So I'm driving toward downtown LA (the 10E about 2 miles before the 110 interchange) at around 4:30, which means that the traffic was pretty bad at the time.

I glance in my rearview and see a CHiP tailing me... I didn't think much of it, I had seen him getting onto the freeway about 5 minutes ago.

I drive as I normally do, going only about 20 mph because of traffic when he lights me up.

I'm thinking... wtf?

I hit my turn signal and start merging over onto the shoulder.

I turn off the car and roll my windows down, hands on the steering wheel.

He comes up and asks for my license and registration and proof of insurance, and as I'm handing it to him, he says he pulled me over for my ILLEGAL TINT.

So I'm like... ****.

He then walks to the front of my car to look at something (I already knew he was looking to see if I had my front license plate) and then walks back to his cruiser to write up the citation.

After about 5 minutes, he comes back to tell me that he pulled me over for my tint and also cited me for my Hyperwhite Turn Signals and my lack of a front license plate.

All of these "infractions" are fix-its, which means that I can fix it, but I still have to pay the fine.

The point of this is... I have NEVER heard of anyone getting pulled over for the SOLE PURPOSE of being cited for fix-it infractions. The only fix-it citations I know people get are the ones tacked on after getting pulled over for moving violations, etc.

I respect the police but this guy was just a jerk, looking for some tickets to write up to fill his quota.

That sux...

Although, you were written up for things that were illegal in Arnold's Cahleefournya.

My tint is 35%, the legal limit in the islands.

Maybe he was just annoyed. I get annoyed at people who break the law (like the tint) when I obey it. I remember you mentioning the front plate and tint in an earlier post. Bachi?

I used to run with no front plate, keeping it in the trunk, mounted on the holder so I could say it fell off last week, or the dealer never got around to installing it and neither did I). That worked for years, but when one of my cars got ticketed for an expired parking meter, it included the missing front plate fine too, and I didn't have the time or energy to contest it anymore. What are you gonna do about your tint, though?

I think you ought to consult our friend just to your north, to see if she can offer any suggestions. :wink:

[quote:079567215d=" "]All of these "infractions" are fix-its, which means that I can fix it, but I still have to pay the fine.

The point of this is... I have NEVER heard of anyone getting pulled over for the SOLE PURPOSE of being cited for fix-it infractions. The only fix-it citations I know people get are the ones tacked on after getting pulled over for moving violations, etc.

I respect the police but this guy was just a jerk, looking for some tickets to write up to fill his quota.[/quote:079567215d]

Heh. It's clear now how Arny plans to fix the budget.... :)

-brendan

[quote:432bca4360=" "]I used to run with no front plate, keeping it in the trunk, mounted on the holder so I could say it fell off last week, or the dealer never got around to installing it and neither did I).[/quote:432bca4360]

I don't get it? Why take the plate off to begin with?

-brendan

>Why take the plate off to begin with?

I've had a fair number of cars - mostly European makes - which poorly accommodated a front plate. One actually didn't have any place to put one at all, never mind a geeky-looking bracket. On those that did it eventually got mangled.

During the last trip we made across the California desert in the Miata, I had to remove the plate because it was "blanking" the radiator intake airstream and causing it to run hot. Cool as a cucumber once it was off.

So either for aesthetics or function, there are plenty of reasons to not have a front plate. But taking the front plate off the E? It doesn't block much, and as far as helping the aesthetics... well... :wink:

FISCAL EMERGENCY

If you havent noticed, there arent the usual number of CHPs out there running around. Maybe he is out there trying to earn some money for the Terminator. LOL - CHP actually closed their academy and Sent recent graduates home because they had no jobs for them due to the budget issues we are having. Bottom Line is, they are going to be looking for $$ anywhere and everywhere, so be on your bestest behavior!


Amy

You got it backwards! It's not about "why take the plate off?" - it's about "why put the ugly thing on in the first place?". It's one thing to have a registration plate, for identification purposes and all that, but on the front too? Please! If the vehicle is standing still the back plate is fine, but if it's moving, who the hell can read the front plate, please? I hate to sound like some Libertarian, but... :evil:

Shen,

Remember me, met u at the Surf shop. All the officer has to have for the stop, is PC (Probable Cause) for the stop. The tint is a good enough reason. I'd ahve to look it up but I think ANY tint on the front two or windshield is illegal in CA. The front plate thing is a bit weak, but like Amy said we are in a time of fiscal shortages.

Overall, with the advent of the redlight camera you will see an increase in the amount of "No front plate" cites written. Bummer, but the main focus of the CHP is traffic enforcement.

Nobody has a quota per se, but an officer has to account for his time like anyone else.

Yea, I know tint on the front is illegal at any shade in California. Not to try to make an excuse for myself, but mine is fairly light, just to match the rear "privacy glass".

It's funny, the officer told me that I had to remove the front tint, but the rear tint was fine. I didn't feel like going into the fact that the rear "tint" is factory privacy glass.

I dunno, I'm just kinda pissed cuz I see people driving like maniacs all damn day (I especially LOATHE carpool lane abusers)... and I feel my stop was the equivalent of a cop pulling someone over for going 1 mph over the speed limit. :cry:

But anyway, with regards to the plate thing, I installed a billet grill because Honda didn't engineer $5 worth of extra plastic to protect the condensor. So I don't have anywhere to mount the plate since the honda mounth doesn't work with the grill and I don't want to drill holes into my bumper. I guess I'll suction-cup the plate onto my front window.

As for my hyperwhite turn signals, I think the BMW M3/M5 has white turn signals, STOCK.

Fiscal crisis......... bleh, I woulda rather paid the 3x car tax... it would probably end up costing less than this whole fiasco is gonna cost.

Anyone know what a fix-it citation costs for these 3 things? Can I pay the fine without fixing anything? Or actually, I'll fix the 2 other things but I really really really wanna keep my tint......

pm me or send an email to dsullivan2@msn.com

http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/streetlegal.html

Don't kill the messenger, here is a site with some helpful? information on what the CHP is trained to look for.

The poster here in question does not necessarily agree with the posted information, but, these are laws in the fine state we live in. None the less, scan through for your knowledge.

Knowledge is power, so no what you can and can’t do. The tinted window thing is pretty subjective.

The letter of the law states that you won’t, but MOST of the time, if it reasonable, you’ll find that it is allowed to slide. Sometimes it’s driving habits or style that causes the vehicle to be noticed, and then stopped. No criticisms, just observations.

Maybe he doesn't like bald people?

That was it-- HE'S A BALDIST!

Fortunately, we aren't required to have front plates in GA. Unfortunately (KDan)... I still haven't removed my dealer plate from the front of mine that they so rudely tagged my baby with :(

[quote:2f900e822f=" "]Fortunately, we aren't required to have front plates in GA. Unfortunately (KDan)... I still haven't removed my dealer plate from the front of mine that they so rudely tagged my baby with :([/quote:2f900e822f]

Those Bastards!

Shen, I have some ideas on how to get out of tickets in the future....you just must be open to dressing in drag and wearing falsies everytime you drive your E, but I think this is doable!

:wink: :wink: :wink:

been stopped by CHP only twice in my career driving in Ca. once for no front license plate. (in a triumph gt6) and once on my honda vf1000r, for an "estimated 110+ in a 55 zone" (i-5 northern cal. no traffic. clear and dry) i saw the red light on the horizon and pulled over and waited he wrote me for 85 and admired my bike. i know i got lucky they could have hauled me in at 85. i wont disclose how fast i was actually going...(As it might incriminate me :D eheh)

every time, CHP was pretty respectable and was treated respectfully. dunno how they are down in LA tho.

usually only see that kind of fix-it stuff with local departments it seems tho. sorry to hear it shen.

best!
D.

okay, so today i changed out my hyperwhite turn bulbs, went to the shop where i had my tint installed and had them take it off (they charged me $20, but they'll deduct that price from a new tint installation if i decide to do so), , and zip-tied my front license plate into my billet grille...

i then went to my local CHP office and went in to have them check it out. the officer didn't even step out from behind the bulletproof glass and looked out his window to see that my front plate was on, and then signed it off.

but then i asked him about my tint and turn markers, but on the citation it said that those 2 things were not correctable offenses... wth?

i talked to the officer for a few minutes and he agreed to sign off on those two remaining items...

...i still have a $191 fine to pay though..... :(

[quote:a93ba5d860=" "]Shen, I have some ideas on how to get out of tickets in the future....you just must be open to dressing in drag and wearing falsies everytime you drive your E, but I think this is doable!

:wink: :wink: :wink:[/quote:a93ba5d860]

Hmmm...He does have a purty mouth. :wink:

creepy!

-brendan