Another LEO question (lowering vehicles)
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From: BAIC Wagon Clique
Car Info: '02 WRB WRX Wagon
I still remember one of the first UCKK meets when this WRX owner Jeff pulled in with a UC motorcycle cop behind him. Tried to get him for being too low. The cop even pulled out his measuring tape and checked the headlight height. But it was within spec and let him go.
Token Toyota Mod
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From: Palo Alto, CA
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Sorry, I'm an old woman.
If you want to go that low, you should get a vw
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,856
From: San Leandro, CA
Car Info: Forester XTi
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.
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.
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From: on the way to lake tahoe to shread! turbo beast
Car Info: 2016 WRX, 2014 lifter forester XT, 2005 JDM207 WGN
If you bumper is lover then where the tire and rim meets they can also say the car is to low, I got one with my gsr a year or so ago
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From: Morgan Hill
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General Pimpin'
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From: Knee deep in beer. subabrew crew, ca.
Car Info: MY04 aspen wrx wagon.
Just a FYI no cop that knows his laws will write you up for that particular one. Its too easy to beat, because a STOCK VW bug from 52-74 were all 21" from the factory as imported into CA. Been there, had more "too low" tickets than I would venture to say everyone on I-club combined (in one year I got 22 of them...all on the same bug)
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,856
From: San Leandro, CA
Car Info: Forester XTi
All one has to do to beat it, is bring in the proof that CA alowed the VW bug to be imported below its stadard, and the judge will throw it out of court.
btw side note, when a CHP pulls you over, never call her a bulldyke under your breath, the result is...
1970 vw bug:
1)Modified height (bug was SLAMMED)
2)Modified exaust (stinger)
3)Modified gas pedel (early 60's roller replacement)
4)Modified emergency brake (type 3 drum conversion in rear)
5)No hood (no rear deck lid)
6)Modified smog system
7)Unsafe tires (had 125R15's on the front and non DOT 185R15 semi slicks on back)
8)Modified headlights (early style headlights on later body type 1)
9)Modified brake lights(teardrops)
10)Modified turn signals(teardrop lights)
11)Illegal brake light color (had the little blue dots)
12)No lisence plate light (THIS is wat I was pulled over for)
Add to that 3 hours sitting on the curb as she calmly went thru the WHOLE damn VC book looking for new things to add to the 2 ticket long list. All this after pulling me out and having me do a sobrity test, AND having the dog come and sniff the car over...
btw side note, when a CHP pulls you over, never call her a bulldyke under your breath, the result is...
1970 vw bug:
1)Modified height (bug was SLAMMED)
2)Modified exaust (stinger)
3)Modified gas pedel (early 60's roller replacement)
4)Modified emergency brake (type 3 drum conversion in rear)
5)No hood (no rear deck lid)
6)Modified smog system
7)Unsafe tires (had 125R15's on the front and non DOT 185R15 semi slicks on back)
8)Modified headlights (early style headlights on later body type 1)
9)Modified brake lights(teardrops)
10)Modified turn signals(teardrop lights)
11)Illegal brake light color (had the little blue dots)
12)No lisence plate light (THIS is wat I was pulled over for)
Add to that 3 hours sitting on the curb as she calmly went thru the WHOLE damn VC book looking for new things to add to the 2 ticket long list. All this after pulling me out and having me do a sobrity test, AND having the dog come and sniff the car over...
General Pimpin'
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From: Knee deep in beer. subabrew crew, ca.
Car Info: MY04 aspen wrx wagon.
Yeah talking isht to the police is a bad idea.
I had a ticket like that when I was in to hondas in the late 90's.
Same thing... 2 tickets front and back. I think it was 16 violations or something like that. 3 cops.
I don't remember what they all were but I do remember a few...
Pretty sure vehicle height was one, exhaust, several engine related violations, tinted windows, 100 plus in a 35, exhibition of speed/street racing, wreckless driving, etc.
I had to call the DA ever week or 2 for 12 months until the case expired and I was free to go... they didn't file the ticket.
It was all B.S. the car they were after was not me. I heard the officer clear as day while one officer was in my ear trying to distract me (I've got A.D.D., I can usually follow several conversations at once)... I heard him say it wasn't me because they had me pump my brakes... all my isht worked. The one they were after had a blown brake light.
I then got yelled at. They told me to drive home to avoid jail and my car getting taken. Gave me a state ref ticket. I tore my car apart and had it ref'd before I realized they hadn't filed the ticket. Sold it. Sold and gave away a boat load of parts along with it. Hell... I just sold my extra cam last year and I just found a few more parts. LOL!
Worst ticket ever.
I had a ticket like that when I was in to hondas in the late 90's.
Same thing... 2 tickets front and back. I think it was 16 violations or something like that. 3 cops.
I don't remember what they all were but I do remember a few...
Pretty sure vehicle height was one, exhaust, several engine related violations, tinted windows, 100 plus in a 35, exhibition of speed/street racing, wreckless driving, etc.
I had to call the DA ever week or 2 for 12 months until the case expired and I was free to go... they didn't file the ticket.
It was all B.S. the car they were after was not me. I heard the officer clear as day while one officer was in my ear trying to distract me (I've got A.D.D., I can usually follow several conversations at once)... I heard him say it wasn't me because they had me pump my brakes... all my isht worked. The one they were after had a blown brake light.
I then got yelled at. They told me to drive home to avoid jail and my car getting taken. Gave me a state ref ticket. I tore my car apart and had it ref'd before I realized they hadn't filed the ticket. Sold it. Sold and gave away a boat load of parts along with it. Hell... I just sold my extra cam last year and I just found a few more parts. LOL!
Worst ticket ever.
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,856
From: San Leandro, CA
Car Info: Forester XTi
Yeah talking isht to the police is a bad idea.
I had a ticket like that when I was in to hondas in the late 90's.
Same thing... 2 tickets front and back. I think it was 16 violations or something like that. 3 cops.
I don't remember what they all were but I do remember a few...
Pretty sure vehicle height was one, exhaust, several engine related violations, tinted windows, 100 plus in a 35, exhibition of speed/street racing, wreckless driving, etc.
I had to call the DA ever week or 2 for 12 months until the case expired and I was free to go... they didn't file the ticket.
It was all B.S. the car they were after was not me. I heard the officer clear as day while one officer was in my ear trying to distract me (I've got A.D.D., I can usually follow several conversations at once)... I heard him say it wasn't me because they had me pump my brakes... all my isht worked. The one they were after had a blown brake light.
I then got yelled at. They told me to drive home to avoid jail and my car getting taken. Gave me a state ref ticket. I tore my car apart and had it ref'd before I realized they hadn't filed the ticket. Sold it. Sold and gave away a boat load of parts along with it. Hell... I just sold my extra cam last year and I just found a few more parts. LOL!
Worst ticket ever.
I had a ticket like that when I was in to hondas in the late 90's.
Same thing... 2 tickets front and back. I think it was 16 violations or something like that. 3 cops.
I don't remember what they all were but I do remember a few...
Pretty sure vehicle height was one, exhaust, several engine related violations, tinted windows, 100 plus in a 35, exhibition of speed/street racing, wreckless driving, etc.
I had to call the DA ever week or 2 for 12 months until the case expired and I was free to go... they didn't file the ticket.
It was all B.S. the car they were after was not me. I heard the officer clear as day while one officer was in my ear trying to distract me (I've got A.D.D., I can usually follow several conversations at once)... I heard him say it wasn't me because they had me pump my brakes... all my isht worked. The one they were after had a blown brake light.
I then got yelled at. They told me to drive home to avoid jail and my car getting taken. Gave me a state ref ticket. I tore my car apart and had it ref'd before I realized they hadn't filed the ticket. Sold it. Sold and gave away a boat load of parts along with it. Hell... I just sold my extra cam last year and I just found a few more parts. LOL!
Worst ticket ever.
LOL
I got nailed right in front of my HS once. The cop pulled me over because my rear end dipped down and tossed sparks (the bug was SLAMED, so low I could change lanes on the freeway and rip the reflectors up off the road with the plate welded on the bottom of the exaust). So he walks up and says "its a little low isn't it Mr. XXXX (small town cop, knew me...too well). I said "uh, yea its low in the front, but the back is an accident, the torsion bar support broke this weekend and I have to weld it back in still" He looked at me, laughed, and said 'ok you win, go get to class'
LOL
LOL
Its funny you mention removing the reflectors when changing lanes. weekly i would have to get under to remove them and make room for more LOL.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,856
From: San Leandro, CA
Car Info: Forester XTi
I used to get the "your car is to low" tickets when i had my 64 bug. We would take it to the police station in san bruno or colma have a couple of friends help lift the rear end up from the sides, it would look not slammed and hold its position. Have an officer come out to sign off the ticket. then once they go back in drive away. If you have owned a bug you know exactly what would happen as i drove away. Right back to the same dropped height. :-)
Its funny you mention removing the reflectors when changing lanes. weekly i would have to get under to remove them and make room for more LOL.
Its funny you mention removing the reflectors when changing lanes. weekly i would have to get under to remove them and make room for more LOL.
we just use to have 4" 2x4's we would jamb into the rear and front arms, so it looked like a Baja bug. The trick was to go when it was raining so they wouldn't go outside just look thru the window and go "yep you fixed it"*sign*
It's QQ thankyouverymuch
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Posts: 19,721
From: San Jose
Car Info: 2011 SWP WRX Hatch
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.
True story. This is one of the laws that led to hydraulic suspension and low profile tires.
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