I was in an argument with my buddy today, and I was saying that it's OK to mod your car in California as long as it still passes the sniffer test for your car, visual test, and as long as any modified part has the paperwork to show that those parts have been approved by CARB or whatever the organization is called.

My friend is saying that if you throw a cold air intake on your car, any cop can pull you over, make you open your hood, and if he sees anything like a cold air intake, headers, a supercharger or whatever you may have its automatically illegal and he will write you a ticket. He also says that they will use a mirror to check if your car has cats and if it doesn't he can write you a ticket on the spot. He says it doesn't matter if you have any sticker, any paperwork that says "50 state legal", or anything like that. If it did not come ON THE CAR, then its NOT LEGAL. He says even if you have a high flow cat its illegal because its not the part that came with the car.

Who is right? Could it be just like this for my town? I was under the impression that cops are not mechanics and are considered not qualified to poke around your car.

 

Any part can be replaced with an aftermarket part as long as it's approved by the C.A.R.B. and the labels are under the hood. The only way to check if the label matches the car and engine is to get on the website. The original paperwork should be kept in the car to verify the label and parts match the application. If all is in order there should be no citation. If they still site you, get his name and badge # and file a complaint. That would be considered harrasment. But of course, they don't pull you over for no reason. They don't have the manpower to do that. Look at all the missing front licence plates, lenses covering plates, blue lights, carbon fiber hoods, loud exhaust, head lights out of adjustment, bright lights (which are for off road use only even though they are DOT approved), etc, etc... They pull you over for their suspicion. And then if they don't find what they're looking for, they'll site you for what the can. To the government, paperwork is the most important thing. I have had a CA smog licence since 1988 up until Dec 31, 2006. I am no longer working in the field and let my licence go. I would not pass any car that didn't have the stickers even though I knew it was legal. Also, I would check all label #'s to make sure the application matches the car and engine. If they didn't, which there were some, it failed. The same would go for a police officer. They have no way of matching the #'s, so keep the paper work handy. Remember that's not why they pulled you over, it may be their excuse.

 

Is it possible that things might be different as far as specific city/county laws are concerned?

Also is there any documentation for this online that I could print out and show my friend?

 

Not so much.

Yep.

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/aftermkt.htm

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/replace.htm

"50 State Legal", will not mean anything to a law enforcement official.
You had better be prepared to produce the CARB EO (California Air Resources Board Executive Order) stickers/paperwork for each part that is in question, otherwise, like your friend said, they can write up ANY part that they deem non-standard.

Cops don't need to be a mechanic to know exactly what is not standard, but there was a specific training program implemented recently in CA where many were trained what to look out for as your friend stated. If they bust out a mirror under the car looking for a CAT, you ought to be sweating because it's a large fine and/or tow w/out one.

Bottom line is, if you're familiar with the basics of the California Vehicle Code, specifically Division 12, have all your paperwork handy and can provide some of this knowledge to an officer when pulled over, instead of being an idiot, your chances of getting off w/out a ticket are pretty good in my experience.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/.html/veh_..._contents.html

Also, like 1991L98G92 said, they are not going to pull you over for your open element K&N, you will most likely have caught their attention doing some other idiotic thing giving them permission to go exploring.

I'm currently in the process of gathering all of my documentation to be prepared for any hassling this year as well.

Hope this helps.

 

I have gotten pulled over for getting sideways in the eyes of a CHP. That man was a A**HOLE. After talking to me about my driving, he noticed my oil oressure light and told me toget out of the car. That is when he found my boost gauge on the floor. He had me pop my hood and found a big suprise.
As soon as it was open, I started pointing out all the CARB #'s and you should have seen his face. He was getting mad cause he could not do a dam thing to me about the engine. He ended up letting me go with a seat belt ticket. That same dude pulled me over 2-3 weeks later saying that my car was to loud. Then he had me pop my hood and tried to get me for my intake manifold. I had the CARB # on a paper from BAR and he said that was for a different part. That F*cker had my car towed and said that it need to go to the ref. 2 days later I got a call from the CHP and was told that I could come and get my car. The guy at the ref. said that the car is 100% legal and they went as far as smoging it, and could not find anything wrong with it whith it having over 20 grand in the motor.

So as long as you can show that ALL of the AFTERMAKET parts have a CARB # you will not get a ticket for that stuff. And if you do go to the ref and have him verify that it is legal for your car so you can fight it in court. But DO NOT be supried if you get a one for something dumb.

 

well lets put it this way a cop can write any ticket he wants, you just have to prove your innocense, i had a friend got a ticket for modified air intake. cause the cop was so stupid he didnt know what a turbo was

just make sure you have all your carb eo#'s

way to stick it to them f*ckin pigs,

 

You are right and he's wrong. Pretty cut and dry there. And even if it sounds bad a** a cops not gonna do to much (some do admire.. lol) unless the exhaust is way over the edge. I've had a hot rod for atleast 30 years and never been 3rd degre'd over my set up. Maybe for getting a little loose across a parking lot or boat ramp. Been lucky enough to be the winner in the race when being chased by the cops and they got the other guy.
More than once.
Rsvl P.D.'s probley still looking for me.. 8-)

 

no one gives a **** in concord. my LT1 has dumped LTs and the '67 is louder than **** no one cares