$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 California 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."

Those 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)

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/05/576.asp

 

Thats gay.

 

Right idea, by far the wrong way to do it.

 

holy BS. And in general, its crap b/c to say that a modded civic is more dangerous than a pompus asshole in a stock M3 (no offence, bc i love m3s) is not only closed minded, but its discrimination.

 

I agree with you 100% on this one.

 

Thats really retarded. Some 16 year old kid driving moms camry 30mph over everywhere could be more dangerous on the road than some random modified import minding his own buisness.

 

i'm all for this, only if they target all modified cars.

bust Harley Davidson's with loud exhausts
bust raised SUVs that can kill someone in a rear end collision
bust the rice boy with blue turn signals

 

OR, target dangerous drivers....theres an idea.

 

:werd: Discrimination comes in all sorts of varieties, but unfortunately, never really resolves the true issue at hand.

 

Wow this reminds me of the time when a cop pulled me over around midnight. I was doing the speed limit, somewhat behind another car that was obviously drunk. I got pulled over though because he heard me before he saw the drunk