So just got a no front plate ticket today after 3 years. Cool guy no problems with him.

But he started saying he could give me a violation for having a lowered car. (period) and I explained I was on bags and could raise or lower it, he then said he could give me a ticket for driving too low lol.

Mind you this entire time I'm being a respectful guy that I am so no problems occurred and I went on my way home from class. I am meeting with him today at 4pm to get the ticket signed off and he said he would be willing to show me the VC violation for being lowered since he didn't know off top what it was.

So my question to you all is what is the VC code? I believe him since I know technically speaking any modification to the car is against code but what is the specific one for being lowered? I am pretty sure it states the headlights cannot be lower than 12in to the ground nor can the body of the car sit below the lip of the wheel or something like that.

Thank you iclub

Also please don't make a statement without having valid evidence of a VC violation code to prove your statement. These threads often get filled up with false information lol

-Brendan

 

Lowered car is VC.24008

i believe the legal height is 22 inches from the floor to the middle of your headlights.

you'd get a ticket looking like this. hot!!

 

Headlamps on Motor Vehicles
24400. (a) A motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall be:

(1) Equipped with at least two headlamps, with at least one on each side of the front of the vehicle, and, except as to vehicles registered prior to January 1, 1930, they shall be located directly above or in advance of the front axle of the vehicle. The headlamps and every light source in any headlamp unit shall be located at a height of not more than 54 inches nor less than 22 inches.

(2) Operated during darkness, or inclement weather, or both, with at least two lighted headlamps that comply with paragraph (1).

(b) As used in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), “inclement weather” is a weather condition that is either of the following:

(1) A condition that prevents a driver of a motor vehicle from clearly discerning a person or another motor vehicle on the highway from a distance of 1,000 feet.

(2) A condition requiring the windshield wipers to be in continuous use due to rain, mist, snow, fog, or other precipitation or atmospheric moisture.

Modification of Vehicles

24008. It is unlawful to operate any passenger vehicle, or commercial vehicle under 6,000 pounds, which has been modified from the original design so that any portion of the vehicle, other than the wheels, has less clearance from the surface of a level roadway than the clearance between the roadway and the lowermost portion of any rim of any wheel in contact with the roadway.

 

SO basically he's probably telling you to lay oil pan of frame so you can truely be bagged.

 

It depends on what code he hits you with.

Technically he can hit you with this...
24008. It is unlawful to operate any passenger vehicle, or commercial vehicle under 6,000 pounds, which has been modified from the original design so that any portion of the vehicle, other than the wheels, has less clearance from the surface of a level roadway than the clearance between the roadway and the lowermost portion of any rim of any wheel in contact with the roadway.

24400 is for the head lights. The center of the headlight must be no higher than 54 inches and no lower than 22 inches.

24008.5 is for that. Frame height is at a max of 23 inches. The bottom of the floor can be no higher than 5 inchs off the frame (body lift).



but the top one is the clincher... it's one of those things where they put laws in so leo's can write a ticket for just about anything.

 

this in morgan hill?

 

I came across these too I just checked the VC book.

By my understanding it doesn't say it is illegal to lower the vehicle as long as the lights are between 22-54 inches, and the body of the car doesn't sit below the rim. Right?


yeah intersection of E main and Hale.

Pretty sure he popped me in Sheriff territory but oh well lol

 

nah, main/hale is in the city.

 

He actually didn't technically pull me over until I was on hale and wright. Passed the bus stop

 

doesn't really matter but that's still in the city boundary.

 

Essentially... it's a lot like a lot of other tickets they'll write... if you can prove you're legal then you'll get off. But by that time you've already burned time for court and effort and money. They want you not to fight it.

Buddy of mine got one for being too low in fremont from Rosetti. I think he used the head light deal.

My advice... buy california state code book. Put it in your car. Mark every law that pertains to your vehicle that you think they might get you on. Put a measuring tape in your car. If they pull you over and tell you you're getting a ticket for being too low ask them which code.

If it's the lights... and it probably will be. Measure it.


It's like the DB limit laws. They don't have to be right they just have to think they're right. They can pretty much always find a law if they really want to.

But from my understanding... you're car is perfectly legal as long as you're not driving around on the ground because your tire is about 2 inches tall.

 

state of california 2013 vehicle code

dot pdf

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/veh_code.pdf

 

Which I have basically done...never thought he would say lowering was totally illegal though so learned something new LOL

Cops will be cops, i have nothing against them and have no intention of making their life hard unless they try to give me a ticket for something I know is BS, like the ride height thing.

Thanks guys

 

Lowrider guys have been dealing with those for ages. Especially if you ever went cruising Santa Clara. Anyway yes you can get popped for too low and they can get you on various VC violations that deal with lights as well. Your fogs, your headlights, marker lamps, reflectors yada yada yada all have a minimum and maximum height requirement.



Source: Im a certified Brake and Lamp tech for California

 

Pssh. What do YOU know :P