Car Enthusiest in California

[94ttsupra]

Hi,

So as my screen name implies I own a 94 Toyota Supra, and I want to open a discussion about some things. I have modified my car to take to the track and race, but I do drive it on the street too. Some of the questions or topics I have were discussed but that was back in 2004. I want to check and see if anything is different now.

First question: What are the thoughts from LEO's here on street driven cars (specifically imports or more specifically a Supra) having a roll cage in it? Do you think this will contribute to being pulled over more or if I do get pulled over would make the LEO think the car is illegal, etc. Basically could putting a cage in result in being pulled over and harassed or are most pretty understanding about added safety of a cage? (I know that it will depend on how I am driving as well)

Secondly, In your opinions do some, or more LEO's have problems with import cars in general? Or just the obnoxiously loud crappy sounding import cars that probably everyone hates? If so would you tend to lump a Supra with a "ricer" or just a performance car?

I do currently have a very loud exhaust system on there. (I AM CHANGING IT WITHOUT DOUBT. IT IS WAY TOO LOUD ) The question here is, if I leave the muffler on it and quiet it with resonators, if not to the legal db limit then damn close to it, can I be pulled over only because the tip is HUGE? (It is a 5" tip that looks like a diesel system.) I was told that CHP will pull you over just because of tip size even.

Lastly, I do have some stuff on the car that is not CARB legal but the car passes smog in CA so could that still be a problem if I was asked to pop my hood?


Thanks a lot for the help

[ChesCopPodz]

Can't answer to CA, but how would officers know there's a roll cage in it? I'm not being a smart a$$, but I can't think of any way to even see a roll cage without removing the roof.

Secondly, here, any non factory spec muffler and exhaust is illegal. Basically, if it's not something that you'd get if you went into Autozone and asked for a muffler, it's not legal. Personally, I only stop for exhaust if it's very loud, or if something has drawn my attention to the driver and I use the illegal exhaust as a reason to stop and talk with him.

[94ttsupra]

Thanks for the reply. I don't know if a cage can be tucked up enough to be well hidden or not. The car is a Targa Top too so I am going to try and keep the cage from being an inconvenience for me and being too visible with the top off. (hopefully)

I basically want to be able to enjoy my car and not attract anymore attention than it gets now but do want the added safety of a cage. I am concerned that a cage if seen, whether driving by or once pulled over for exhaust or something similar might provoke some concerns from officers as to the legality of the car. Now that I am older I don't get pulled over as much and I have calmed down on my driving while on the street, which of course helps a lot. ;-)

I like your quote by the way................. "An amateur will train until they get it right. A professional will train until they can't get it wrong."

[mcsap]

MOST frequently cars are stopped because of the actions of the driver rather than the appearance of the car. Roll cages are not illegal in PA as long as they dont obstruct your view of the road. Unless you plan to rally race , why bother ??

The expense , the driling holes in the interior etc. Or is it just for looks ?

[retdetsgt]

Now that I am older I don't get pulled over as much and I have calmed down on my driving while on the street, which of course helps a lot. ;-)

Bingo. As long as the car is street legal and the driving is okay, it's just another car on the road.

[94ttsupra]

MOST frequently cars are stopped because of the actions of the driver rather than the appearance of the car. Roll cages are not illegal in PA as long as they dont obstruct your view of the road. Unless you plan to rally race , why bother ??

The expense , the driling holes in the interior etc. Or is it just for looks ?

Thanks. I am going to be road racing it soon and I drag race it currently so I just want to be as safe as possible in it.

[94ttsupra]

Bingo. As long as the car is street legal and the driving is okay, it's just another car on the road.

If only I had considered that when I was younger I would have saved a lot of money!

[Legoate]

If only I had considered that when I was younger I would have saved a lot of money!

And that's generally the problem with car mods- people can't help themselves but bring the track to city streets.

I work for a CA department that received federal grant money to conduct street racing enforcement. We had a huge number of racing related wrecks and fatalities. We targeted modified cars as a method to target racers. Once you get an eye for it, it's pretty easy to figure out who has been messing around under their hood, here are a few hints:

1. Cars don't come with exhaust pipes that look like coffee cans.
2. Stock cars don't sound like chain saws when they run.
3. Cars aren't meant to be driven on city streets with the fenders rubbing on the tires.
4. No car comes out of the factory with pink headlights, neon underbody lights, or little sparklies on their windshield wipers.
5. Stickers telling me you have an illegal exhaust, illegal JDM motor, or stating that you are "faster than a speeding ticket" indicate that you are a complete moron in search of police intervention.
6. Hondas don't come with anodized aluminum tow rings attached to the back bumper.
7. Street legal vehicles don't require NOS to get from point A to point B.
8. The state of CA requires two license plates, we don't care if you have a custom carbon fiber front bumper, a plate belongs on it.


Believe it or not, normal citizens don't want to listen to your loud exhaust- hence the reason there is a law in CA against modifying it.

There are SMOG regulations in CA for a reason also- you say your car "passes smog", but I'm guessing if I tagged you for a SMOG violation for removing installed smog equipment and sent you to a CARB smog shop, you would never pass smog again.

Racing, believe it or not, is directly related to vehicle theft in my area and here is the reason why: Moron streetracer does not really know how to drive and blows out his engine. Knowing that a new motor costs around $8000, he and his buddies steal someone elses car and strip the motor out of it so they can get back to driving like idiots again. So that means Joe citizen comes out from dinner with his wife to find his Honda Prelude missing. He gets it back a week later with no wheels, motor, battery, or airbags.

If you want to own a race car- own one and race it on the track. But it does not belong on a public roadway.

[G35 Mass]

The only vehicle I've ever seen on the street with a roll cage is this D.B. that lives near me with a heavily modified ****stang (blower poking through the hood, racelite front wheels, slicks in the rear) that blows past my house daily @ WOT, rattling my windows, setting off my car alarm and making my dog **** itself. He IS going to kill someone someday.

These cars don't belong on the road next to families, next to hazardous materials, next to me.

If you're willing to claim that you drive like a peach, get a used Corolla as a beater. The $ you save in gas alone will pay for the car.

[DeltaV]

Not all people who modify their cars street race, yet I don't think I've ever seen a car involved in a street race that wasn't modified in some way. Whether you think it's right or wrong, modified cars are associated with street racing. Also, there are lots of people out there who drive their modified cars like idiots (as Leogate pointed out) without regard for other people on the road. Does this mean you do that? No. But that just adds to the already negative image that most people have when it comes to modified cars.

If your car is illegally modified then you can expect to be stopped and cited. That's the bottom line. If it's not illegally modified then you shouldn't have a problem. If your car LOOKS like a race car then you can expect extra scrutiny from law enforcement whether or not it's illegally modified, but that doesn't mean that you're going to just get stopped every time you drive.