Has an officer ever done this to you? - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

madness410 · 06-09-2008, 09:45 PM

Hey guys,
Im planning to be a police officer in the future so I browse these forums at officer.com where you can ask cops any question.

Anyways, I was reading this thread that a cop initiated a traffic stop and after inspection of the vehicle told the driver to pop the hood, and was messing around with stuff under there. The other officers on the thread told the officer he did the right thing and was just doing his job, and said that the officers have to make sure nothing with the emissions is tampered with.

First, does anyone know if this is even legal in NJ? Second, has this ever happened to you or anyone that you have known? What are they looking for?..my guess would be open headers or something along those lines. But I would hate it if a cop was messing with anything in my car, which is the reason why im asking if this has happened to anybody...

DrivenZ28 · 06-09-2008, 09:48 PM

I would ask to see a warrant... of course I have nothing illegal under my hood though...

madness410 · 06-09-2008, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrivenZ28

I would ask to see a warrant... of course I have nothing illegal under my hood though...

what can anybody put under the hood that could be illegal? guns? narcotics? LoL...what can be illegal that an officer can see without taking anything apart?

sweetbmxrider · 06-09-2008, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madness410

what can anybody put under the hood that could be illegal? guns? narcotics? LoL...what can be illegal that an officer can see without taking anything apart?

ya that could be under there. i don't know much about this but i know cops in cali have a blast with it. i would say warrant since its locked and not accessible to the driver while operating the vehicle. its kind of like the trunk.

madness410 · 06-09-2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider

ya that could be under there. i don't know much about this but i know cops in cali have a blast with it. i would say warrant since its locked and not accessible to the driver while operating the vehicle. its kind of like the trunk.

yeah haha one of the cops on that thread was in cali and said he does it at least once a day...but we are talking new jersey here.

lets say my carb is running rich and the smell of fuel is coming from under the hood, im trying to think if that would be probable cause to lead the officer to check under there, as gasoline is a hazardous material

sweetbmxrider · 06-09-2008, 10:11 PM

i think most cops around here wouldn't give a damn, but i'm not most cops and never, ever have i personally seen or heard of such a thing. well one time i was drivin a 69 big bird yellow chevelle and a couple cops "made" me pop the hood. 350 with long tubes always grabs attention. but you should be more concerned with getting your car street legal so you can have it inspected. then you might be able to get a copy of your VIR (vehicle inspection report) and show the cop you are straight and has no business all up in your business. but be nice about it.

madness410 · 06-09-2008, 10:17 PM

hah yeah man im doing that...its going to the shop tomorrow to see exactly what needs to be done...i heard i shouldnt go to the mvc to fail and see whats wrong, nor pay someone 100$ at a private inspection facility to get a rejected sticker, im getting mixed revies, but my old mechanic is pretty knowledgeable and ill trust him.

Tru2Chevy · 06-09-2008, 10:28 PM

I wouldn't have a problem popping the hood to let him look - but I wouldn't allow an officer to touch anything without a serious case of probable cause and a warrant.

Most officers don't have a clue what emissions equipment should be on what car, or what it looks like, so I don't see the point in the first place.

- Justin

sweetbmxrider · 06-09-2008, 10:32 PM

well definitely see him first. most shops charge under $60 for an inspection, you get fail papers which give you 45 days to have your repairs completed and reinspected for free minus sticker. if its emissions related repairs, they must be performed by a licensed emissions repair facility with a technicians number. if the shop that inspects it performs the repairs, they have a state designated labor rate for specific repairs. but find out whats wrong then do our best to fix it and get it inspected!

69BirdX · 06-09-2008, 10:33 PM

i have heard of cops having mirrors to check under the car but never of one popping the hood. Im sure if you were polite and allowed them to look chances of getting a ticket are slim. They dont know what they are looking at for the most part.
________
Headshop

BigAls87Z28 · 06-10-2008, 08:06 AM

If it was an inspection station, yeah.
If I got pulled over and the cop wanted to bust stones...nah, Ill need a warrant. If not, Ill be on my way.

GrandmasterCow · 06-10-2008, 08:43 AM

calli it seems to think they can :http://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=222273

but yeah I think they'd need a warrent to start snooping around your engine bay.

jims69camaro · 06-10-2008, 09:25 AM

driving is a privilege, not a right. police have the responsibility of the safety of the public, so if you get pulled over the cop can look about your car. he can ask to look in the trunk and under the hood. obviously, if you wanted to be a wise ass and not open anything for him, he could be a hard ass and put you in the back of the patrol car while he gets his sergeant and/or lieutenant on the scene in order to effect a full search of your vehicle. they would do that under probable cause, for what, exactly, they don't have to say, only the "safety of the public". nitrous oxide is considered a dangerous gas and you cannot transport it in your vehicle without the proper placards and a reason you would be carrying it in the first place (not just because you want to go fast at the touch of a button). i believe it is legal to carry it to the track and home, but if you've got it in your car on the street, then they can assume you are up to no good (street racing) and impound your car and bust your balls.

so, if a cop asks to look under the hood, let him. be as cooperative as you can be, and he might just let you off with a warning. all of this "warrant" stuff is only going to get you in more trouble than it is worth. like stated, most cops don't know what to look for anyway, and if your nitrous oxide is a sneaky system, hidden from view (so other racers can't see it if you pop your hood) then they won't see it either.

chemicalstylez · 06-10-2008, 11:29 AM

I've been mirrored for cats before. Gotta love New Jersey.... aka THE POLICE FRIGIN STATE.

But always be polite, I learned the hard way even if your right...you still get 6 tickets from Westville cops....worst part was; I was in my 88 Caddy.

LTb1ow · 06-10-2008, 02:36 PM

I had my Acura torn apart the other day going to a party, the cops were suspicious of drugs/alc, but I was respectful and they let me go. After dumping all my beverages out on the street though

But I didn't argue with them, and I was respectful to them.

BigAls87Z28 · 06-10-2008, 02:46 PM

Ok, so you were respectful and honest, and they tore your car apart leaving you to put it back together again.

Uh, yeah no thanks Ill continue to be stubborn.

LTb1ow · 06-10-2008, 02:51 PM

Yea but no loss of license etc... I aint 21...

BigAls87Z28 · 06-10-2008, 02:55 PM

Where you drunk or did you drink any? Where they open?
Are you above the age of 18?
Then you have full right to transport alcohol as long as there are no open containers.

LTb1ow · 06-10-2008, 02:57 PM

Open water bottle, sober as hell, and that law is no more. It was 19 to transport unopen liquor but no more.

BigAls87Z28 · 06-10-2008, 03:03 PM

When did they change that?
When I was 18, I could transport beer.
When did it go to 19? And now how old do you have to be to transport? 21? Does that mean the same for resturaunts that have 18 year olds as the waiters/waitresses?

IROCZBeast · 06-10-2008, 03:13 PM

Back in the day some people (mainly biker gangs) who owned muscle cars or any car that was carbed would take out there air filter that sat above the carb and hide pistols, drugs, knives etc in there and run their cars with out air filters. After a very long time police caught on and began to check for that..

Also in this day and age I guess and officer could be looking for nitrous, no emissions etc..

Although truthfully half the officers wouldn't know what emission or nitrous looks like if it hit em in the face.

As far as I know New Jersey state laws says you can search any compartment that is within arms reach of the driver aka glove box and center console. I don't see how the hood would qualify. However most people don't realize that if you give the officer consent to search then he is allowed too. Sure you could say no but one way or another you'll end up being screwed so your better of just allowing him/her

LTb1ow · 06-10-2008, 03:32 PM

I am not sure, but I think it was changed recently.

Knipps · 06-10-2008, 03:42 PM

I've been to plenty of restaurants where the waitress wasn't allowed to bring drinks to the table b/c she was under 21, but you can be a licensed bartender at 18 (hard part would be getting hired)

GP99GT · 06-10-2008, 05:09 PM

shane got underage possession along with his DWI...hes 20

sweetbmxrider · 06-10-2008, 05:17 PM

yeah its 21 to have alcohol in your car. 18 to serve in a restaurant. and a cop needs a warrant to search your trunk or under your hood if you say no. or probable cause.