http://youtube.com/watch?v=NCyMkB0uMeg

I saw this posted over at the Chevelle site and thought some of you might want to see it and comment on it. I will reserve my thoughts/opinion until later.

i think there are mostly going after the rice burners, they cant expect 40 year old cars to be exactly as factory

Once the can of worms is opened they will apply these same tactics to all types and years of cars. You cruise by in your 69 Camaro with a roll bar and they decide it is "modified for street racing". Someone please explain to me how they know if it is modified for street racing or racing legally at the track? I drove my Camaro around with a roll bar, hood scoop/blower, 3" exhaust, traction bars, etc... That car was modified for "racing", with that in mind NEVER EVER did I "street race" with that car. My point is bust the people actually breaking the law. Fix the real problem and stop trying to control what "might" happen. I just have to think that there are a few more important things the officers could be doing rather than stopping cars that "might" race at some point (which is not proven). I fully understand the smog laws but, I think this tactic is for two reasons. 1 to harrass the younger car guys so much they just give up on cars, 2 to create more revenue for the state and local police. Maybe if they go bust a few meth labs, and do something about the gang problem in So. Cal they could actually make a difference if more than one life.

Whats easier then shooting fish in a barrel? If I was a cop and pulled over any car with a non-standard or non-factory exhaust system I would have a hard time driving more then a mile a day!

Royce,,,
so, how would you possibly drive 1/2 the cars that people of this forum own....?? (in California).

Wouldn't the people of SEMA be fighting these tactics?

Kinda goes back to one of my previous posts.... if this is their policy, show it ALL to me in writing. I need to know every single modification that could be made to all vehicles, and then have them broken down into "legal / illegal" categories. That way I don't run the risk of breaking the law. My guess is a lot of this is left to the discretion of the officer and testing agency,,, and 99.999% of the time, if it isn't stock, it MUST be illegal.

Like you said, what "might" happen, is much different than what "does" happen. Just 'cause it could race, doesn't mean it will. For all that matters, I could "street race" a stock Corvette, Mustang, Charger, etc,, . I "might" street race my wife's 4Cylinder Pontiac Vibe if I wanted.... just wouldn't ever win.

Nothing more than a revenue generator.
Russ

I've been reading these posts about the crackdown in CA.

I'm all for stopping street racing, but come on!

I wouldn't trade all the nice weather that CA offers for that police state!

No way!

Here, we can still drive modified vehicles! They even comply with emissions/safety standards.

What's next for CA? Armed SWAT teams raiding speed shops?

Like posted above, where's SEMA?

Easy way to create revenue for the state?

I noticed they pointed out the MSD ignition box when i purchased mine it had a sticker stateing it was 50 state legal.

Russ, That's my point. Most guys will say "well they are only targeting ricers", We as a whole need to fight this type of stuff. It might be the ricers right now but, next month maybe it will be Camaros and Mustangs.

The fast is many cars on this site are "illegal" by California standards. My blown 70 Camaro was technically illegal. There were no smog checks for it so I never had a problem. I'm just glad I am building a car old enough that they can't hassle me on smog or modified emissions (car never had any).

The thing is can they hassle me because the car is "modified for street racing" cause it has a roll cage, wide tires, is lowered, and has a blower? Oh yeah and I am sure it will be a little louder than stock. Where does it all end?

I've been reading these posts about the crackdown in CA.

I'm all for stopping street racing, but come on!

I wouldn't trade all the nice weather that CA offers for that police state!

No way!

Here, we can still drive modified vehicles! They even comply with emissions/safety standards.

What's next for CA? Armed SWAT teams raiding speed shops?

Like posted above, where's SEMA?

I agree, I wouldnt live in CA for anything.....However I wonderful Gov of the state of Oregon is trying to pull some kind of executive order to make OR comply with CA type emissions laws.....UGH!!! Why cant govt just leave people alone????

Easy way to create revenue for the state?$250 tickets for flicking a cigarette out the window, jeez they get so much revenue as it is, i hope they dont declare war on muscle cars,

That's the scariest thing I've ever seen. It's only a matter of time until they move on to older cars. Street racing is wrong, but so is stereotyping and police profiling!

Here's the deal. The only thing saving us is there are not a lot of muscle cars running around (compared to imports), so the easy target is ricers. The problem is those same laws apply to all of us. I don't know is you guys remember when mini trucks were in, they came up with lame laws that basically only applied to them. They would stop them/us for the u-bolts being to low, the headlights too low, stereo too loud, etc... Anything the younger crowd is into is always targeted. I understand yougsters do stupid things (I know I did my fair share of dumb stuff) but, that is part of growing up and learning. You shouldn't punish everyone in order to try to stop the minority of kids that are actually street racing. The same type of tactics have been used on sport bikes (too loud, lighting,hidden plates), VW's (air cooled) (too low, too loud), mini trucks (tool low), 4X4's (too high and mud flaps required). I bet 80% of the cars on the road have something technically illegal on them or about them (no front plate, cracked, windshield, missing mirror, wrong color lights, won't pass smog, tread to low, expired tags, no insurance, etc...) If they enforce the laws we have on the books already they will generate plenty of revenue.

My question, regardless of basic training would be how many police officers have enough mechanical aptitude to properly identify legal/illegal modifications?
The what if's are scary.....

i dont think they will know much about what was stock on our 1st gens, what did a stock 60's muscle car sound like off the lot? and why would a spark multuplier be illegal?

Complete BS!!! I cannot believe that the police in CA have that kind of discretion- the whole probable cause scenario involved after the stop is weak at best. I could see the guy getting a ticket for the missing front plate- got him there, but the rest of that crap is unreasonable search and/ or seizure.

Fascism at work...

its propbable cause, the need a legit violation to get you pulled over, then they can have a field day and ask you anything they want..looks better on the paper work, "pulled him over for an ubstrucked tag"...THEN i noticed he had a tachometer....

First to those that think Ca is a police state, Keep thinking that way, too many from other states migrate here has it is... ;) It's a lot more forgiving and easier here than you might think, from what get press...

Next, every aftermarket part sold in CA has to comply with state emissions laws and if it's not street legal, it is sold as "offroad" only. The legal parts come with stickers for you to have on the car to prove they are CA legal.

Royce is in one of the problem areas of the state and there are many, the police have resorted to extreme measures to save young lives. Be it from death or from killing someone and ending up in prison for vehicular manslaughter. Yes this form of enforcement could spill over to the cars we treasure. Will it? Don't give the man a reason and I doubt it. These laws didn't just appear on the book this year. Every cop I have talked to when in my Camaro is "officer friendly" and I have had several suggest they would give me a free pass if our paths cross down the road. San Jose has a very young police force, might have something to do with it. I did witness a rice rod getting the going over a few days ago. The drivers action led me to believe he was not taking his car home after that stop. I don't know what he did to call attention to the himself.

This same thing went on when I was a kid, the cops had a target and it was young guys in modified cars that were known to have been involved in illegal racing. My guess is it's the same profile and if your ride hasn't been seen at 2am with a crowd of racers or where the races take place you don't get pulled over unless you draw their attention in some way before being stopped.

In support of how I feel, how many newer trucks and suv's are running around with intake and exhaust mods, chips etc? You're much more likely to find a 30-40 year old hip hopper booming rap dressed like Jessie James driving an illegally modified SUV or truck than you will anyone driving a classic, stock / pro-touring / pro-street and at any age. If you're nose is clean and they see you in a tubbed classic with a blower sticking out the hood, no front plate and they hear you before they see you and didn't hear any tire squeel the cops will most likely just wave as you drive by...

Anyway that's my .02 and though I don't want it to flow over to our cars I have spent a lot of time at the high school my 15 year old attends as well as the cross town fast pitch rivels and see how these young rice rod owners act and drive. I say give them hell if it will keep my kid alive! There is a counter culture within our youth who are fearless and think they are are industructable. Kinda the same group I belonged to when I was 16-17 but we drove American Iron. Still acted the same, glad I survived it, hope these kids do to!! The stakes are a lot higher today than when I was 16...

Thank God i live in Tennessee. I get p.o.ed when i see cars w/o headlights, since we dont require state inspection, however ill take it over that. If your breaking the law with your mods, fine stick it to ya. i will say however, you should recieve a citation for those mufflers, there offensive even by flowmaster standards.

I used to think it was the Peoples Republic Of California, and the Peoples Republic Of Washington now I know its the Peoples Rublic of Washington and California with Oregon trying to gain admission to this elite club. Next it will just be the Peoples Republic Of The West Coast or Left Coast. I agree if the law would do their jobs on what is happening and not the what if's. With all the laws now they could cover the deficit easily if they would just enforce them. It also would not hurt to educate some law enforcement types who are clueless. I had a argument with one who is a aquaintance a while back who still would not beleave a issue, when I had the written opinion from the Washington State Attorney General on the issue. I wont name the issue as it will end up in thread pirating and arguments on the issue. If intersted PM me.

I can see someone setting up a car that looks super modified, but is absolutely stock and in compliance driving around to bait these cops into arresting them, and sue for harrassment. Fix the problem by cracking down on the offenders, not profiling people.

First to those that think Ca is a police state, Keep thinking that way, too many from other states migrate here has it is... ;) It's a lot more forgiving and easier here than you might think, from what get press...

Next, every aftermarket part sold in CA has to comply with state emissions laws and if it's not street legal, it is sold as "offroad" only. The legal parts come with stickers for you to have on the car to prove they are CA legal.

Royce is in one of the problem areas of the state and there are many, the police have resorted to extreme measures to save young lives. Be it from death or from killing someone and ending up in prison for vehicular manslaughter. Yes this form of enforcement could spill over to the cars we treasure. Will it? Don't give the man a reason and I doubt it. These laws didn't just appear on the book this year. Every cop I have talked to when in my Camaro is "officer friendly" and I have had several suggest they would give me a free pass if our paths cross down the road. San Jose has a very young police force, might have something to do with it. I did witness a rice rod getting the going over a few days ago. The drivers action led me to believe he was not taking his car home after that stop. I don't know what he did to call attention to the himself.

This same thing went on when I was a kid, the cops had a target and it was young guys in modified cars that were known to have been involved in illegal racing. My guess is it's the same profile and if your ride hasn't been seen at 2am with a crowd of racers or where the races take place you don't get pulled over unless you draw their attention in some way before being stopped.

In support of how I feel, how many newer trucks and suv's are running around with intake and exhaust mods, chips etc? You're much more likely to find a 30-40 year old hip hopper booming rap dressed like Jessie James driving an illegally modified SUV or truck than you will anyone driving a classic, stock / pro-touring / pro-street and at any age. If you're nose is clean and they see you in a tubbed classic with a blower sticking out the hood, no front plate and they hear you before they see you and didn't hear any tire squeel the cops will most likely just wave as you drive by...

Anyway that's my .02 and though I don't want it to flow over to our cars I have spent a lot of time at the high school my 15 year old attends as well as the cross town fast pitch rivels and see how these young rice rod owners act and drive. I say give them hell if it will keep my kid alive! There is a counter culture within our youth who are fearless and think they are are industructable. Kinda the same group I belonged to when I was 16-17 but we drove American Iron. Still acted the same, glad I survived it, hope these kids do to!! The stakes are a lot higher today than when I was 16...

Well put.

I do not live in a "problem" area. Vacaville still has a lot of country roads and the street racers do their dirt out there. There are a LOT of hot rods, Harleys, Ricers, Sport bikes in my area. The police here have been pretty fair, so I can't complain about that. My point was and still is, the way they say a car is "modified for STREET racing". There are a lot of cars on the street that compete or play at the track, they do not deserve to be harrassed because they has a performance muffler or tach. The muffler and the tach are 100% legal, he wasn't getting cited for the muffler or the tach, he was being cited for the "illegal modifications".

Dennis I understand you want the best for your daughter, I do for mine as well. This is why as a parent it is up to me to keep her out of trouble and teach her to use good judgement. I don't think it is up to the cops to stop every young man in a car and arrest them to keep them away from my daughter. You admitted yourself that as a young man you did the very things these kids are doing, you turned out ok, right? I know I have been a gear head my whole life, I turned out OK too.

You can word it however you want but, I don't think these tactics are needed nor are they fair. You can argue that if you keep your car legal then they can't ticket you or impound your car. The whole deal of being stopped on your way to work because you have a tach on the dash is BS period. If they were only cruising around late night hassling the kids (12AM on) that would even make more sense, that's when 99% of the illegal street races happen.

Until a problem effects people directly many people like to turn their heads and act like they don't see it. I can tell you the law is not written to only apply to import cars, so when you get stopped in your Camaro for rolling through a stop sign and they tell you to pop the hood, because your exhaust rumbles, and they see that "illegal" breather and send you to the smog ref, we'll see how many of you that support this non-sense still stand behind it.

Kids will be kids, they will mess up all by themselves without setting "traps" just give them enough rope and they will hang themselves.

Florida is still hiring people with technical or medical skills (craft and creative types get sucked up by Orlando), or if you can pound nails or stack concrete blocks to form a wall you'd be in demand. But why work. Heck, sell your house in California and retire here (median house is $170,000 most LA basin homes cost under $80,000) cause there ain't no smog poe-leece, and cost of living is about 2/3rds what you're paying now. Course You've got to trade earthquakes for hurricanes, but a hurricane has not successfully snuck up on Florida since 1933. Course you've got to bring your own water, unless you like dry looking vegetation 'cause we can only water one day a week in the dry season.


Larger Dave

Royce is 100% right. In a perfect world it will just be the "bad kids" in those damn obnoxious little ricers with thier fart pipes, but you know it wont stop there. It truely is opening a huge can of worms, and don't think your "hotrodded" camaro will be left out. Also, lots of our current street racers use american iron as well.
Now, a car like dennis' doesn't really fit the hotrod mold, per se (But it is nice dennis, dont get me wrong ;) ), so I can see it getting overlooked. But a car like royces old camaro, or any "pro street" type cars are a huge beacon to cops, and are subject to searches. Plus, I would bet if a cop searched your car dennis, he could find Items that would deem it illegal. Not positive, but I'll bet its a safe bet.
I think its sad they have to crack down on these damn crazy kids in thier ricers (and american cars btw), unfortunately it seems they do. But catch them doing it, not by opening a can of worms writing a law that opens the door to indiscriminate searches on the wim of a cop. They clearly have better things to do I would think.
I hope washington doesn't follow cali on this one.....

The best way to avoid these types of laws is to organize a group (grape vine), and call your local legislators!! And call often. Everytime Cali starts up on the "old cars must be crushed" type of war cry, Washington follows suite. Then the Washington Car Club Council starts making calls to the capitol building, and usually, it goes away. Pretty silly to give carte blanche to the police to search vehicles for tachometers at will... Where does this crap end?
Also, If you take away the riced out type cars with big exhaust, colored lights, body kits, etc, then they will just speed and race in a "plain jane" Honda. You won't be able to see them coming or hear that whine of the exhaust. They will blend in with the regular Joe commuter, and that seems worse to me. I see Royce's point and I think that it's going too far....
Dano
p.s. Royce, I bet the street racers get it worse in Compton than in Palos Verdes ;)

Royce - In the global world we are in here on the net and in the news etc you are in the Sac area and that is all I meant by that. You're going to see more of the pull overs than say someone in Paso Robles for example. Sorry if the implication was too general on my part.

The laws being used have been in place for years. Royce you had a very modified car with a blower etc and you are a few years younger than say myself. I don't recall you ever bringing up anything regarding you ever being stopped. Have you been stopped and if so did you get cited or go through anything like the video depicted?

As I said I believe the cars being stopped are targeted and know street racers or someone that did something to draw the cops attention. To make it sound like the state is about to lock it's citizens down because of loud mufflers is just a bit paranoid IMO. Don't give the cops a reason and they won't bother you. They too realize they have other important duties to do. I believe it's "To Serve and Protect". Not many 30-50 year olds being killed or killing in 1st gens street racing. Lots of stories in the papers about young folks in Honda's though...

Royce I have no question in my mind you have instilled and do instill common sense in your children's upbringing. If your kids turn out to be like their dad you will have done them well. Here's the thing, at 17 - 20 did Royce ever go watch a street race? Participate in one? I believe I know the answer, at least answering for myself the answer is yes. So then if our children are the least bit interested in performance automobiles you can bet they will, not intending it to be a bad thing at least spectate or be riding shotgun during a street race. I don't wish anyones child be burdoned with manslauter or to be killed at a side show or street race. "To protect and Serve" Isn't that what the plice are doing?

I'm sure I haven't eased your mind by all this, I know you're sinking a ton of hard work into your current project and don't want to face what these kids are going through when you drive to Goodguys and back of over to teh track for a few passes. If you really feel threatened by these actions write SEMA, it's a big part of their industry at stake... Let us know what action plans they have up their sleeves if you do contact them...

One thing to also notice in this video is the lack of understanding, compassion, of the officer to make a judgement call by himself. The whole thing seems geared to the end result of a fine, arrest, and impounding the vehicle. I guess I remember the days when a cop made a decision on how you reacted and did not totally rely on revenue driven compliance. Why is there no training video on busting racers in the act?

One thing to also notice in this video is the lack of understanding, compassion, of the officer to make a judgement call by himself. The whole thing seems geared to the end result of a fine, arrest, and impounding the vehicle. I guess I remember the days when a cop made a decision on how you reacted and did not totally rely on revenue driven compliance. Why is there no training video on busting racers in the act?

That was a training film, they were simulating the scenario not filming a real stop!!

I am amazed that the California Vehicle Code nullifies our Forth Amendment protection from illegal search and seizure.The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
I wonder what Thomas Jefferson would have said about that video.

In the immortal words of Charlie Daniels...Aint it great to be alive and to be in Tennessee!

That was a training film, they were simulating the scenario not filming a real stop!!
Yes I understood that, same guy 3 times over. Probally what I was trying to get across was more of how it all seems to be motivated more by revenue, than actually stopping illegal street racing. How about the police actually start promoting safe racing at a dragstrip on weekday nights. I am certain they should have a "Race a Cop" program as they do here in Salt Lake, and probally many places around the country. Teach these young guys by example instead of dividing them into cop vs. car guy.

thats bs ,next thing you know they will be stopping jack up 4x4s for illegal street mud bogging

Yes I understood that, same guy 3 times over. Probably what I was trying to get across was more of how it all seems to be motivated more by revenue, than actually stopping illegal street racing. How about the police actually start promoting safe racing at a dragstrip on weekday nights. I am certain they should have a "Race a Cop" program as they do here in Salt Lake, and probally many places around the country. Teach these young guys by example instead of dividing them into cop vs. car guy.

Where did revenue come in? I didn't see any fiscal report or mention of revenue in the video. Do you know that the police in CA communities don't get involved in safe legal youth programs? Not really trying to bust your hump over this, we just can't witness one short video clip and factually fill in the blanks as to what the police policy's and practices are.

Check this out from 2003 in San Diego, 7th largest city in the US. At one point there were 8 deaths and 11 injuries in a 120 day period in San Diego. The quote is from the link below it...


Assessment:
The Drag-Net Project is ongoing. The analysis phase is also ongoing, however, many of the
responses have already been evaluated and their successes measured:
• 89% reduction in instances of illegal speed contests in the City of San Diego
• 1200% increase in citations for illegal motor and emissions modifications
• 106 people arrested for engaging in illegal motor vehicle speed contests
• 828 law enforcement officers trained in vehicle modification and racing enforcement
• 283 insurance investigators trained in illegal vehicle modifications recognition
• Increased public awareness of the problem through media advocacy
• Improved education program at high school level
• Passage of law making it illegal to be a spectator at an illegal speed contest
• Passage of law permitting forfeiture of vehicle involved in illegal speed contest
• Increased awareness and enforcement by agencies throughout the region to avoid
displacement
• Exchange of information and interaction with street racers through moderated forums on
Internet websites
• Both goals of the project were met


http://www.popcenter.org/library/goldstein/2003/03-35.pdf

We had a thread going before on this and local citizens were really heated over several deaths in the Sacramento area. My guess is with the results they got in So-cal the cops there are following suit...

About illegal search and seizure, this is Calif where any 1st yr law student knows enough about ones legal rights. If you are stopped for false causes take the state to court, you'll most likely win!

Dennis,
I am not to worried about the car I'm building, it's a 1961 model. If I get hassled I'll deal with it. To answer your question, no I was never bothered in my Camaro (knock on wood), me and a friend were singled out in his Camaro, for no reason. He happens to work for the CHP and the city cop decided he had something else he needed to do, as soon as he saw the CHP ID.

I understand the point you are trying to make. I agree street racing is not the smartest thing to do. The kids today do it in the dumbest places possible, which makes things worse. It was no different "back in the day" when Camaro's Firedirds, GTO's, Chargers, Cudas, Mustangs, etc.. were newer and younger males were driving them. I just don't like the approach or the invasion. If we want do stop young men from street racing lets take it a step further and make it illegal to drive until you are 25 or 30 years old. Maybe have restricted licenses so under the age of 30 you can only drive to and from school and work? Would you have a problem with that? I would, it has to stop somewhere. Writing tickets and harrassing people is not going to fix the problem. Just as Dano said young men will race anything. I have raced everything from, roller skates to bikes, to motorcycles, to cars. Modifying the car is not the problem, if the car is bone stock it is still able to race. Maybe they should stop all Corvettes, 350Z's, Newer Camaros, Mustangs, etc... All of the above are faster than 99% of the Honda Civics, Sentras, Accords, etc... on the street. Lets put govenors on all cars so none of them can go faster than 70MPH.

If I am stopped on the way to a softball game should I be charged with assault with a deadly weapon or murder, because I have a few bats in the car? Of course not. A car is transportation and some of us like to customize and increase performance, that does not mean we are breaking the law or street racing. If they bust a kid street racing I think they should be able to pop the hood send them to the smog ref, impound the car, take them to jail and make the parents come sing to get them out, whatever. I just don't think stopping people going about their daily business is the right way to fix a problem. I would bet most of the cars stopped don't even race (on the street or at the track). It is a fad/trend to have a "ricer" with a fart pipe, big wing and stickers. I would be willing to bet most of the kids are smart enough not to race on the street and the majority are "poser" cars anyway and aren't even modified beyond the muffler and a few stickers.

I just think there are far more important things than stopping every car that has a performance muffler. I'll leave it at that.

The "sting" they had set up in Sacramento was busting kids that were actually racing at the track. They set up on one of the main roads taken to get to the track. If they are going to do that then why should the kids go to the track? Those kids should be rewarded for doing the right thing.

My kids aren't into fast cars really. They like riding in my cars but, that's about it. They both know that if they want to race or drive fast it is to be done at the track. They also know they better hope the cops catch them doing something stupid before I do (that goes for anything not just racing).

I also agree that if you don't hang around the street races and aren't seen cruising known "hot spots" the cops "tend to leave you alone" but, with this "special training" it looks to me like they are looking for a reason to stop people. I drove my Camaro for over 7 years on the street with no front license plate or wipers and I was never botherd. I had a lot of cops give me thumbs up and ask questions about it.

Yes, I have been to the street races several times, when I went I never took my car because I didn't want it seen in places like that. I am 38 years old and think a little further ahead than a high school kid or younger adult. The cops know where the kids race just like I know. I know exactly the places to look for the street races, the cops do to because they break them up every weekend. My personal opinion is to let them race out in the country rather than have them racing down main street and killing people. Out in the country they are 99% a danger only to themselves. Of course the track is the best place to go and I am NOT saying street racing is OK. Go bust the gang bangers, drug dealers, drunk drivers (which kill far more people than street racing), car thiefs, etc...

Your last post stated 8 deaths and 11 injuries from "street racing" which in many cases is just plain wreckless driving and not actually racing. I wonder how many other deaths were murders that weren't solved or could have been prevented (gang related etc..). We live in a dangerous world, that's life, you have to make choices to limit the danger you put yourself in, that's still no sure thing you won't have something bad happen. We can't police common sense. You have to understand that since the "fast and the furious" every car accident is looked at as if it was street racing. If the car was speeding it was "racing". It is just a buzz phrase in the media right now. I fully understand there are people that race on the street, it's nothing new. The cars they are racing are actually slower and safer than the cars raced "back in the day", they have better brakes, better handling, air bags, crumple zones, etc... As long as there are cars there will be racing and deaths from accidents, that's life. Life is not always fair, you can't live your life in fear. Catch them doing wrong and I am all for throwing the book at them.. Assuming a car with a decal on the window is a street racer is just well, DUMB! How many people have Harley or West Coast Choppers sticker and have never even owned a bike?

i recently had one of these vtec hondas with after market tail lights exaust and intake that scares me (but I sold it) , because alot of times ill drive my 67s and 68s and 69s camaros that are drag raceable but are street legal but im also not a punk kid that goes around trying to steet race and if they are having so much trouble with people having msd and after market stuff on car to make them go fast, then why dont they regulate our cars to go no faster than 70mph, I dont understand why there is that option there on our speedomter to go 120mph 0r 160mph what the heck ,I mean its always there in our face, when are you supposed to use those speeds or are they just to look at??

Where did revenue come in? I didn't see any fiscal report or mention of revenue in the video. Do you know that the police in CA communities don't get involved in safe legal youth programs? Not really trying to bust your hump over this, we just can't witness one short video clip and factually fill in the blanks as to what the police policy's and practices are.

Check this out from 2003 in San Diego, 7th largest city in the US. At one point there were 8 deaths and 11 injuries in a 120 day period in San Diego. The quote is from the link below it...



http://www.popcenter.org/library/goldstein/2003/03-35.pdf

We had a thread going before on this and local citizens were really heated over several deaths in the Sacramento area. My guess is with the results they got in So-cal the cops there are following suit...

About illegal search and seizure, this is Calif where any 1st yr law student knows enough about ones legal rights. If you are stopped for false causes take the state to court, you'll most likely win!
Dennis, according the the drag net assessment you provided, there is a 1200 percent increase in citations for motor modification & emmission modifications. In my book citations = revenue. I do believe the amount of deaths in the same assement are terrible and agree that this issue has to be addressed. Possibly my fingers dont quite get my brains point accross, I am not trying to fill in the blanks with just a short video, but it seems anymore that we are being pushed to the limit with laws that can be addressed with ones that are already on the books. I personally do not have the answer, but do think the problem could be helped more by showing these young racers the proper ways and places to enjoy their cars. It does sound that the programs in place are making improvements, and I do think that is great. Maybe this whole subject gets under your skin because many of us have experienced the problems of having a car that stands out in a policemans eye, it does happen.

Now that I am fully involved in this chat, I recall last summer when we had a cruise down to Milford Utah for a charity car show for the towns J.C.s club, the money raised went for blind dog training for local blind people. Distance to this very small town is about 235 miles, so that means beside the charity money raised, we put plenty of money into motels & restaurants, gasoline, and town support. People come from Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, etc. At the show a local policeman started to write non compliance tickets out on cars parked at the show, no front plate, modified suspension, etc. The bastard even asked one of the guys to start his motor so he could determine if the exhaust was too loud! Talk about shooting fish in a barrell!! Thankfully one of the J.C.s members made a quick call to his superior when he started writing the citations. His superior arrived quickly, and gathered up the tickets, sent the cop away, and apologized, with a "please dont let this ruin next years show" type apology. I know this is a isolated situation, but it does demonstrate how we are all subject to scruitiny under these laws. I will attend the show again this year, it is a good cause and we really helped out the charity.

Here is where part of the problem lies with unreasonable search and seizure: http://faculty.ncwc.edu/TOConnor/325/325lect05.htm

Even the courts have difficulty determining exactly what constitiutes probable cause.

Too late;
video has been pulled "Due to Copyright Infringement"
They just don't want people to have access to the propaganda they are spreading