California=Emission Nazis
 

Well I'm watching ESPN right now and their weekly news show E60 is on and they're doing a report on street racing right now and it's pretty interesting. Saw some Z28's in street races but mostly mustangs in the videos. Anyway, the point of this thread isn't about street racing since that's not allowed in this forum. They were reporting from california where they said that any unapproved engine modifications can cause the car to be towed and impounded. They showed a sting type operation where they had 100 cops show up to a local hang out and issued over 150 tickets and had over 20 cars towed. It seems like if you have any aftermarket part that isn't allowed in California can cause you to loose your car. They ended the segment showing a Honda Civic that was impounded going up in flames because they used it as practice in their arson department. That made my night seeing a Civic go up in flames.

Kalifornia sucks. If it wasn't sunny everyday no one would live there

Yea, Cali has been very strict with emissions and vehicle modifications for years now. There are plenty of aftermarket modifications that are 50 state legal, so anyone looking to boost performance in their car has several options to choose from. Some obviously make bad choices.....

- Justin

Makes sense Justin, I just didn't know that you weren't allowed to have turbos and superchargers on cars. Thinking back to the episode, one of the cars they showed that wasn't street legal had a boost guage in the console.

Don't forget about the good weed. :D

Yeah, it has to be 50 state legal and CAFE approved I think.

what the?!

i watched that same thing tonight at work. seems Cali is only good for the beaches and weather, sucks for automotive enthusists.

He's saying the only reason people live there is because of the sun. ;)

i lived in san jose california for a little over 3 years. the weather is the major draw. 70 degrees year round.



the way it goes with cali smog is:

any modification to the exhaust system is illegal
any modification the the intake system is illegal
any modification to the emissions system is illegal


they are pretty strict on street cars out there. The cops also take a small course before becoming cops on how to spot aftermarket modifications. they have the right to pull you over and ticket you for any modification done to your vehicle. if you do a motor swap in california the motor has to be available on that year car or newer. also after doing the swap you must take it to the Smog Ref and have the car certified. if you get pulled over and dont want to take the tickets for the mods theyll schedule you a date with the smog ref and totally rip you.

in actuality though the cops arent this hard on you if your not street racing.

also in california if your caught street racing on the third time they keep your car. they supeona you to a date to watch your car get crushed in front of you; MANDATORY. they dont take your gizmos or gadgets out either. they crush your car with your 10k motor and your tv's and your systems and wheels whatever have you. :mrgreen:


cali is an awesome place to live though.

California is truly a NAZI state....they've been trying to remove 'older cars' (their terms) for years....this is, of course, those that make $100K/yr plus saying this....and doesn't do ANYTHING to help the environment. Hell, there aren't even any SAFETY inspections, just your annual or bi-annual inspections for emissions.

As far as 'approved'....besides being 50 state legal it has to be CARB approved (not CAFE, but close Bill...lol).

NITROUS is illegal in addition to most other 'power adder' you can install. Older cars are not 'exempt' from harassment either. These cops when they get thier 'class' are FAR from any mechanic. I'd trust those that own older cars before these 'know it alls'....but then again, you get those few everywhere.

'Absolute power corrupts absolutely'

I had fun out in Cali for the few years I was there. But the 'car scene' got worse and worse, as we'd hang out in big shopping centers and we'd patronize the stores and fast food joints while there. For the most part we were allowed, til the imports and those with huge stereos would show up and basically ruin it for us. Then the few would go street race and when the cops showed up we ALL had to leave. Bummer....

THEN they close all the drag strips.....and them 'starting' a motorsports park complex has bee an issue for years. They have planners and financial backing, even had a location picked out, but there was still too much in the way of 'you'll lower property values'....hell, they had picked out a closed military base...WTF?

Weather is AWESOME....epecially in San Diego. I suggest everyone VISIT at least once. Food is an experience too...

But to get back on subject....yeah....they get nit-picky on everything...and finding a 'friendly' shop is becoming a thing of the past due to getting fined. There are a very few loopholes.....I know someone that knows them. :twisted:

So for you all in NJ - it isn't as bad as it is in Cali, is it ? Even here in PA its getting bad for those around the 'large cities'....

..moved from another thread...
 

Anyone else catch this on ESPN?

Videos:
Roundtable discussion

And the pay-off

Very well done, highlighting the dangers of street racing and the lives that are affected by it.

I don't get how they can say that since I have LTs I must street race?

they didn't, they said the dilemma they have in looking under the hoods for parts, is that just as many people buy them for legal racing.

another big thing is that they concentrated that story in California, where a lot of those parts are illegal because of their Nazi smog laws and talk about them like its illegal across the country

Well... I wont give my opinions on street racing...


But, $38 at englishtown on a wendsday night.. and get one run, your gonna be happy?

I'm not gonna sit here and say I've never done it, but I don't understand why people do it until someone dies. If that kids best friend never died,he'd still be doing it?? That is why I love Island Dragway if you go on street night(friday) and you get there when they open you can get a dozen passes in easy. Now I bracket race there on Saturdays which is a whole different ball game but with some many variables in it, it makes it a rediculously fun sport.

you don't really plan on dying now do you? i am in no way innocent but that is a silly comment. if someone close to you or you yourself had a traumatic accident where you were affected for life, you wouldn't stop? that is plain ignorant. i don't "street race" persay but i do run into people on the road who want to run light to light and sometimes i do. i try to be smart about it but i guess if i were being smart i wouldn't race.

My point is I may have done it a couple times but realizing it was something I liked doing, I found a track. I didn't continue to do it until something bad happened. THAT IS MY POINT. Since I race legally on a track,if me or one of my brothers got seriously injured or died god forbid, it would not stop me because it is something we love to do and take every safety precaution that is required and then some. So if you want to race from light to light you are the ignorant one. I hope you understand and dont need it bold, italisized and in CAPS.

don't be a dick, but it only takes one race with one mistake for someone to die. just because you didn't experience a tragedy doesn't make you any better than myself or anyone else who has "street raced."

i simply highlighted the area of the comment i was addressing. since you are so smart, i won't even quote you. i openly admitted it isn't smart and i have faced consequences accordingly.

I'm not being a dick and I know I'm not better than anyone. I am being honest, if anyone has watched NHRA Dragracing before, horrible accidents happen to anyone at anytime but they all keep racing in the memory that person that has been injured or killed because of the love of the sport and they always say "he would have wanted us to race". I'm not wishing that on anyone and pray it never happens but every time I or anyone else puts their fire gear and helmet on, straps in and starts their car they are taking that chance. It is in a controlled environment where the risk of others being involved is minimal.

yes i agree it is much better to try it in a controlled environment. especially where precautions, rules, and regulations apply. it is very difficult for me to find free time and extra cash to go to the track, otherwise i would.

I hear that, this weekend is my last for the year, I need new slicks and lost my job. I'm just a bundle of joy!

amen!

Like I said.... $38 dollars for one run and spend 4 hours...

Great weather, hot chicks....

Worst place ever to own a modded car, or anything that can potentially be modded for that matter...cops will **** with you for every little thing, fines are incredibly high!

Pot....they could care less, everyone smokes out here.
Illegal aliens....its a sanctuary, they get away with everything.

But if you're a taxpaying citizen and own a 'fast' car....don't go 5mph over, they'll claim you were racing, impound your car and take your lunch money.


plenty more i can complain about, i'll refrain...don't feel like driving 3k miles tonight.