Are CHP really that uptight?
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From: Spokane, Washington
Car Info: 1993 Impreza L sedan. USED TO BE a 2004 WRX sedan.
Originally Posted by DrNorm
I live in Hawaii, where as long as your blood ETOH is a bit lower than the cop's, "you're good to go, brah." (actually ran into a "local" cop friend in a bar- he was blind drunk. Tried to urge him NOT to drive home- he said, "hey, it's all downhill, brah, so no need for even turn on da engine." Scary part is he DID drive home. (he couldn't walk straight, but I guess he could drive? He was BIG and had a gun, so I wasn't going continue to argue)
Honestly, you have to try PRETTY hard or do something REALLY stupid to get pulled over here (in "third world" Kona, that is- not in Honolulu- a real city- where the moto cops take themselves pretty seriously). They don't seem to care much about moving violations (except for speeding tourist-mobiles) and FORGET about safety violations. No windshield? No problem. James Bond-style zero visability blue-smoke clouds of burning oil? Coool. No muffler? No worries.
From a number of posts I've read about having to "hide" engine mods or worry about visible suspension mods, loud exhausts, bright headlights and other noticible changes, I'm beginning to wonder just how bad it really is on the mainland. I'm getting a WRX wagon next week in Northern CA where I work ~ 2/3-time. I did manage 1 speeding ticket 1st week there (in blatant speed trap that I now realize is "staffed" EVERY morning by the local police w/ 1-2 motos and 1-2 cruisers and their radar guns) and see an aweful lot of CHP on the highways.They could care less about my GrandAm rental, but I wonder if the WRX may draw a little more attention. Obviously, it will be stone cold stock when I p/u next week, but given the general tone of many posts, I am wondering if it might just be better leaving it that way?
Will they really have you pop your hood to look for UP/DP, removed cats or other mods? Is it that bad? Or os ot only the 20 yo "rice racers" that they give a hard time to?
How do the smog laws work in CA? I remember the sniffers. Still used? How much engine moding can be done and still stay "legal". I saw where some poeple pulled all their stuff off b4 checks, but that seems like a little too much trouble.
Aren't there any REAL criminals they should be worrying about (or busting those SOBs that sit in the left lane @ 5-under the limit because it's their god-given right as an american to drive any speed they want in any lane they want)
Honestly, you have to try PRETTY hard or do something REALLY stupid to get pulled over here (in "third world" Kona, that is- not in Honolulu- a real city- where the moto cops take themselves pretty seriously). They don't seem to care much about moving violations (except for speeding tourist-mobiles) and FORGET about safety violations. No windshield? No problem. James Bond-style zero visability blue-smoke clouds of burning oil? Coool. No muffler? No worries.
From a number of posts I've read about having to "hide" engine mods or worry about visible suspension mods, loud exhausts, bright headlights and other noticible changes, I'm beginning to wonder just how bad it really is on the mainland. I'm getting a WRX wagon next week in Northern CA where I work ~ 2/3-time. I did manage 1 speeding ticket 1st week there (in blatant speed trap that I now realize is "staffed" EVERY morning by the local police w/ 1-2 motos and 1-2 cruisers and their radar guns) and see an aweful lot of CHP on the highways.They could care less about my GrandAm rental, but I wonder if the WRX may draw a little more attention. Obviously, it will be stone cold stock when I p/u next week, but given the general tone of many posts, I am wondering if it might just be better leaving it that way?
Will they really have you pop your hood to look for UP/DP, removed cats or other mods? Is it that bad? Or os ot only the 20 yo "rice racers" that they give a hard time to?
How do the smog laws work in CA? I remember the sniffers. Still used? How much engine moding can be done and still stay "legal". I saw where some poeple pulled all their stuff off b4 checks, but that seems like a little too much trouble.
Aren't there any REAL criminals they should be worrying about (or busting those SOBs that sit in the left lane @ 5-under the limit because it's their god-given right as an american to drive any speed they want in any lane they want)
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 57
From: Bay Area, CA
hoppie i agree with you somewhat but sometimes cops are really dicks. for instance i got pulled over for my exhaust back in jan '01. the law had just changed where a modified exhaust is NOT illegal, and i mentioned it to the cop and he said to me, "are you a lawyer?" i said no, he said "then i don't think you're an expert of the law"... fkn bastard... no but u don't need to be a lawyer to know the law.
also i've heard of people getting busted for their intakes (on hondas) with CARB EO stickers on them. sent them to the ref still!
btw there are some cops out there with biases towards "ricers". i know this cause i know one
also i've heard of people getting busted for their intakes (on hondas) with CARB EO stickers on them. sent them to the ref still!
btw there are some cops out there with biases towards "ricers". i know this cause i know one
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Kevin M
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May 24, 2003 11:11 PM