Automotive News, Media & Press - California Crackdown on Modified Cars

California Crackdown on Modified Cars
$5 million in federal money will fund a Sacramento, California effort to stop drivers in modified cars.

Police in Sacramento, California announced Wednesday that they would use $5 million in federal money to begin cracking down on auto enthusiasts who modify their vehicles. The money will be used to form an undercover "Drag-Net" unit to stop motorists who appear to be driving modified cars.

The concept, which originated in San Diego in 2001, has been spreading throughout the state and generated significant revenue for the California Highway Patrol and local departments. In Santa Fe Springs, for example, twelve officers on Drag-Net duty issued 300 citations and impounded 50 vehicles in just one weekend. Several cities have drag-racing ordinances that allow police to auction off seized cars and keep the profits.

Under Drag-Net, San Diego officers come to train other departments how to look out for what they believe to be tell-tale signs of illegal modification such as window tinting, large spoilers, extra gauges or racing stickers. Police say this gives them probable cause to stop and inspect a vehicle and its engine compartment.

In practice, "excessive exaust noise" tickets are the most common violation. California law does not require police to measure sound levels objectively. Instead, according to the Calfiornia Highway Patrol, the "citation is based on officer's judgment."

Drivers of stock vehicles that come from the factory with some of the characteristics of modified cars have experienced harassment under this provision. One such motorist complained on an enthusiast website that the Calfiornia Highway Patrol was using these programs to make "driving while Asian" a crime, pointing out that the department's own website has several pages dedicated to Asian involvement in street racing and "vehicle modification."

Anyone receiving a vehicle modification "fix-it" ticket must visit a California Bureau of Automobile Repair office and pay a $35 fee to have their car inspected. If the car fails, a judge can impose another fine of up to $2000 for failing to meet California emissions requirements.

Article Excerpt:
"We're looking to make a heavy impact on speeding and street racing in this area," Sacramento Police Deputy Chief Steve Segura said during a press conference with local and state officials on Del Paso Road in North Natomas.
Source: Area law enforcers to receive training to combat street racing (Sacramento Bee, 8/4/2005)

Though this is old news check out the new method http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070620/ap_on_re_us/crushed_hot_rods_1

Hey but the money can never be spent to run an ad campaign for the local drag strip to get people racing in a controlled environment. Or use the money to build more raceways to be able to take our cars to, that would be too hard I guess.

California Sucks! I can't wait to leave this state.

Hey but the money can never be spent to run an ad campaign for the local drag strip to get people racing in a controlled environment. Or use the money to build more raceways to be able to take our cars to, that would be too hard I guess.

You know their main focus is $$$$$ not, how do we solve the real problem which is lets give them a safe place to do this in.. Butt holes :kali:

California Sucks.

And then they are closing another dragstrip in Palmdale..azzholes, no wonder there is so much street racing

thank god I live in TEXAS:D

Did anyone else notice the date? That was like 2 years ago.........2005!!

Yeah NooB gotta kinda check things like that.
(Sacramento Bee, 8/4/2005)

Everytime I hear the word California and Car in the same sentence I know something bad is coming. :eyes: Surprised there is anything other than Prius that is legal to drive there.

Did anyone else notice the date? That was like 2 years ago.........2005!!

Yeah NooB gotta kinda check things like that.


I was about to say,"this isn't someone reposting that video from like two years ago again..." :jest:

I'll say the same thing I said when this article was first posted two years ago ( :lol: ), CA is dead to me. I don't even consider it part of the USA anymore for multiple reasons (gun and car laws). I feel sorry for the people in that state that are actually decent, freedom loving Americans who just can't leave the state for whatever reason.

The CA government is about as useful as a rubber crutch. I wish their officials nothing but the worst. :thumbsdow

those laws and firearm control laws are 2 of the reasons i chose to move to texas.

There's gotta be someone petitioning against this.....?

those laws and firearm control laws are 2 of the reasons i chose to move to texas.

That's right! Texas>The rest of the USA

Did anyone else notice the date? That was like 2 years ago.........2005!!

Yeah NooB gotta kinda check things like that.


My bad I had the wrong link..lol. It was this story http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070620/ap_on_re_us/crushed_hot_rods_1
that went with what started back then.

That's right! Texas>The rest of the USA

you got that straight!!!

Fuck cali, hide your shit, use an eletric cutout or just move. I say move.

Does the word "fascism" ring a bell to anyone? I thought we defeated fascism in 1944?

*Dude you think we have it bad check out our neighbor.*
Now this is BS!

Attorney general says he can seize street-racing cars without laying charges

Michael Oliveira, Canadian Press
Published: Thursday, June 21, 2007 Article tools

TORONTO (CP) - The government has the power to seize and destroy cars that have been adapted for street racing, and can do so before a race takes place or any charges are laid, Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant said Wednesday.

Car junkies who pour thousands of dollars into their vehicles to make them as fast as possible are wasting their money, Bryant said. He warned potential racers that all it takes is a tip from police to seize and destroy their cars.

"If we can establish someone has parts and they're juicing up their car - obviously for the purpose of street racing - then we can seize those vehicles," Bryant said.

"We will seize it and you will never see it again. We will crush your car, we will crush the parts."

Bryant said cars built for street racing are as dangerous as explosives and can cause catastrophic damage.

On Monday, a truck driver was killed after a crash on Highway 400 that was blamed on speed and dangerous driving.

Prabhjit Multani, 20, and Nauman Nusrat, 19, face charges including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death, criminal negligence causing death and criminal negligence causing death by street racing.

Ravi Badhwar, 20, has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

"This was a senseless act that cost a man his life and has left his family without a father, brother and grandfather," Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino said in a release.

"There is no excuse for street racing and aggressive driving, such as the high speeds and unsafe lane changes we have seen recently."

The crash was the third major accident in four days on the busy north-south highway, and the second fatal one.

Bryant said the government has had enough of street racers, and will have no qualms about destroying their cars.

"We don't need to wait until that car hits the road fully loaded," he said.

Bryant also said the Crown has not yet decided whether to appeal the sentences of two young Toronto men who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death after a taxi driver was killed in a crash.

Wang-Piao Dumani Ross and Alexander Ryazanov, both 20, were each handed two-year conditional sentences and two years of probation for their role in the January 2006 crash.

Their lawyers said they weren't racing, although their speeding did constitute dangerous driving.

© The Canadian Press 2007

"Well it's not "ban" but it's going to cost a minimum of 1250$ if you have a powerfull bike (powerfull is anything 400cc and over) plus 450$ if you have lost point on the road plus 500$ if you lost your license in the pas 5 years plus 75$ if you don't have enough experience. That's just to have the right to put a plate on one bike per year, if you have more than one bike like I do, you have to pay that on every bike. The license cost 150$ per year and I'm not talking about insurance.

The government say it's still going to be a bargain because most young rider in north america pay 13k$ per summer for insurance alone.

By the way this is Quebec Canada."
Posted on bike forum from a guy from Quebec.

all I can say is "Thank-you Fast and the Furious Series and dumb movies like Torque and Biker Boyz for helping morons find there way into the Car & Bike scene"

Does the word "fascism" ring a bell to anyone? I thought we defeated fascism in 1944?

It's not fascism. It's socialism. The People's Republic of Khalefornia is infested with liberals and anything their gov't does is part of a liberal agenda.

Saving people from themselves is one of the basic tenets of liberalism.

The voters of California are to blame.

Keep voting in those liberals and overly protective environmentalists and you'll continue to get the (in general) anti-automobile legislation.

It's a no brainer, guys.

Your state sucks fellas. I'll stay in Indiana or another state where I'm free for the most part. Call us rednecks if you wish, but we don't have to put up with that shit.

Oh, and I don't even have emissions testing. HAHA. How ya like me now? :jest: :jest:

all I can say is "Thank-you Fast and the Furious Series and dumb movies like Torque and Biker Boyz for helping morons find there way into the Car & Bike scene"


Your right ! The movie industry is going to do to car enthusiast what they did to motorcyclist back in the sixties.
Portray all gear heads as anti-social pot-smokin grease junkies with dirty finger nails & dirtier minds.
If SEMA wants to survive they better get busy !

I don't think that Texas will EVER pass a law that tells us that we can't have a modified vehicle, unless of course the mods are like absolutely life-threatening, like "ohhh I cut my floorpan out and saved like 40 lbsLollerskatesNOS"

Most police officers that I know have modified cars themselves(not their squads, their personal rides). But, that is just us, the State Formerly Known as the Republic of Texas. I feel sorry for everyone else.

Oh, yeah, I don't have emissions tests to do either! :mullet: :)

the State Formerly Known as the Republic of Texas.

A true republic. Like this country was designed to be. Unlike the way the media and schools have twisted it to mean non-freedom, like the Soviet Union and China. :)

A true republic. Like this country was designed to be. Unlike the way the media and schools have twisted it to mean non-freedom, like the Soviet Union and China. :)

I think you mean to say that "because the dictatorships in the soviet union and china claim to be republics, our schools and media now refer the word 'republic' to governments who oppose freedom (or anti-freedom, dictatorships). Otherwise, it sounds like you are comparing the USA with China and the Soviet Union.. as fellow republics. :eek2: :jest:

This is about the ONLY THING you CANNOT,ABSOLUTELY, BLAME on lil' w's OIL BUDDIES... :jest:

Ok guys, we get it... California has shitty emmissions/car laws... wanna know why???

Because we have more cars than almost any other two states COMBINED.... almost 36 MILLION people live here. Thats over 10% of the entire nations population. On top of that, there are more cars than people. Laws are gonna be a little tighter because if they arent, then almost every part of this state will look like the LA basin... anyone who's not from California ever see LA or Hwy 5 in the summer?? The sky is not blue... its brown. I personally DONT want that in all our state's skies.

Yeah, i'm all down for everyone doing whatever they want to their cars, but imagine if everyone ran their cars without Cats??? All these politicians are trying to keep our state liveable and CLEAN. Excuse us for being P R O G R E S S I V E in our "hippie liberal thinking".

Gun control? Emmissions??? GOD y'all need to live in the now.

/rant

Ok guys, we get it... California has shitty emmissions/car laws... wanna know why???

Because we have more cars than almost any other two states COMBINED.... almost 36 MILLION people live here. Thats over 10% of the entire nations population. On top of that, there are more cars than people. Laws are gonna be a little tighter because if they arent, then almost every part of this state will look like the LA basin... anyone who's not from California ever see LA or Hwy 5 in the summer?? The sky is not blue... its brown. I personally DONT want that in all our state's skies.

Yeah, i'm all down for everyone doing whatever they want to their cars, but imagine if everyone ran their cars without Cats??? All these politicians are trying to keep our state liveable and CLEAN. Excuse us for being P R O G R E S S I V E in our "hippie liberal thinking".

Gun control? Emmissions??? GOD y'all need to live in the now.

/rant

Too bad only 5 of that 10% are native - legal.

Too bad only 5 of that 10% are native - legal.

:lol:...dang...he went there!!!...lol
But I am sure it's very true

Too bad only 5 of that 10% are native - legal.

ROFL


The guy up top does have a real good point about wanting the sky to look blue, not brown. I've traveled to LA and seen the ugly skies there. Unfortunately no matter how restricting the emissions laws get, you wont curb peoples dependency on the gas-powered automobile. People can choose whether or not they want the few hybrid powered vehicles...and they aren't. We've also got plenty of high mileage, low fuel consuming vehicles and yet people still drive around hummers, explorers, suburbans, and LS1 powered camaros(:D). While we should, and are, looking for ways to main stream the ethanol/vegetable oil stuff, it isn't practical for the masses at this point in time. The solution to our problem isn't fuel economy or ridiculous taxing, it's finding a way to put a more environmentally friendly fuel in the pump at prices less than those we are currently paying. These new CAFE regulations will only cost us all more $$...and that $$ wont make the sky in LA any more blue than it is now.

Can CA even be called apart of the US when their laws are so strict on gun and cars? what happened to the land of the free? Arnold needs to do something. too many peple live there, mabe a lot of visitors from mexico like to reside in CA that need to go back. i don't mind visiting CA but i would never want to live there.

Can CA even be called apart of the US when their laws are so strict on gun and cars? what happened to the land of the free? Arnold needs to do something. too many peple live there, mabe a lot of visitors from mexico like to reside in CA that need to go back. i don't mind visiting CA but i would never want to live there.

Arnold can't do a whole lot. It doesn't help that the state is pretty much divided between rep and dems. Guns... :jest: obviously you guys think everyone obeys all the laws here. A big problem though is that many of the voters are older and more "involved" than the younger people. Unfortunately, they happen to be sometimes too concerned about the dumbest shit. Another plus, ricers are the ones often targeted by these "programs". Our news had something similar showing a while back. All the modified performance cars they showed were japanese POS's. Made for a good laugh.

all I can say is "Thank-you Fast and the Furious Series and dumb movies like Torque and Biker Boyz for helping morons find there way into the Car & Bike scene"


Don't blame biker boyz, lol. That was a good movie, besides, we all know the real cause for all of this was the fast and the furious. And +1 for being in Texas.

I think that the only ones to blame are all the assholes out there driving rice burners, not a movie or whatever. The assholes were there before those movies came out...

Ok guys, we get it... California has shitty emmissions/car laws... wanna know why???

Because we have more cars than almost any other two states COMBINED.... almost 36 MILLION people live here. Thats over 10% of the entire nations population. On top of that, there are more cars than people. Laws are gonna be a little tighter because if they arent, then almost every part of this state will look like the LA basin... anyone who's not from California ever see LA or Hwy 5 in the summer?? The sky is not blue... its brown. I personally DONT want that in all our state's skies.

Yeah, i'm all down for everyone doing whatever they want to their cars, but imagine if everyone ran their cars without Cats??? All these politicians are trying to keep our state liveable and CLEAN. Excuse us for being P R O G R E S S I V E in our "hippie liberal thinking".

Gun control? Emmissions??? GOD y'all need to live in the now.

/rant

uh oh, don't bring gun control into this......completely different argument and is ridiculously stupid. I agree with you on the brown skies thing, but what percentage of people mod their cars enough to hurt emissions? Shouldn't they make a higher tax on having multiple cars or something. here in the show me state it seems like 1-3% of people have modded cars??

Hoang said he was caught late last year racing his prized car, on which he spent at least $10,000 to get into top shape. The 350-horsepower engine topped out at 160 mph, Hoang said, swearing it could beat a Corvette or even a Ferrari.

^^^

Dude this guy here deserved to get his car smashed whith this comment LOL. God I hate living here and the funny thing is I was born here. Can't wait till I buy a house in Vegas or Texas baby.

And then they are closing another dragstrip in Palmdale..azzholes, no wonder there is so much street racing

they are closing LACR????? dicks i leave for three years and they pull some dumbshizzle

Ok guys, we get it... California has shitty emmissions/car laws... wanna know why???

Because we have more cars than almost any other two states COMBINED.... almost 36 MILLION people live here. Thats over 10% of the entire nations population. On top of that, there are more cars than people. Laws are gonna be a little tighter because if they arent, then almost every part of this state will look like the LA basin... anyone who's not from California ever see LA or Hwy 5 in the summer?? The sky is not blue... its brown. I personally DONT want that in all our state's skies.

Yeah, i'm all down for everyone doing whatever they want to their cars, but imagine if everyone ran their cars without Cats??? All these politicians are trying to keep our state liveable and CLEAN. Excuse us for being P R O G R E S S I V E in our "hippie liberal thinking".

Gun control? Emmissions??? GOD y'all need to live in the now.

/rant
Yeah, and how much of a hinderence on gas mileage are those emissions laws?

Last I checked, each time there is another "bandaid" patch for emissions, it usually decreases the efficency, so therefore, you completely wipe out the redux. Makes great sense.


Right, all in the name of safety and children correct? Didn't know confiscation of personal property was the American dream. I feel sorry for the people of Canada and Commiefornia. If you want to live there and pedal your bicycle to work, knock yourself silly.

Live in the now huh? I'll do that smoking, drinking, poluting, shooting guns AND EATING TRANSFAT! Government needs to :gtfo: That's how I'll live in the now...

/rant.