This is mostly for the people from Kalifornia. I have never owned a car that the cops would look at twice. But from all my googling I realize now I do. I read stories of cops asking people to open thier hood? I never heard of such a thing. Which got me thinking. Does this happen a lot or is it one of those things that is just posted more because people don't really post about being pulled over when they don't get a ticket?

The reason I ask is it's getting close to me doing my first engine mods and I have to decide whether I want the engine to be stealth and boring looking or non stealth and quick looking. Example is I'm looking at the AEM and AMS intake. One stands out and one doesn't. Then there is the intercooler piping. Go with flat black, Chrome, or maybe red. I know as far as exhaust goes I'm not going to get around that. But the less I have to worry about the better. But of course this only matters if the stories are true or if maybe they are just harassing people who are driving like idiots.

I guess if there isn't a huge difference in performance I could go stealth. But it is kind of cool to pop the hood and look at a nice engine.

Any X owners out there been harassed by cops and told to open the hood recently?

Thanks

 

Yikes remind me to stay out of California. I'm not sure what the law is in your state or even if they can lawfully make you to pop your hood. I know here in Florida, the only issues we ever have with the Police are due to tint or loud exhaust. Other than that, cops aren't too bad down here. And no, I've never heard of the cops making someone open their hood for any reason.

 

Well, using CARB certified parts would help. And, I would keep everything a stealthy black to make the engine bay look as stock as possible. For exhaust, I would probably go with something like Magnaflow that improves performance, but looks and sounds pretty much like stock. The less attention you draw to yourself, the better.

 

Well I live in nyc And auto crime do ask you to pop your hood. It mainly happens to hondas. They come with a book and know exactly what comes with every model. tints and loud exhaust are a problem no a days since some people do limo tints all around including the windshield.

 

That's good to note. I did just read that the Injen intake has a CARB sticker, or at least they will send you one if you ask. In that case I guess the finish of the piping wouldn't matter.

Thank you

 

^ I am planning on getting the ETS UICP/LICP in flat black as I personally like the look. Get the CARB stickers. Maybe you could put them on non-CARB parts to make them look like they are certified. I just know that dark tint and loud exhausts are the number one thing that attracts cops. In your ****, Storm Trooper state of Kalifornia, I would get a good HFC and not run a test pipe. It is very obvious to smell cars running sans cat. With the CARB stickers, stealth black piping, Magnaflow type exhaust and a HFC, you should be pretty free from harrassment unless there is a cop out there with nothing better to do than to bother a tuner car.

 

i was doing 65 mph on the freeway and got pulled over for a loud exhaust. then he looked under my hood wrote me up for a filter on the intake along with bald tires, a sticker on the window, no cat, tinted windows and more. but he didnt give a f*ck about me not having any proof of insurance? that was the first time ive been pulled over for anything. that has only happend once so far. he must have been having a bad day or something.

 

If you visually mod your car in a way that attracts attention to yourself or if you drive in a way that attracts attention to yourself the cops will pay attention, but hey you asked for it!

Keep it stealth under-hood, clean visually on the exterior, and drive like a normal person and you should have very few to zero problems.

Edit: Also being white helps

 

i think these are very extreme case man

 

I've had my hood popped in my sti and my evo, written up both times for everything you could think of......literally had a book out looking for stuff to write me up for. OH! and this was IN MY OWN DRIVEWAY.....pulled me over as I was pulling into my house for no front license plate. My advice would be to keep everything as stealth looking as possible. Why make it all flashy anyways? Its not like anyone can see it when you're driving down the road.

 

I don't understand... Are you all saying that in these states it is somehow illegal to mod a car? Doesn't make sense. If the car passes inspection who the F cares if a black pipe was replaced with a chrome one?

There are mustangs, vettes and classics everywhere that are basically show car level and get thumbs ups.

There has to be more to it, IMO. If you really have no record, are doing nothing wrong, have a fully legal car, and get written up for wheels and a chrome UICP call a lawyer and the local news.

My NSX had $50k in mods, many visible, and the only "issue" I ever had with cops is when they'd want to talk about the car while I was getting gas, check out the engine etc. It may be an age thing as well (I'm 41)

 

California is extremely strict. If it doesn't have a C.A.R.B sticker on it they'll ticket you for it. These are extreme cases and not every cop will write you for it though.

 

You should keep your engine bay stealth and have the appropriate carb stickers for your non stealth parts.

Another thing that you REALLY, REALLY need to watch out for is smog checkpoints.. Just like DUI checkpoints but they will stick a sniffer in your tail pipe and can possibly tow your ride away if they deem necessary.

 

Yeah... The above cases I "get" because then technically the car *isnt* legal in CA. That was part of why I went with the CTSC on the NSX. Not the most power for an FI system, but 50 state and CARB legal.

 

I'll chime in and admit I'm a cop. I'm 27 and got my evo when I got hired at 21. I can assure my neighboring states officers have never stopped a car and asked for the driver to pop their hood. If someone would get atopped it would only be for dark tint on the front windows or a Honda with a bumble bee exhaust. As for Cali..I've heard horror stories on how law enforcement go ticket happy on modded cars and even impound and crush certain cars over numerous citations or severe issues. In the end I would say mod away to your liking but if u are from Cali beware of the cop that is having a bad day if he stops u... (Ps. that state along with a handful other states are not on the compact agreement acknowledging the rest of the nations traffic laws so I don't know what cops can/can't do pertaining to traffic stops)