CA Ref

BigJon96gst · 01-28-2008, 05:32 PM

I have 96 Gst w a 6 bolt, no cat, front mount w upper and lower piping, down pipe, injen intake, big 16 g turbo, greddy type s bov. i was pulled over the other day for having a front mount and exhaust then asked to pop my hood, the cop didn't see any of the legal tags for the intake or front mount, he also said i could have the egr breather. he wrote me up to see the REF. what can i do to pass. someone told me i could pay the penalty which says i do not contest the ticket and am willing to pay the fine instead of contesting the ticket, something like $400 to do. is this true.

DSM JDM · 01-29-2008, 07:26 PM

Yup, i paid about $400 just cause i didnt have time to go. Not COOL

CPHunter · 01-29-2008, 09:07 PM

Sucky bro, yeah fine is like 400-700 dollars, depends who gives the ticket and county.

lenny 15 · 01-30-2008, 10:30 PM

Mine was 145.

But I told him I didn't have time to fix it over the summer, even with the two extensions he gave me, because I had to finish making Eagle scout.

pickens · 01-30-2008, 11:36 PM

You don't have to pop your hood. If you refuse, then they need probable cause to go in your car and conduct a search. Just an FYI. If they want to be dicks, jut be one back and make them work for it.

Also, having an import car doesn't constitute probable cause.

arash15 · 01-31-2008, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickens

Also, having an import car doesn't constitute probable cause.

that probable cause thing has gone out the window years ago. they abuse thier authority and thats the truth. i just recently got done with a ref, my bail was close to $6xx but i removed EVERYthing and put it to stock. You can pass with a FMIC but you need all your emisions solenoids, egr and a cat, then youll be good to go.

Defiant · 01-31-2008, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickens

You don't have to pop your hood. If you refuse, then they need probable cause to go in your car and conduct a search. Just an FYI. If they want to be dicks, jut be one back and make them work for it.

Also, having an import car doesn't constitute probable cause.

By having a car registered in California, you agree to comply with the State's Motor Vehicle Code, and operate within its regulations. If an officer determines he has reason to think you may not be -by having changed your tailpipe, or gearshift knob, or by installing after-market gauges, or only by having an exhaust note that he determines doesn't sound like a stock system- he has PC to pop your hood. Refusing to allow him to will result in the car's being impounded pending investigation.

Learn more about how things work around here before giving away information that'll get the uninformed into trouble.

Doing mods in this state is more and more like putting your dick in an alligator's mouth. The State makes money off it. They won't be backing off.

And for those of you not here and not having to deal with this shit, save your breath. We know.

We also know your state will see how much California makes off their inspections and regulations. You'll be getting the same regulations soon enough. Enjoy it while you can.

pickens · 01-31-2008, 09:14 AM

Actually, any legal modification (i.e. exhuast, gauges, fmic) etc does not constitute PC. Learn the law buddy. However, will a cop still harass you?...YES. I've been there many times just because DWB. But the key is, fight it in court! And most likely you will win as an unlawful search (case dropped). That's where most people go wrong. They give in. The state figures 95% of the population will just pay the fines. Don't do it! The more who fight, the more who win. You have constitutional rights that overrule any state law/code (one of those is the right not to be searched w/out probable cause). The key is knowing how to bring them to light in court.

Also refusal to a search doesn't constitute PC. Just because I say NO to a search, doesn't mean I'm hiding something according to court precedence.

Defiant · 02-01-2008, 03:49 AM

Okay, good luck with that, then. There's no reason I'd know anything about how it works.

pickens · 02-01-2008, 08:48 AM

I know, its not easy and definately not a sure thing. But if we don't try to exercise our rights, then who will?

Project2G · 02-01-2008, 11:26 AM

Sorry to hear that. I got his with a reff in 2005. Biggest pain in the butt ever. My friend told me he got around it in his 97 gst but going to the dmv and registering his car non opp, then he went to the judge and he just had to pay a fine.

bardabe · 02-01-2008, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickens

Actually, any legal modification (i.e. exhuast, gauges, fmic) etc does not constitute PC. Learn the law buddy. However, will a cop still harass you?...YES. I've been there many times just because DWB. But the key is, fight it in court! And most likely you will win as an unlawful search (case dropped). That's where most people go wrong. They give in. The state figures 95% of the population will just pay the fines. Don't do it! The more who fight, the more who win. You have constitutional rights that overrule any state law/code (one of those is the right not to be searched w/out probable cause). The key is knowing how to bring them to light in court.

Also refusal to a search doesn't constitute PC. Just because I say NO to a search, doesn't mean I'm hiding something according to court precedence.

then technically what is a probable cause to pop your hood? I have my SAFC under the stereo, putting the gauges on the Bezel arround the cluster, and got the turbo timer on the lower left by the kick panel. HKS Carbon Ti Exhaust (carb legal) and Injen intake (carb legal) everyting else is pretty much illegal lol (got the cat converter shield on the test pipe) FMIC, Greddy type S, Mitsu housed 20G, FIC 650's, NGK plug wires, etc etc. but al my emissions shit is stil in place aside from the Cat converter

pickens · 02-01-2008, 07:55 PM

Eaxctly. That's beauty of Probable Cause in court with these types of cases. If a cop says in court he asked to search because you have a "modified" car then he had better be able to prove that you have something illegal. Most cops take piss poor notes in these types of stops because no one fights them. If he says I pulled him over because of an illegal exhaust in particular....just show the judge the carb certification and his PC goes out the window.

Defiant · 02-02-2008, 02:06 AM

Pickens, until you get a clue about what you claim, drop it.

FatalDreams · 02-02-2008, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Defiant

By having a car registered in California, you agree to comply with the State's Motor Vehicle Code, and operate within its regulations. If an officer determines he has reason to think you may not be -by having changed your tailpipe, or gearshift knob, or by installing after-market gauges, or only by having an exhaust note that he determines doesn't sound like a stock system- he has PC to pop your hood. Refusing to allow him to will result in the car's being impounded pending investigation.

Learn more about how things work around here before giving away information that'll get the uninformed into trouble.

Doing mods in this state is more and more like putting your dick in an alligator's mouth. The State makes money off it. They won't be backing off.

And for those of you not here and not having to deal with this shit, save your breath. We know.

We also know your state will see how much California makes off their inspections and regulations. You'll be getting the same regulations soon enough. Enjoy it while you can.

I agree with Defiant, living in ca you are subject to the mvc. Even if you are visiting YOU must comply with the local laws, the out of state lp will not help you in a traffic stop. Same rules aply.(it happend to me thats how i know)

laynbdyon20s · 02-03-2008, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickens

Eaxctly. That's beauty of Probable Cause in court with these types of cases. If a cop says in court he asked to search because you have a "modified" car then he had better be able to prove that you have something illegal. Most cops take piss poor notes in these types of stops because no one fights them. If he says I pulled him over because of an illegal exhaust in particular....just show the judge the carb certification and his PC goes out the window.

umm..if he asked to search he doesnt need PC. And its not PC, its reasonable suspicion. It's a lower standard. You need PC to arrest. You could not have done the crime, but if the officer has PC to think you did it, then you're going to jail. When you get pulled over, you are being detained, which means the officer has reasonable suspicion to investigate if a violation of law was committed.

And due to the officer's "training and experience" certain modifications done to your car lead him to believe that your car is not meeting the state's requirements.

Also, police officer's and judges/comissioners establish a rapport since they pretty much see each other on a weekly basis.

If you are gonna fight a ticket, you better have all your paperwork ready and present a really strong case.

Best advise is to try not to do anything that will grab the attention of the police.

Whew!

pickens · 02-03-2008, 10:40 AM

You only need reasonable suspicion to pull over and detain/question, but to conduct a search of private property you need PC. At least, that's the way I understand it.

XxRedDevilxX · 02-03-2008, 10:47 PM

I don't anything about probably cause but I was told by a cop friend that if you refuse to pop your hood they "can" impound your car. I don't know if thats completely accurate or legal but that's what I was told. As far as probable cause goes they for some reason always have probable cause when pulling me over even when my car was new and stock.

BigJon96gst · 02-04-2008, 11:08 AM

thanks for all the help best bet for me is to pay the fine. trying to fight the ticket would seem hard, here is ### the cop pulled me over for:

i was speeding and i popped my foot on the clutch, stupid thing to do to slow down but was thinking he couldnt hear it, and so he pulled me over for a loud exhaust. then he said he has an exhaust and intake on his truck and said that i most likely had an intake so he wanted to see if it was registered under CA regulations, which i didnt have.

anyways am i supposed to get something in the mail regarding the fine for not seeing the ref or do i just take it in to the court. are getting extensions to fix it smart if im goin to fight it. i dont have any stock parts so putting it back to stock is out of the question. if i were to fight the ticket what would i need, all i have is a smog test that i paid some one to pass.

sorry for all the questions and scenarios i just have lack of knowledge in the CA legal system for cars

Project2G · 02-04-2008, 11:13 AM

Your best bet is to pass the Reff. I paid the ticket and once it came time for me to register my car and smog, No smog place would touch the car because in there computer system the car had been flagged by the state reff. The smog shops told me I would have to go to the reff and get it smogged. So I believe sooner or later your going to have to pass the state refferee

eclipseGSN98 · 03-12-2008, 08:15 PM

I just told them i sold my car, and showed them a false bill of sale, i ended up paying 10 bucks because i didn't feel like going to see the ref..