I was pulled over a couple of weeks ago in Folsom, on Riley Street

1) what kind of car do you drive?
04 STI

2) is it modified?
-if so, what are the mods?
FMIC, turbo back, lowered

3) did the cop pull you over for a technicality (ie: failed to use turn signal) or did he claim to pull you over because he "suspected your car was modified"?
He was never in front of me (about three cars back) and said he pulled me over for no front plate, which I did not have

4) how long did the whole process take?
Got the ticket on I think it was 04/21/06, went to referree in Marysville 04/28/06, Paul put my car back to stock on 04/26/06, Paul reversed the process and put all the **** back on 05/02/06, got the ticket in the mail request that I pay a fine of around $250 with proof of correction by 05/18/06.

5) was the cop full of crap? (asking what the parts on an STi are red, asking if it came with an intercooler)
Yes-he said that the intake manifold was aftermarket, and didn't know if my exhaust was too loud (I was in 8am traffic), but knew the exhaust had been modified, and didn't know if my FMIC was aftermarket

6) what was a cops attitude? was he an ******* or was he cool about it?
The cop was cool, but he didnt know anything about my car, and the other two cops that he called for "backup" didnt know either, so I had to get my car inspected, smogged, and a sound test done on it-plus had to drive around with a stock wrx exhaust on my car for 7 days

It sucks but I'm going through the process of turning the car into a bit of a sleeper, like John's car, and hopefully that helps-I also have everything photocopied and I carry it around in my car so that if I get pulled over again, it might help out somehow. I could claim that everything is smog legal because the paperwork doesnt really say what was on my car when it was smogged, and sound tested because the cops really didnt know what my car came with. They werent sure if the FMIC was stock, and they knew it came with a "different" exhaust but they werent sure what it looked like.

 

er wait.. so you got a $250 fine PLUS correction for no front plate ??

 

I just got pulled over on saturday night by some obvious rookies for "modified exhaust". I was driving very slow & quiet following all the traffic rules.


1. I drive a 2006 WRX TR

2. My only mod is the exhaust, no exterior mods, stock ride height

3. He pulled me over solely for having the exhaust

4. It probably took 10 mins

5) was the cop full of crap? Why yes, yes he was. The first thing he said when he walked up to the car was "do you have all the stickers & paperwork for that catback?" my reply was "no and i dont need a sticker for a catback" so he walked back to his car & talked with his partner a minute then they both walked back & asked me to open my hood which i did. He shined his light on my engine & didnt see anything chrome, red or anodized and nothing said "hondasport" so he let me close my hood. Obviously had no idea what he was looking for because he didnt even bother looking at the downpipe

6. what was a cops attitude? He was polite, not condescending or anything probably due to the fact that he was a rookie & they had just started their night

 

thinking of making a ton of hondasport stickers to put all over stock parts just to confuse them

 

They would probably write you up for swapping a honda engine into your subaru

 

haha, I almost wanna do that **** with my Camaro... Make it look like the most illegal car EVER made, but all I have is a cut out, so I can just sit there and pay 10 dollar fix it tickets all day long while I laugh at the cops trying to find something illegal on the car

 

ok so lets clarify

are you receiving a trip to the smog ref and also pay a fine or are you given the option to go to the ref to prove that its stock/fixed and then only pay a $10 with correction ?

 

A cut out or exhaust bypass is illegal.

 

When my friends get into trouble, there is two fines... One fine is if you DON'T fix it. Then second fine is a much reduced fine, for when you get it fixed...

It goes to show that California does not give a **** about smog, since they have an option of a more expensive fine, where you don't have to fix the damn car! All they want is money, it has nothing to do with SMOG or else they wouldn't even make it an option to fix the car or pay the bigger fine

 

well what I am concerned about is a rookie cop that has no idea that the stock intake runners for STi's are red, and give a ticket for it

but you go to a smog ref and he marks it down as corrected, but you still pay a larger then a $10 fine because the cop didnt know any better

 

No it's not... according to Section 27150, it requires that every motor vehicle subject to registration be equipped with an adequate muffler.

Then according to Section 27151, it prohibits modified exhaust of the exhaust system to amplify or increase the noise emitted by the vehicle, making the vehicle not in compliance with section 27150 or exceeding the noise limits estabilished in sections 27201-27206VC. Section 27151 VC does no prohibit all modifications to an exhaust system. It also does not prohibit any modifications that increase the noise level of the exhaust system over that of the original, factory-installed exhaust system. It ONLY prohibits modifications that result in a noise level higher then those specified in Sections 27201-27206 VC.


Basically it's up to the officer to decide whether it's to loud or not, then you get to prove him wrong. I brought my camaro to a ref with the cut out still installed on the car and it passed with flying colors, even the visual. There is no LAW saying you can't modify your exhaust, the only law states that it just can't be louder then what the VC states...

I'm pretty sure what you would do then is go to court and fight the ticket, then the entire ticket would be thrown out as if it never happened. So it would just take a day of your time

 

thanks for all the info guys!

 

I would hope so.. I think you need to show correction by the ref before you go to court as well to show that its in compliance

I guess doing that, and then showing the judge that the equipment was not modified.. you will get a pissed off judge at the officer, and also pull the officer into court as well

 

ya, i'm sure it would be best to get a note from Subaru themselves stating it's factory equipment. Then the smog ref, seems like it woudl be a pretty easy case....



Check out...

www.enjoythedrive.com/content/?ID=8133

I guess it was a REAL CHP bulletin. I have a copy in my car, just incase a cop says that isn't the law

 

I think it was in the CAVC it said the muffler must be in continuous use. I dunno though, I think they word the vehicle code in a weird way so people get confused and give up.

Anyways, GT35 and Titan, could you PM me your first name and last initial so my "interview" is more legit? thanks.