i'm confused. what does it matter if a cop sees you moded some stuff under the hood? if it passes smog and dosen't set off car alarms as it passes by what athority would a cop have?

 

You're going to have fun in California.

 

welcome to california... most any mods between the air filter and the catalytic converter are illegal unless they have a CARB (california air resources board) approval.

 

And that's why they have smog test, right? CARB makes the standards for the test, so what do they care on how it gets past?

and why would a cop be looking under the hood to begin with?

 

because those are the laws. ithis state has some very dumb emissions laws and most of them eff us over as car enthusiasts. it doesn't matter if the car blows clean on the smog test, you can still be failed on the visual.

 

So would JDM STi parts pass the visual?

 

The cop will be looking under the hood if he suspects illegal mods. Most every mod is illegal, and lots of cops don't even care about CARB stickers. You'll still get a ticket, and it'll be your job to prove that it is truly CARB legal.

For example, the laws are so screwy that in California, you can get a ticket for having an aftermarket cat, even if it blows cleaner then stock. The law states that you cannot replace your cat with anything but a stock cat, no matter what.

 

Depends on the cop looking at your stuff.

 

and they know what stock parts look like for every single car made after 1975?

 

"don't mind the kilo of blow under the dash sarge, this punk has an aftermarket intake."

 

If they find anything questionable under your hood they'll send you to the State Ref. He then will take note of everything and run through your car with a fine tooth comb.

 

Silicone vacuum hoses = failed visual inspection

 

That is f***ing weak.

So what group can I join to lobby agenst thoses worthless laws?