ca engine law questions

[fusionx]

So I always hear different things about modification tickets and I was wondering if anyone could clear some stuff up for me.

right now illegal wise I have a CAI and a downpipe WITH a cat but its still considered a modified cat

Im wondering what kind of tickets I can get if I get pulled over and get tickets for the mods i have. you cant see the cat in my car but you can see the shiny downpipes underneath. my car will pass smog but ill probably put stock exhaust back on to get it checked anyways.


thanks!

[Obvis07]

as long as you have the carb legal stickers how have a smog sheet to prove that it will pass smog there is really nothign a cop can do to you if you can prove allthat

[CHECKERED]

Disclaimer: I’m talking form experience, of my own and my friends that have been into cars for years, also from cops who are friends.

ANY modifications to the emission system is Illegal, (which includes, intake, intake filters, exhaust, downpipes, fuel system, ignition system, diagnostics system) unless is C.A.R.B. approved.

Enforcement varies from county to district to city level to departments and to each individual officer, if you get pulled over; there are a couple of choices.

1. The cop hates you, impounds your car, on grounds that you have modified the emotions system in your car, your car will be inspected and smoged, if your car fails to pass smog it will be crushed.

2. The cop is a total dick, he sends you to a state ref, that will inspect your car, at your expense, the ref will then fine you for your modifications, regardless if you pass smog or not, if you don’t pass smog you get another fine.

3. The cop is just harassing you because he is bored, will give you fix it tickets for your modifications, most of the time you could go and get your car smoged then bring the certificate to a highway patrol/police/sheriff station that will sign you off.

[fusionx]

thanks checkered appreciate it

you could have left out #1 though haha :P

my CAI isnt carb legal, unfortunatly theres no legal cai for my car

downpipe passes smog but its still a modified cat so does that mean its carb legal?

[3.2some]

You forgot:

4. The cop is just doing his job and tickets you cuz you have illegal mods, you don't want to be ticketed, don't do illegal mods to your car. Don't hate on the cop hate on the law makers.

[mdma2004]

oh yeah, there's a strong feeling of law enforcement presence in this thread right now...
just throwin that out there...:)

[CHECKERED]

downpipe passes smog but its still a modified cat so does that mean its carb legal?

This is where it gets interesting, you can legally replace a damaged cat (say you ran over a curb or a rock) or a cat that is no longer functioning, you can replace it with an OEM cat, aftermarket cat that is CARB approved, or even a High Flow cat that is also CARB approved.
Magnaflow makes one:

http://www.car-sound.com/02product/u...alCARB/410.asp

They avoid the phrase ‘high flow’ due to restrictions in the CARB certification; instead they use ‘high efficiency’

[fusionx]

ah i see,

3.2 some - id say about 80% or more of the people on this forum have illegal mods, if there was a legal CAI I would get it but there isnt and id much prefer AWE over magnaflow. hopefully I just get fixits i dont mind that im just trying to be prepared

[jimmya4]

how about the 2500 dollar cat fines that i hear about? i dont care if i get sent to a ref because i could just put the cat back on. If a cop see's a shiny pipe he thinks (which would be correct) is a cat delete, can or will he fuck me on the spot?

[GotRS?]

If "law enforcement" haven't got better things to do, then we are paying for too many of them.

On the grand scale of life, it makes me sick to think that you/we have to worry about silly little things like this.

Edit: Sulphurus smelly cats still on mine tho.... wheeze

[gsxtasee]

decent info guys... yes you can put any part on your car as long as it has a CARb exemption number and you have the paperwork.. that doesnt mean the cop won't ticket you but it should get it signed off for $10... You can not legally replace an operational cat but if damaged you can replace it any time. passing smog and CARB exemption are not related.. you can pass smog modified to hell as long as the tech doesn't violate you for visual inspection but that doesn't make you legal.

basicall, do what you want but be prepared for ignorance and bias when pulled over, especially if driving like a jackass or in an area and time known for racing.

Also, NEVER volunteer info except that which exculpates you... such as CARB exemption info... don't mention modified cat, dp, intake or whatever.. just answer direct questions as shortly but politely as possible.