someone's car looks aggressive doesn't mean they are a street racer. They're trying to be proactive rather than reactive.
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I suspect that some of the difficulty may be age based. As many of you well know, I am a balding white guy over 50, and I have NEVER been pulled over, possibly for this reason. (Having said that, my time will probably come this week!).
My car is lowered, supercharged and thus possessed of an inescapable jet engine whine, with a VIS vented hood, so it does not take much if you have a practiced eye or ear to pick it out. There are lots of extra gauges, but NOT the A pillar type that are easy to spot...they are all stealth mounted in cubbies that close up and are hard to see from the outside. But the roll bar and four point harnesses are visible enough. No tint, no wild paint job (just pearl white), no baking tray spoilers.
Stickers? How about NITTO across the top of the windshield! Or in the drivers side quarter panel the SCCA decal in four inch diameter right next to the Skip Barber Race Series decal? And if that is not "in your face" enough, the "Kundalini Racing" script. And the 8 inch high racing number "03" on each rear quarter of the side body panel in front of the rear wheels. Of course.....the windo decals are flanked by my little decals that show I contributed more than $100 each to the police and sheriffs department and the local fire department this year.
Maybe that helps? Just a little?
I was at the gas station and a CHP highway patrol officer sees me pull in and fill up. He brings his bike over, starts asking questions. But not about is your exhaust legal or do you have mods....just stuff like "cool car, do you race it, and where?" I was careful NOT to discuss FI or high flow catalytic converters....and he was very careful NOT to ask. We talked about Laguna Seca and Sear Point, and his dirt bike racing. But when we pulled out of the station together, he sure as heck knew. We took off down the freeway together and stomped it up to 65mph, side by side, at which point I held speed and he went ahead up to about 85mph, with a wave of the hand to say "so long".
My car is lowered, supercharged and thus possessed of an inescapable jet engine whine, with a VIS vented hood, so it does not take much if you have a practiced eye or ear to pick it out. There are lots of extra gauges, but NOT the A pillar type that are easy to spot...they are all stealth mounted in cubbies that close up and are hard to see from the outside. But the roll bar and four point harnesses are visible enough. No tint, no wild paint job (just pearl white), no baking tray spoilers.
Stickers? How about NITTO across the top of the windshield! Or in the drivers side quarter panel the SCCA decal in four inch diameter right next to the Skip Barber Race Series decal? And if that is not "in your face" enough, the "Kundalini Racing" script. And the 8 inch high racing number "03" on each rear quarter of the side body panel in front of the rear wheels. Of course.....the windo decals are flanked by my little decals that show I contributed more than $100 each to the police and sheriffs department and the local fire department this year.
Maybe that helps? Just a little?
I was at the gas station and a CHP highway patrol officer sees me pull in and fill up. He brings his bike over, starts asking questions. But not about is your exhaust legal or do you have mods....just stuff like "cool car, do you race it, and where?" I was careful NOT to discuss FI or high flow catalytic converters....and he was very careful NOT to ask. We talked about Laguna Seca and Sear Point, and his dirt bike racing. But when we pulled out of the station together, he sure as heck knew. We took off down the freeway together and stomped it up to 65mph, side by side, at which point I held speed and he went ahead up to about 85mph, with a wave of the hand to say "so long".
^^^ Wow!!! You don't hear that kind of thing very often! I have been pretty lucky, but never had an experience like that... They should train all cops to act like that 
I've been pulled over twice with Bat's overlays and fortunately nothing was mentioned. I was real concerned when I first got them and tried to never let a cop stay behind me... The brake lights and taillights are completely visible when illuminated so I guess that helps.
I agree with previous post - they should target road racing and not single out mods for no reason.
I've been pulled over twice with Bat's overlays and fortunately nothing was mentioned. I was real concerned when I first got them and tried to never let a cop stay behind me... The brake lights and taillights are completely visible when illuminated so I guess that helps.
I agree with previous post - they should target road racing and not single out mods for no reason.
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Joined: Sep 2004
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its a shame,
Cops dont realise that the nice cars out there dont really screw around and race cos they have too much @ stake.
It usually stupid ppl in stock cars or beat up cars that think they are in fast and the furious.
When u see two idiots racing down the freeway in stock cars, do u see the cops catching them? nope...
sucks ***** for show ppl, o well, time to get a nice stock daily driver i guess.
Drive safe guys
Cops dont realise that the nice cars out there dont really screw around and race cos they have too much @ stake.
It usually stupid ppl in stock cars or beat up cars that think they are in fast and the furious.
When u see two idiots racing down the freeway in stock cars, do u see the cops catching them? nope...
sucks ***** for show ppl, o well, time to get a nice stock daily driver i guess.
Drive safe guys
Registered User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 710
Likes: 0
From: Burbank, CA
What is a shame is that our government finds that the offenders they want to pour money at to pursue are people with modified cars. They aren't going after street racers (as modified does not mean street racing) just modified cars, which we all know means imports, because I never see them pulling over mustangs or more importantly, Harleys (for noise violations)!
Rather than dump that money into our schools, or pour it into redeveloping our drivers license system (ie making it tougher for the elderly to keep their license, as I am a firm believer they cause more problems than ricky racer), they want to go after the worst people out there, those driving along at the speed limit with a muffler, gauges, or graphics... OOOOOOOH NOOOOOOO! The nerve of us!
Ugh! I hate this state!
Rather than dump that money into our schools, or pour it into redeveloping our drivers license system (ie making it tougher for the elderly to keep their license, as I am a firm believer they cause more problems than ricky racer), they want to go after the worst people out there, those driving along at the speed limit with a muffler, gauges, or graphics... OOOOOOOH NOOOOOOO! The nerve of us!
Ugh! I hate this state!
man... that really sucks for daily show cars and lets see thats ALL OF MY team members.. sigh... if this happens down in s cali ia m getting out of the show scene..
harsh stuff.. sigh..
ed
harsh stuff.. sigh..
ed
A lot of police officers drive the cars that they are targeting. I have seen plenty. Here in MN we actually have a city that has a yellow integra type r interceptor car. This is stupid. I watched an asian kid get his car ripped apart on a stop in Oakland around lake merrit it was crazy. they were measuring this and that and had his hood up. It was stupid. I undestand what they are trying to accomplish, but they need to be careful. If they see someone driving around like an idiot, they should use this to punish them. With a lot of modifications you can still pass an emmissions test. I would get an emissions cert after every mod. They are like $25 bucks or something like that. If you ever get ticketed, take them to court, bring your car as it was and a mobile emissions testor. Counter sue the state for the costs involved in fighting this and you will win if your car can pass emissions. It won't matter if the parts are carb certified or not. This is a fact.