Time to Install Front License Plate and OEM Exhaust???

[Craig T]

Speeding on Mulholland? Reckless driving? Racing Ferraris? NOPE! Pulled over and cited for no front license plate and illegal exhaust. Last time I go to The Rock Store.

He pulled me over for no front plate, then walked back and looked at my exhaust. It must have been a slow day....Or he hates Viper Green.

[Noah930]

Wow. I feel for you. He knows what a PITA it is to get this stuff inspected and signed off at a CHP station.

Actually, I fought (and won) a modified exhaust ticket, once. (VC27151) I borrowed a decibel meter from a friend, tested the car myself per the criteria listed in the Vehicle Code, and presented the evidence in court. After all, no LEO agency is actually willing to test the sound coming from the exhaust of a car, so I did it myself. The car was below the 92- and 95-dB limits, so I won.

[tazzieman]

Can't you get a magnetic LP , or is that also illegal in the land of the free

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by tazzieman

Can't you get a magnetic LP , or is that also illegal in the land of the free

No. I was warned that double-sided tape, magnets, and other temp fixes won't do. I just screwed a license plate frame through the screen in my bumper vents. The plate covered the vents. The CHP at the station actually pulled on it and confirmed it must be "screwed or bolted on in a permanent fashion".

The exhaust was a little more difficult. I had a SS secondary with to 8" Burns cans. it's obviouly non-compliant, but my quiet secondary is a Magnaflow 2 in 2 out. It's not that much quieter. He made me rev it and was very reluctant to sign it off...But he did!

Now I have to go to the Van Nuys courthouse and pay $50!

[Reiver]

California is a great place..you all just stay out that a way.....

[Bob Harriman]

Dude, I would've pulled you over too, just to check out your car. I also would've had you rev it, just so I could here it.
I've seen your car many times and it's one of the nicest. Love Viper Green

[G50911]

i just got a no front plate ticket being parked in front of my house. mind you my neighborhood is a semi private development (only two ways in/out). the cop was obviously trolling neighborhood streets to find things to bust people with. must be quota time or california is becoming more and more a "police state".

[McLaren-TAG]

That guy is obviously a corvette driver.

[tazzieman]

So in a similar vein , this LA-based "Fast & Loud" show that I don't watch on cable TV downunder is all about making cars that can be legally polished - but not legally driven? What's the point of a big willy if you can't waggle it? Or perhaps you just need to set the alarm clock really early , a la Magnus

[blucille]

have esposito fabricate a mount that attaches to the trailing edge of the front spoiler or the 'tow hook' in the center of the pan...something with a clevis pin that can be removed easily but not obviously.

there are many spring loaded or remote controllable hidden mounts if you do a search....

[sundevil64]

I was pulled over for my wiper blade blocking my registration sticker. The officer then continued to check against the license plate, vin, then moved on to the inspection sticker. Going as far to inspect the signature on the inspection sticker and that is was in one piece which required me to leave the vehicle and stand at the front. Then he started questioning me about my muffler which is in the mid high 90's db range. Fortunately, I was pulled over in a rural area and the sound wasn't too much of an issue. Although he did say "it was making my truck vibrate". I couldn't help but laugh.

[sundevil64]

I was pulled over for my wiper blade blocking my registration sticker. The officer then continued to check against the license plate, vin, then moved on to the inspection sticker. Going as far to inspect the signature on the inspection sticker and that is was in one piece which required me to leave the vehicle and stand at the front. Then he started questioning me about my muffler which is in the mid high 90's db range. Fortunately, I was pulled over in a rural area and the sound wasn't too much of an issue. Although he did say "it was making my truck vibrate". I couldn't help but laugh.

[tdw28210]

As a reference...and I am partial to North Carolina. Moved here from NorCal in 2000...back in my BMW days.


States that DO NOT require a front license plate…
• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• West Virginia
• Nevada
o Plates are optional if the car did not originally come with a plate bracket or if the bumper of the car was not designed for a plate.
• Puerto Rico
• Guam

[O' yeah"74]

First off I extremely dislike front mounted license plate they are ugly and often in the way. California is kinda screwy IMO but at least they don't have roadblocks that stop EVERYONE to be inspected like N. Carolina...... Oh wait immigration checkpoints..... Anyways, in N.C. They are random and could be on any road at anytime and they stopped everybody..... Land of the (mostly) free and home of the brave (if you're standing behind a gun)...

And NO, I'm not a law breaker and have nothing to hide from these checkpoints, I just think they are unconstitutional and making it easier and easier to lose our freedoms that were so hard earned by our forefathers. (Sorry for the rant)

[tdw28210]

Originally Posted by O' yeah"74

First off I extremely dislike front mounted license plate they are ugly and often in the way. California is kinda screwy IMO but at least they don't have roadblocks that stop EVERYONE to be inspected like N. Carolina...... Oh wait immigration checkpoints..... Anyways, in N.C. They are random and could be on any road at anytime and they stopped everybody..... Land of the (mostly) free and home of the brave (if you're standing behind a gun)...

And NO, I'm not a law breaker and have nothing to hide from these checkpoints, I just think they are unconstitutional and making it easier and easier to lose our freedoms that were so hard earned by our forefathers. (Sorry for the rant)

Why are you picking on NC and gun owners or are you implying that crime is a bigger issue here than Cali? I still love certain aspects of NorCal, just not the taxes or the politics. The natural beauty in NOrCal is awesome. And for the record, I have 14 years now in NC w/o ever running into a road block.

[O' yeah"74]

Nope not picking on NC or Ca especially geographically speaking these are two if my favorite states. I was raised in a small town just outside of Asheville and I can tell you I have been through several random mandatory checkpoints, personally never a problem. I thought however that it was infringing upon my and everyone else's freedom. Would it be alright if a LEO walked up to you and for no good reason demanded to go through your pockets, wallet, laptop, cell phone etc etc? NO!

I have no problem with fire arms being used responsibly!

What I was implying was that some people get a false since of bravery and or abuse thier power when given a gun.

That being said I believe we should and do have every right to bear arms. I truly hope it remains that way too. If anything I'm complaining about our rights as Americans/humans not to be continually infringed upon.

Sorry if I strayed too far off topic.

[Flojo]

well, at least you have options in the US to delete the FLP.
In Germany: NO CHANCE, nowhere!
We actally envy you guys that many of you can drive without that style-spoiler up front.

And regarding technical checks: you guys in the US have way more tuning freedom than we do.

[Chuck.H]

>>> ...... Oh wait immigration checkpoints.....

I drove from Florida to California last year taking I-10 the whole way... went thru two immigration checkpoints, go figure :-)

Chuck.H
'89 TurboLookTarga, 372k miles

[tdw28210]

Maybe the roadblocks near Asheville are because of the 'shiners? ; )

Here is what the infallible Oracle of Wikipedia say about them:

Jurisdictions that allow sobriety checkpoints often carve out specific exceptions to their normal civil protections, in order to allow sobriety checkpoints. Although the U.S. Supreme Court has found sobriety checkpoints to be constitutionally permissible, ten states (Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) have found that sobriety roadblocks violate their own state constitutions or have outlawed them. One other state (Alaska) does not use checkpoints even though it has not made them illegal.[12] Montana uses checkpoints frequently.[13] Some states combine their efforts in setting up sobriety checkpoint initiatives, such as Checkpoint Strikeforce, jointly run by Virginia, Washington DC, Delaware, West Virginia, and Maryland[14]

[tirwin]

I grew up in Alabama... if the cops pulled over every vehicle with a loud muffler they'd never do anything but pull over Harleys, big azz trucks and old Camaros!

Around here the only reason anyone has a front license plate is to show off their favorite sports team affiliation or where they went to college.

Curiosity question... I get it that we all pretty much know what a non-standard exhaust looks like but I'm just curious how a police officer makes a legal judgment regarding an old car standing on the side of the road. If I took a '72 chassis and dropped a 993 engine in it and put on some megaphones, what exactly is the "ruling" on that?