slagehammer

First of all... this is in my 3000GT VR-4. I am asking here because the bay area probably gets the most cop attention than anywhere else...
So... Long story short. I was coming home early from work and while passing a car I was pulled over by a cop on a bike in Pleasant Hill. Got me for 46 in a 30mph. No big deal right? Heres our convo:


Officer:Your exhaust is pretty loud, do you have catalytic converters?
Me:Yes Sir (I actually don't have ANY CATS)
Officer:Do you have anything else modified on your car
Me:Um... yeah suspension.
Officer:Well your exhaust is really too loud can you please step out and open your hood
Me:*pause*... my exhaust is legal
Officer:The grumbling and popping sound makes me think you have other things modified. Please step out and open you hood



So I get out and pop the hood. He looks and says:

Officer: (while pointing at BOV) this valve is not legal
MeNo sir this valve is actually legal (greddy type-s... open loop)
Officer: (while pointing at my cone filter) Your filter is also illegal
MeThe filter is legal I just don't have a sticker on it

I closed the hood and got inside as he went to his bike and pulled out the vehicle code book to show me my offenses. I also did not have proof of insurance in my car. I had an older one that expired 2 months ago but this one is only a fix-it-ticket. Look at the pic below to see the ticket.




So I guess i'm going to the state ref. Heres the problem. I have no EGR or cats. I also have a fuel controller and boost controller. I also have alcohol injection and pump mounted in the engine bay. Putting on a stock cat is no big deal. I can hide the boost controller and fuel controller. EGR might be hard but it's possible... How **** is the ref going to be? I can do my best at making everything look stock again by putting a stock airbox and recirculate my BOV. Are they going to look at every single detail? I also have larger turbos with no heat shields... but they could pass as stock probably. Heres a pic of my car and engine bay. My exhaust is a Tanabe SM Hyper and it's stated on their website as LEGAL and it meets the 95db limit most states have (is California 95db or 93db??)








Any type of help would be appreciated. Thanks guys...




P.S. ... wanted to add this in. I'm running dual TD04 13T's which are stock WRX hybrid turbos. lol

Sharky

That is one dumbass cop, looks like he got you for speed, emissions, exhaust and proof of reg.... About state ref, just as long as you can Pass smog and they dont discover anything that doesnt "look" or "act" stock. I dont know my buddys been stat reffed like 4 times, he switches most of his stuff back but not all... and he gets away with it.

If a cop points out your BOV and Filter, they obviously dont know much about cars...

VRT MBasile

iTrader: (17)

I thought TD04's were stock on VR-4's

I think the anality of the ref will depend on whos working that day, and how much of a bad day they are having

slagehammer

So it's sounding like a state ref may not be the worst thing in the world. I keep on thinking about $10,000 fines...


Yeah the stock turbos on a VR-4 are TD04 9b's which are about the size of a small fist... lol. WRX turbos are actually a big upgrade on my car and the 2nd largest TD04 upgrade you can do before 19t's. 19t's are actually a stock WRX turbo machined with a MUCH larger compressor wheel... so it's like a WRX Frankenstein turbo, with a wheel the size of td05, but the spool capability of a td04. Good for ~450-500hp on pump gas. haha

Ipecac

iTrader: (11)

Ummm he clearly pointed out 2 illegal modifications, and was onto a thrid with the cats. Sounds like he was being nice by not looking into that any further.

OneManArmy

iTrader: (7)

If it's legal and you have stickers leave it in. Not legal stuff has to go back to stock. They're getting smarter. They'll catch more than you think.


Back in the day I passed with some illegal stuff in my car...cam/cam gear, etc. In my civic. Probably still would but those where easy to hide.


Better safe than sorry. Get as close to stock as possible and make sure you can pass the sniffer.

SubyN00by

iTrader: (15)

yeah, you got served. I ****en hate it when that happens, like the saying goes, gotta pay to play it seems.

Anyway, nice car, pay the fines, and get on with it!

darkonion

iTrader: (31)

According to Aaron (thatonelegacy), the law states that as long as your exhaust is under 95db, it is legal. Apparently, it used to be any exhaust modification was illegal, but that was repealed in the 1980's and replaced with the 95db limit. Yeah...

How do you like your K-Sports?

Sharky

from what i checked most air filters are fine

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermk...es/amquery.php
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermk...rmktdevice.php

BOV... ok yeah maybe.... loud noise etc... but air filter is rediculous, unless its like a 5" filter.

Cats i didnt comment on.

Zoeb2s

iTrader: (38)

good job showing everyone where you live.

SubyN00by

iTrader: (15)

but see, one thing you have to understand is it isn't the police officers decision as to whether something is illegal or not. If he seems something that he knows is illegal or even questions it's legality, he is to send them to a professional in the field (state ref) for them to determine the legality of the component. My uncle's a highway patrol, and that's directly from his training.

you go to the state ref, if they don't find anything wrong, you may a minimal fixit ticket, if they do find something wrong, you pay fines for it.

SubyN00by

iTrader: (15)

yeah, I was gonna say, you need to blur out your info...

psoper

True for cat-back, but if you are caught catless you are facing a BIG fine....

darkonion

iTrader: (31)

Very true. From a sound-level standpoint... legal... from a smog standpoint... probably not legal.

dynamicprojeKtz

iTrader: (23)

poor vr4. good luck john.