CHP run in

Look at it in black and white terms. You can rant and rave and vent all you want here; but Had he given you the ticket for the tail lights, you couldn't argue it, no matter how much of a dick he was. He didn't give you the ticket, and you're still complaining. Maybe someone ran over his dog that morning.... maybe someone close to him became very ill, all putting him in a very bad mood in the first place. You never know what people are going through, but the ultimate point is, you got a WARNING. I know I would probably feel the same way as you if he treated me as such, but you gotta take a step back and analyze. Nothing detrimental happened to you, you're not paying fines, and you're not going to court. Take it for what its worth and move on bro.






Edit after your edit: 9 times out of 10, unless you're running limo tint, you will NOT get pulled over for tint. Most police officers will look for other reasons to pull you over first.

 

and fix your f'n tail lights. That's an order!

 

Yeah... Thats BS. SEMA spends a lot of time and money fighting the california legal system as some people in office try to make certain modifications illegal (Exhaust for example was a huge fight).

From what I know of your truck, the only visible exterior modifications that are illegal are the tail lights and the intake because it does not have a CARB sticker on it and possibly the eye lids if it can be proven to affect visibility (which it can't).

Could of pointed out that your headlights have the DOT mark on them (although painted black)...

For height

But they usually just go by your headlights height (no less then 22" from the ground) and that the lowest portion of the body cannot be lower then the bottom of the wheel.

Every time I get pulled over I turn on the record function on my cell phone and put the phone on my lap with the camera facing the window just in case something like this happens or worse... The media and youtube viewers love seeing cops get out of hand.

 

^sick sig pic!

 

Thanks I took the picture on Granturismo 5.

 

I feel your pain man, that is why I traded in my 06 BSP X-Runner for my current DC 4x4. I am not going to elaborate any more then that, this site is not what it used to be.

 

Just a few things.

As I stated earlier you don't have to like or agree with his attitude my point is simply had laws not been broken you never would have encountered that attitude.

I'm not condoning a poor attitude I'm just saying that the attitude you had to deal with was your fault for encountering.

Next, cops don't make laws they are paid to enforce them. So you can't be upset at a cop for doing what he is paid to do.

Next, a law is a law whether you agree with it or not. Just because you have decided its not an important law doesn't mean the cop should ignore it.

And yes, he probably did have something more important to be doing and if you were not taking up his time because of your illegal mods he could have been out doing it.

Bottom line as I said in my first post, you as a citizen have every right to expect to be treated fairly and respectfully. If you are so upset that he didn't like your truck go to the station and complain.

Better yet ask to speak with that officer and explain to him you had your feelings hurt, it sounds to me like your losing sleep over this and I don't think your getting enough support here on tacomaworld to fully let this go. I would be willing to bet you would get an apology out of him as was pointed out before he may have had some underlying issue and let his emotions get the better of him, as humans sometimes do.

 

Hilarious!

 

Okay I see the truck now now and I agree that the tail lights are a tad dark and could be a danger for those who cannot see the brake lights through them on a bright day.

You say the main thing that bothers you is that he spoke to you as a child. Perhaps he was frustrated because maybe he feels that a 55 year old man would know the safety hazards of rear lenses being so dark and wanted to point out to you WHY they are illegal if you didn't know. And if you already knew, he problem can't fathom why you still did it, possibly endangering yourself and others, even if for aesthetics.

 

Fix it tickets are for things that are broken like a burnt out bulb, etc. Technically, they could write any illegal modification as a moving violation, which is a misdemeanor, because the vehicle owner did it on purpose. That includes tinted windows, tail lights, and non-CARB approved CAIs. Most cops will write them as fix-it tickets, but they don't have to.

 

It still has to be CARB approved even if it's a factory-made accessory. The newer TRD CAI is CARB approved so it would be legal. I don't believe the old one was. You'd most likely just fail a smog inspection's visual check.

 

Maybe his wife doesn't like him and wont give it up so he's in a bad mood. I know I would be.

Edit: You should have said "well you look like ass and I did not say anything". Also he probably did not write a ticket because he did not want you to have his information.

Getting your balls busted or a ticket I will take the ball busting. IMO

 

I agree the Cop didnt have to be a dick about it, but everything he mentioned is in fact illegal. That doesnt mean that EVERY mod is illegal, But in California any mod to DOT approved headlights/Tail lights is illegal. Even a simple HID kit is illegal even though you will almost never get ticketed for it. Your intake is in fact illegal as stated by the URD website. I agree the guy doesnt have to be a dick, but know the law inside and out, It will help you a lot in these situations. I used to do the import tuner thing and always kept up to date on the laws. Worst thing he can do about the intake is wright you a CARB Ref ticket and make you go to a ref.

From URD website. Very few intake manufacturers go through the bureaucracy needed to get them CARB certified. If your intake didnt come with a CARB sticker it is illegal. Even legal intakes, if you dont have the sticker its illegal. I hope to hell I can get my ass out of this socialist shit hole some day.

 

I respect the law. I don't want any attention drawn to me as you never know who is enforcing it upon you. My rule of thumb is to never give the law probable cause. That means, no tinted windows, no tinted tails, mudflaps on, all by the book. Never give the law a reason to focus on you, and your days will never be filled with these confrontations.

Understand, I am all for having a good time, but don't want unwanted attention at me.

The cop was probably using the tails as probable cause and wanted a closer look as to who was driving. Your truck is sick, and gives off a stereotype to some people that something else might be going on with you.

 

oooOooooOoooOooo.......... Okay. I get it.