Another Ridiculous Ticket
 

Last night, I got pulled over by San Marino PD. The cop approached my window and asked for all my info. He said, "You know why I pulled you over". I said, "No front plate?". He said the first thing he was going to cite me for was for my front tinted windows (I only have tint on my rear windows). I said I didn't have tint on my front windows, just the rear so he made me roll them up and down so that he could look into them with his flash light to make sure (My front windows are super clear). He was WRONG so he moved on by saying he was going to cite me for my "neon blue lights". I said I didn't have neon lights..He said all your exterior lights are "neon" and are illegal along with "halogen" lights. I argued with him but that did not work. He then cited my for my Greddy SP2 exhaust system (I have my stock cat on). I had this same problem months ago so I went to a State Referee to have them give me proof in a written form with a sticker to know that my Greddy SP2 is legal, they wrote on the form that it was for my Greddy SP2 exhaust. I showed it to the cop and he said they are wrong and that you cannot have any exhaust on there but the one it comes with from the dealership. I HAD PROOF! The judge had told me to keep this paper with me so that I could show to any cop that bothered me for my exhaust in case I got pulled over again. The last reason he was going to cite me for was for having no front plate, this I admit was my fault. He then gave me a ticket for "No Front Plate", "Illegal Exhaust", and "Illegal Neon and Halogen Lights". After, he started to tell me that my car was a target for any cop and that I should not have a carbon fiber hood, a body kit, rims, and any other modification done. These were his last exact words, "I'm just letting you know all of this because cops are going pull you over again for these things, at least San Marino PD and I will. WHAT AN ASSHOLE!

OH YEAH, I was going 31 MPH and he wrote down that I was going 40 MPH..He said that I need to slow down. SPEED LIMIT WAS 35 MPH!

I feel for you :(

But yea never admit anything if they ask you why you were pulled over. They will tell you. In fact, they have to tell you.

I would file a complaint against the officer. There obviously no neon lights on your car (or any car for that matter) and every single stock bulb is halogen. WTG professor!

Everything will get thrown out except the front plate regardless.

wow that's retarded. I'm gonna assume you're gonna fight it.

If I lived in CA or FL, I think I'd keep a digital voice recorder in my car.

I'm going to fight this for sure. I just have to zip tie my front plate on my bumper..

I can't believe the crap you have to deal with in California. I couldn't handle it.

What bulbs are you using for your front lights? 8k? If so, those will get you pulled over all the time.

Keep in mind that in California, police officers can now pull over a car simply for not having OEM parts. (ie; wider tires, body kits, etc) This was done to crack down on illegal racing and to track down stolen parts (since stolen parts go hand in hand with street racing)
The reality is you're going to keep getting bothered, my suggestion is you NOT volunteer any information about things like your front plate.

Looks like you're going to have to fight the exhaust ticket, good luck.

California has pathetic laws. The government loves taking our money.

Atleast you didn't need to get a VI done.. -_-

Vehicle Inspection? I've had that done to me before and will probably happen again..

I think tubingchamp was referring to Vehicle Inspections to get your registration.

It's very annoying....

Na, I had to get one because of my exhaust.

Apparently I was offending the rush hour traffic.

that damn rush hour traffic is SO sensitive!

I'll just wait till these headers, midpipe, and the hymee kit come in.

I'll be pulled over every 2nd day probably.

Yeah..

Vehicle theft is a big problem. My friend works on the task force here in San Antonio and there are like 4-5 cars stolen a night that are directly related to street racing. That's why if everyone knows what you have your are at a greater risk to get jacked.

This is ridiculous but I wouldn't be surprised if this type of thing starts happening more and more and cities look to their pd's to take in more revenue. Sorry about your troubles man don't let em get you down.

Fight it
I bet the cop does not show up in court for this one, and if he does, the judge will throw it out.
You have the exhaust certified as legal, you were only 5mph over the limit, but the front plate is a fix it ticket that will cost a few bucks.


You are getting off easy.
Next time, just shut the fck up. NEVER argue with a cop, and NEVER tell them why you think you got pulled over. (It is considered a confession, therefore the ticket will be written)

I hope you asked for his badge number.

^

Don't they need to write that on the ticket?

Agreed, the cop took a look around the front of my car and everything after pulling me over for my exhaust being too loud, and didn't write me up for no front plate :P

I get pretty lucky with cops. I've been pulled over four times in AZ and NC and have never gotten a ticket.

1st incident: Got busted going 70+ in a 55. Written warning
2nd incident: Ran a redlight at 2 AM on a Saturday morning. Verbal warning
3rd incident: Pulled over for having 2 month old expired plates. Verbal warning
4th incident: Got busted going 55 in a 40. Verbal warning

I've never withheld info (played dumb) before, and I've always fessed up to what I did wrong. I guess cops like the honesty (nobody likes to be bullshitted). But yeah then there are my friends who get $300 tickets for going 10 over. I guess it depends on each situation. I've been told I have a very magnetic personality so that might help too. And of course it depends on the cop involved.

Again, I don't think that whole 'never give out info' thing really works. The cop knows what you did wrong, and he knows that you know what you did wrong. Pleading ignorance doesn't change anything, nor does acting like an oblivious idiot. Just come out and say it. You know what you did was wrong and you're sorry and its not going to happen again. In my mind it shows more respect to the cop and you're more likely to get off with a warning.

Yeah..he was coming straight towards me down the street and be made a U turn right when he passed me. Also, it's good to argue back, I proved him wrong by showing him paper work and he still cited me for my exhaust. He is an idiot..