Consequences of getting caught with SR20 in Cali?

[Jay Dee M]

OK guys,

I know that this is not the best subject for my first post. But I just bought a 240sx with an SR20DET already installed, and I was wondering what are the consequences if I get pulled over with it (by the way in live in So. Cal). I heard from some people that the cops will confiscate your car and have it crushed. Is that true?

Have any of you guys with SR20s gotten pulled over? Did the cops ask you to pop your hood?

[The Mic]

Whilst CA vehicle law (though I live in southern California) really isn't my field, I think I can make an educational speculation as to what would happen.

I thinking in terms of the procedure for illegal mods (e.g. aftermarket muffler, no plates, tinted front windows, etc..), so maybe it would go something like this:

1.Your car would probably be impounded for a while.

2.You would probably have to pay a fine.

3.You would then be obliged to swap out the illegal engine and remove all illegal components and swap the factory engine in, and then be ordered to show proof of the swapped-back-to-a-factory-engine action.

4.Then your insurance premium would skyrocket.

edit: 1 thing I'm sure the state will definitely no do is crush your car because of an illegal engine.
Modified by The Mic at 11:44 PM 10/31/2005

[efrain240sx]

It all depends on the cop if he knows his engines. My friend got pulled over once for speeding cop made him pop his hood but the cop didnt now what he was looking at so he just got a ticket for speeding. In the other hand I got pulled over these one time back then when I had my ka24 whit some mods and the cop did know about engines so I got a couple fix it tickets. But like I said it all depends on the cop knowledge.

[karmakaze]

thank god that we don't have smog checks in tennessee.

[Jay Dee M]

It all depends on the cop if he knows his engines. My friend got pulled over once for speeding cop made him pop his hood but the cop didnt now what he was looking at so he just got a ticket for speeding. In the other hand I got pulled over these one time back then when I had my ka24 whit some mods and the cop did know about engines so I got a couple fix it tickets. But like I said it all depends on the cop knowledge.

Yea, but since So. Cal probably has the most modified cars in the country, and probably the most SR20DET-powered 240's, I'm sure that there are a good number of cops who know what an SR20DET looks like.

As long as I don't run the risk of permanently losing my 240sx, I'm ready to start doing some serious work to it.

[efrain240sx]

Yea, but since So. Cal probably has the most modified cars in the country, and probably the most SR20DET-powered 240's, I'm sure that there are a good number of cops who know what an SR20DET looks like.

As long as I don't run the risk of permanently losing my 240sx, I'm ready to start doing some serious work to it.

yeah I know what you mean im in socal to. what im doing whit my sr is im trying to keep every thing low-profile no shine things under the hood.

[Jesse SR20]

yeah I know what you mean im in socal to. what im doing whit my sr is im trying to keep every thing low-profile no shine things under the hood.

I plan on making a sheet metal cover over my Apex intake (and painting it black).

[efrain240sx]

I plan on making a sheet metal cover over my Apex intake (and painting it black).

that is a good idea because what most cops know about are intake cones. Im trying to keep all my stuff black to to make it look stock.
Modified by efrain240sx at 11:52 PM 11/1/2005

[sunnys14]

you should just cut your old air box and cover it over the cone filter to hide it to some degree

[sp33dg33k]

I plan on making a sheet metal cover over my Apex intake (and painting it black).

I am going to do this too because the last time I went to have my car smogged, the technician almost did not want to smog my car because of the shiny CAI.What kind of paint did you use? Where can I buy them? I liked the way you painted because of the way it looks, they look like rubber hoses.thanks.

[NoOneBetter]

just use the Dupli Color engine enamel its dyno heat tested hahaha

[ILikeMy240sx]

your engine bay looks nice and clean!

Some of the things you people in CA have to through... man that sucks a big one.

[drifter_for_life06]

glad i live in the good old common wealth of PA

if you get a front clip you could always use the stock airbox if it comes with it

otherwise that sheetmetal thing is a good idea

[bdrifta]

Hehe...thanks for bringing up this subject. I also live i cali, but i live north of sacramento. I was pulled over after driving my newly swaped sr for about 18 seconds...and the cop claimed that i was "swerving." which i wasn't...see, i didn't have my hood on, and i was burning of a whole bunch of spilt Power steering fluid, so the guy pulls me over, and tells me to stop swerving, and asks what im doing. I say im trying to get my car working properly. He asks whats wrong. and i said i wasn't sure yet, hence the test drive. He shined his flashlight over my engine, and said, direct quote: "well.........it looks.........clean?" to which i replied. "thanks......i guess" he laughed and said, too bad it doesn't work, and wandered of telling me to stop swerving. Guess he didn't know to much about the SR. HAHA.

Hey question: I heard that most of the time cops don't have the right to tell you to pop the hood of your car, and that most the time they ask and you give up your rights when you open it. I was wondering the valididy of this.

Thanks all

[jdm_master_X]

i am a resident of the bay area. on the weekends i go back to fairfield where i originally live but i live in fremont half the time (fairfield and fremont cops are very ANAL).

i did get pulled over 3 times with my 240sx with a blacktop.

2 of the 3 incidents were minor, and i got warnings. the 3rd incident had my hood popped open. a police officer has to have a VERY VERY LEGITIMATE reason as to why you were pulled over. in my case, it was because my interior was completely stripped (told you they're a little anal). anyway, i guarantee the first thing the police officer will ask you, regardless if hes a d!ck or not, is "are there any aftermarket modifications done to this car?" in my case, i couldn't lie. i said yeah to him and he asked me, "do you have the proper paperwork to confirm that these modifications are legal?" in my case, only ONE thing in my car is smog legal (at the time, it was my intake).

the only way a cop will pop your hood is IF:-you cannot show proof of legality of your aftermarket parts-he is highly knowledgeable about engines-you get TOO nervous and crap yourself in front of the guy

what im trying to get at is, IF YOU HAVE AN SR in CALIFORNIA, just try to stay low profile with it. i hate driving like a grandma on the highways but for my benifit i gotta do it. that means your going to keep your crazy shenanigans in a place thats incognito (track, empty lot). i never redline my SR, and i make sure my blow off is super quiet (thats why i have the old school HKS BOV from the early 90s, haha). make sure to keep exhaust noise at minimum, and obviously, try to keep your car in formation with other cars on the road. make sure there is always other drivers to every side of you so that no police officer could squeeze in and bust your ***.

i did a report in high school for US Gov't class about Highway Laws and stuff. laws depend obviously on your state, but is also measured based on county and city laws as well. i talked to police officers, and in order for your violations to be finalized, it has to be confirmed on a higher level, meaning these violations were just and that the officer himself must provide DISTINCT evidence on your violation (in this case, the SR that he could have/did impound). the officer must consider the time it would take to prosecute you on whatever, hence the option of just ticketing you, saving time for both of you, and getting his quota cash.

the chances of you running into a TOTAL d!ck is slim if YOU ARENT A TOTAL d!ck/IDIOT.

if you would like to know the names of the officers i interviewed in my report, just ask and they will be glad to speak with you about the laws. I interviewed officers from Sacramento, Fairfield, Daly City, and San Jose Police.

just be safe out there, okay guys?

[bdrifta]

the only way a cop will pop your hood is IF:-you cannot show proof of legality of your aftermarket parts-he is highly knowledgeable about engines-you get TOO nervous and crap yourself in front of the guy

so let me get this straight. If i were indeed to purchase intake and exhaust that could provide the "legal paperwork" then in theory, the cop couldn't have the ability to pop my hood, because if those were proven legal, then he has no probable cause...Is this correct?

...not that i intend to do this...

[jdm_master_X]

yes. and i did provide legal paper work. and even now, i have "legal paperwork". unless he really knows your lying, but legal paperwork is and SHOULD always look like LEGAL PAPERWORK. you have to be a total dunce to have CARB numbers scribbled on college ruled paper.

just declare what you have, or at least what's "legal", and show him the associated paperwork. unless hes a TRUE d!ck and calls you a liar (and with your "legal" paperwork, his call would be accurate.)

[jamied311]

,

[RichthePoser]

Wow, glad to see we have some local Bay Area SR's!

Rich

[2_Liter_Turbo]

Wow, glad to see we have some local Bay Area SR's!

Rich

You'd be suprised to how many SR's are in the Bay Area. I know about 5 people personally that have them, and that's just in Marin county. And, I'll be number six when I work in San Rafael during this comming summer.