Placerville CHP - Profilling Question

[cc4usmc]

I never met someone who modified their cars with simple bolt ons and didn't street race.

I modify because I like to modify, that's all. Slightly aggressive cams, headers, exhaust and intake doesn't mean that I'm not able to control myself when I'm behind the wheel. But this thread isn't about that so that's all I'll say.

[k3nnex]

My friend has a turbo Civic with a b16 swap he doesn't street race. He just has it to back him up when people try to mess with him. He has a clean record, but he recently got state ref'd so it's almost over for that car haha

[mark2203]

I posted on here earlier but I don't see my post. How weird. A few years ago I was driving a rice rocket myself, police would pull me over more often than others for strange reasons. My friend was pulled over in his 2000 Civic SI because his plate light wasn't bright enough for the cop to read his plate from 100 ft or something stupid. I have had my hood popped several times as well. Generally the cops are nice to us though.

I think the cops should be more concerned about lifted trucks and SUVs that pose a greater threat on the road than a small underpowered Japanese car.

well here are my rice rockets

Those cars have trouble written all over them.

[97F1504RAD]

I think it's the chrome, mud tires, flames and winch for street duty. J/K

I can see Explorer Pro Comp gray underthere???

Nope no Pro Comp parts on it. But lots of Trophies for it.

[97F1504RAD]

The problem is, as usual, with laws that instead of punishing the actual crime punish possession of something that could potentially be used in a crime. of course, it's easier and safer to prosecute and legislate that, but at the same time it plays to the way too often used "guilty until proven innocent" principle.

Basically, we punish the possession of a gun, or a specific kind of gun, instead of punishing shooting someone unjustifiably.

Exactly

Sorry I disagree. Coming from both sides of the issue, (used to do A LOT of street racing when I was just out of high school) I never met someone who modified their cars with simple bolt ons and didn't street race. I not talking about the fast and furious types alone, Im including stop light to stop light racing as well. The guys that are doing complete drive train build ups are not going to waste time(or car) street racing, but they are a huge minority, and their cars are not daily drivers.

Well you have just met one then. Because I do not street race and never will and I have a modified car and truck for that matter. As you say yourself when you were a teenager, most grown men do not do that as we have learned that it is not the way to do things as it only gets you into trouble and causes stupid laws such as these.

In fact the Mustang club I belong to it is a big deal in our club Anyone who is caught street racing is booted as we do not want that stigma attached with the performance cars. We have very large cruises and driving properly is strictly enforced. And many of those cars have well over 600 HP and you do not see them street racing or even doing burnouts we do not tolerate it.

[alex00]

While the goal may be to try and stop street racing, it effects many law abiding citizens who simply enjoy modifying their vehicles and never have nor will they ever participate in street racing. The laws are bogus just like the gun laws. The Smog Laws in this state are as pathetic as it's gun laws

I agree with you. I have personal opinions about the effectiveness of the searches. I have used the smog searches when I catch people street racing. I have a hard time jamming someone up just driving along with a modified car. These are effective tools used on the right people. Public opinion can easily turn against LE when the tools are indiscriminately applied. Much like gun laws.

[alex00]

I think the cops should be more concerned about lifted trucks and SUVs that pose a greater threat on the road than a small underpowered Japanese car.

Unfortunately the evidence (anecdotal or real) isn't there that lifted trucks and SUVs are racing on public streets. The Japanese cars get the attention because there are frequently news stories about them racing and crashing into each other, cars full of families, etc. Again, just like gun laws, I'm not a huge fan of going after the object without the accompanying bad behavior.

Anyway, to get to my point of my post, I've always wondered what the justifications or "probable causes" are for searching a car. The OP said that his son was driving a stock car and obeying all laws, but yet his hood was popped? That's a little sketchy to me. Could they have just said no?

This may give the probable cause to search under your hood:

I drive an import with a not so settle paint job, shiny wheels and, at the time, an aftermarket exhaust (was not louder then the limit) and some side skirts from the newer year but same model car. The car was also lower then the legal limit but not slammed to the ground.

Those are some of the factors we can use to develop probable cause to search for illegal smog modifications under the hood.

[Throttleman]

The "whole Story"

These young men drive imports. I know my sons car is stock. I get the mail so if he had a citation I would know about it AND he would tell me about it. He is not yet as cynical as you apparently are.

These guys are pro LEO and all looking into public service careers after they finish their military service.

Being young men they ARE getting tired of being pulled over for no real reason.

I never see CHP stopping motorcycles for open mufflers, why, because politicians, judges, lawyers, CHP, SO and police drive motorcycles.

Always sorry so see anyone get hurt by a bad guy, sorry about that.

Officers do not check for mods on STOCK CARS. Period...If they did they would be checking every car on the road??? Its obvious your son is not telling you the WHOLE story...(waiting for "my son tells me EVERYTHING") How do I know? Cause im a Chippie in the bay area (way more imports) As far as the AAA with a gun...a fellow officer got shot 6 times two weeks ago during wallgreens take over robbery in oakland...they must of had a flat in isle #3....

[fullrearview]

I modify because I like to modify, that's all. Slightly aggressive cams, headers, exhaust and intake doesn't mean that I'm not able to control myself when I'm behind the wheel. But this thread isn't about that so that's all I'll say.

Cams are not simple bolt ons.

[fullrearview]

My friend has a turbo Civic with a b16 swap he doesn't street race. He just has it to back him up when people try to mess with him. He has a clean record, but he recently got state ref'd so it's almost over for that car haha

what do you mean back it up? To me, it sounds like racing!

[inbox485]

Unfortunately the evidence (anecdotal or real) isn't there that lifted trucks and SUVs are racing on public streets. The Japanese cars get the attention because there are frequently news stories about them racing and crashing into each other, cars full of families, etc. Again, just like gun laws, I'm not a huge fan of going after the object without the accompanying bad behavior.

I rarely see a high lifted truck/suv on the road without a first rate a-hole behind the wheel. IIRC, having your headlights tilted up so that they point into the rear view mirror of other drivers, weaving, tailgating, and other such behavior typical of large pickup truck drivers are all CVC violations. Yet while I see small import cars pulled over all the time, I rarely see raised pick-ups/SUVs pulled over. I do however see them in a disproportionate amount of the accidents I see.

[fullrearview]

Exactly




Well you have just met one then. Because I do not street race and never will and I have a modified car and truck for that matter. As you say yourself when you were a teenager, most grown men do not do that as we have learned that it is not the way to do things as it only gets you into trouble and causes stupid laws such as these.

In fact the Mustang club I belong to it is a big deal in our club Anyone who is caught street racing is booted as we do not want that stigma attached with the performance cars. We have very large cruises and driving properly is strictly enforced. And many of those cars have well over 600 HP and you do not see them street racing or even doing burnouts we do not tolerate it.

I should have specified......GROWN men, no, they tipically wont be out there street racing. 16-24 years olds, yes, they will. Again, im not just talking about the fast and furious type of racing. Im also including "pick up" racing, ie: your at a stop light, some dude pipes you and you race to the next stop light.

Again, your not gonna get 600 hp from simple bolt ons unless your rockin an 03-05 mustang cobra, or vette...And if you are rockin those kind of cars, your not gonna waste your time or car, street racing. Just not worth losing your car for that.

Do I think some of these laws are stupid? YES....but they were caused by CARB and put in place for our "safety" against "harmful" polutants. Thats was it is so hard to get parts CARB approved. Those laws were just swooped up by LE to help get racers off the streets.

To me, it sounds like the CHP was profiling behavior.

[alex00]

I rarely see a high lifted truck/suv on the road without a first rate a-hole behind the wheel. IIRC, having your headlights tilted up so that they point into the rear view mirror of other drivers, weaving, tailgating, and other such behavior typical of large pickup truck drivers are all CVC violations. Yet while I see small import cars pulled over all the time, I rarely see raised pick-ups/SUVs pulled over. I do however see them in a disproportionate amount of the accidents I see.

It all goes back to the focus of whatever agency is doing the enforcement. Traffic bureaus aren't getting a bunch of complaints about lifted trucks running stop signs, doing donuts, racing light to light, etc. There aren't a lot of news stories about lifted trucks crashing into innocent parties. I am not saying that lifted trucks are safer than modified imports. I'm simply saying from a resource management point of view agencies may stop the imports because those cars are similar to those that generate the complaints from the public.

[k3nnex]

what do you mean back it up? To me, it sounds like racing!

it's just to have something under the hood. He doesn't go around trying to race people, he doesn't track his car or formally race his car. You know what I mean, don't take it the wrong way.

[97F1504RAD]

I agree with you. I have personal opinions about the effectiveness of the searches. I have used the smog searches when I catch people street racing. I have a hard time jamming someone up just driving along with a modified car. These are effective tools used on the right people. Public opinion can easily turn against LE when the tools are indiscriminately applied. Much like gun laws.

Yes I agree with that 100% and fully support that type of enforcement. I simply have an issue with pulling over someone like me for something as small as not running a front plate and then turning that into pop your hood and let me inspect your car.
For the record I am over 40 and simply enjoy modifying my vehicles so they do not look like everyone else's. Both of my rigs have won numerous awards at cars shows from here to L.A. I do not do it to race anyone I do it because I enjoy it just like many of us here enjoy shooting.