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This was posted by the sacbee


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)

 
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its a good way to clear up those ricers from the street.......

LMAO.

fvck the program regarding "driving while Asian" though. that's just wrong.

 
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that is FUKING BULLSHIT...omg they cant do that ****...that is sooooo fuked up..."modified cars" can include anything from wheels to headlight bulbs...that is bs...cracking down on modified cars is not gonna stop street racing...people are just gonna do less exterior work if thats the case...shiet...also its such a large industry that you wont be able to do anything about it soon

 
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bah, do you think then they'll stop civic with HFP package? this is ridiculous...

 
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That sucks for you guys in Cali

 
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^well, if it's there in cali..

ur DMV or my DMV def. can "import" such program too.......

 
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Well I guess its time to put my cat on again. But really this phrase just gets me "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." That is just b.s. I hope that is does not count for non-smogable older cars like all the rest of mine.

 
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hehehehe..

now those racer (not ricer) will tried so hard to make their car a sleeeper...LOL

it's now hard though, muffler is probably the biggest problem...

 
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well everyone will have sleepers now....just sux if u have anything illegal on ur car.....i know in nj there doin the same ****...just not as state oriented. ...and as powerful

 
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this of course does not apply to domestic cars or higher end exotic cars

 
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ok so 5 million dollars. lets see they start off with a guy in a jacket to head it up then they need an accountant and a public relations guy. all these positions need new offices with new furniture and computers. they will also need 5 office assistants. theres 1.5 million right there. then you need special vehicles like srt-4's more camaros and probably a celica also they need new cruisers with super chargers. the drivers of these cars will need special driving and street racing lessons. theres another million right there because they will pay list and go to a formula 1 school. then they must staff the tax force with specially trained on what to look for cops training will be 100k then the cops will get a pay raise and probably be spending a ton of time in court because most ppl will try to fight a felony/huge ticket so after a year theres another million. so figure this task force will be funded for 2 years. o and by the way they will cruise sunrise blvd already has 1 cop per block, stockton blvd lookin for them crazy azns but theres already 1 cop per block. and they will sit out at industrial in natomas where no one has raced anything but moms van since 01. and roseville already tried this and got hit with a ton of intrapment claims. if these cops rev their engine and you race them well they provoked you to race so you can get off.

 
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Not really, Ohio has always been really good, as long as your neighbors don't complain, the cops don't care.

They will get you for window tint, but that's about it.

Reason is becasue in Ohio, there lots of old muscle cars guys, and the cops like old muscles cars, so they won't crack down on them. And they know that if they crack down on the rice, they have to equally crack down on the muscle cars, and they just won't do that.

 
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Sounds like racial profiling.

Companies who make and/or distribute parts better get their asses lobbying or they are going to be living on the street. This is going to be a nationwide effort soon enough, IMO.

 
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The idea is that the 5 million will set it up and then the unit will write enough tickets to sustain themselves. But yeah, it will be ahrd for them to write big tickets, that's why they focus on a bunch of small tickets like tinting and that kind of stuff

 
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dont think they wont be pullin over the 5.0 and camaros and the trans-ams this isnt racial profiling stop playing that card. most of the time when i see a civic/integra/rsx modded out its a white guy between 22-33 and celicas are white girls in college

 
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finally, someone figured out how to get rid of ricers.

And if your so concerened about not being able to put a fart cannon on your car just get one with a silencer.

 
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... so where's your sources saying that most of the time it's a white guy that's 22 or 23?

 
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silencer doesnt prevent cops from noticing that your car is modded... it may help a little... but not if he can see it or is close enough to hear it

 
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I think you're missing my point, they won't pull those guys over around here. 1. Cops like muscle cars around here. 2. Summit racing is located just down the road from me, that's a multi million dollar business. Summit Racing also puts alot of money into the cumminty aorund here, if the police start ticketing for stuff liek that, they will **** off more than just the people modifing car, they'll **** off Summit racing, and that will cross some major political hairs. I don't see it happening real soon.

 
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ummm i live in sacramento i worked at a car audio shop in north and south sac for a year i use to go out cruising back in 01-03 and trust me i live here i drive past the sac pd department everyday. they are going to be ticketing mainly white guys.

 
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racial profiling as in pulling over only a type of car (modified looking) for any reason. ticketing people at the discretion of the officer with no real law (ie the sound dB of an exhaust) is pretty unlawful.

 
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exactly and sacramento has alot of young money. they will write one guy a ticket whos other car is a lambo and this task forces budget will be gone in one law suit. 5 million isnt enough and they have picked the wrong target. why dont they put 5 million into a gang task force.

 
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again, retarded politicians waisting money on stupid laws, and regulations!!!!!!!! when will they ever learn..........................

 
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F this beuracratic red tape, more big brother, thanks Bush

BUCK FUSH

 
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sorry to let ya know but california is run by democrats and this is state funded with a huge transportation bill where small towns got half a million for stop signs. yeah we have the R-governator but he can only yay or nay what the reps want.

 
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lived in San diego, the polic will never herass you unless you really are doing something stupid. They dont directly go after modified cars, but if they pull you over for doing excessive speeding, etc they will nail you for this.
Eh hawk you wouldnt be safe with your k20 swap

 
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Damn. You liberals will just blame Bush for everything. Don't like your job? Buck Fush! Got a pimple on your ***? Buck Fush! Have an IQ lower than 80? Buck Fush! I bet you probably blamed Bush for your first girlfriend breaking up with you.

If you could read, you'd see that the city of Sacramento is using the federal money to crack down on modified cars. It's a CITY plan - not federal.

 
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pwned

 
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Well, I can't disagree with that. There is quite a bit of young money, but the target wasn't picked by anbody, I beleive the city decided to do it on their own. Not sure thoguh, I don't live out there, so I'm sure you know more than I do about the politics.

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I can already see people getting tickets in EVO's and STi's that are stock just because they have big wings

 
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I hate Bush too, but I can't really see how he is directly related to this.