Tim240z Posted April 3, 2004 Share Posted April 3, 2004 Well...after replacing the Opti, waterpump, coil and module on the Z, I took it for a spin....basically around the airport. Well, on my way out, I noticed a LAPD bike cop had pulled someone over on the airport (LAX) frontage road, but didn't worry about it (people speed all the time - it's a 4 lane divided 55mph road). Well, on the way back, I turn left back onto that same road (going the other way) and I see the cop coming down in the opposite direction. Again didn't think anything of it. I haven't calibrated my speedo yet, so I was driving slowly. Then I see him make a U-turn...again thinking nothing of it. Then I see the red and blues in my inside rearview mirror (the only one I have on the car ), and now I'm thinking a bit more of it! So I pull over and shut off the car (no point advertising the rumble of the 8-banger). I also realise that I did not grab my wallet on the way out Long story short: I got a fix-it ticket for no front plate and no driver's license on hand. He was digging the car though! We were talking about it and I said that I was just test driving it after working on it for a long time. He asks "Got much under the hood?" I say " Nah, not really" (it's a very relative statement, isn't it ) Well, he was really cool about it.....he said he was just bored as he had a 10 hour shift doing perimeter patrols around the airport (homeland security thang), and that I was just a way of breaking up the boredom. Considering all the other CA vehicle code violations that the Z carries with it Headlight covers no side mirrors tinted windows V8 5 pint harnesses etc etc etc etc I was pleased with the outcome. BTW...after he finished with me...he made a "B"line to the nearest doughnut shop ha ha ha ....really he did! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrenchtech Posted April 3, 2004 Share Posted April 3, 2004 What a sad era it is that we live in when a cop that likes your car and wants to make friendly talk goes ahead and gives you a ticket anyway and then tells you that he's doing it partly because he's bored. What bu!!sh!t! Well, he was really cool about it.....he said he was just bored... and that [giving me a ticket] was just a way of breaking up the boredom... I was pleased with the outcome. Things have changed in the 30 years I've been driving. When I was just starting out there were cops that were a'holes that would give you a ticket no matter what, but, there were a lot of cops who owned Hemi Cudas, Corvettes, GTO's and Z28's who wouldn't write a fellow enthusiast a ticket unless there was a real problem. And we sure didn't feel good about it if we got run through the system to satisfy some cops boredom. <BTW> I know quite a few cops that own muscle cars, sports cars and motorcycles who drive them pretty hard on the public streets confident that if they get pulled over by another cop they can just flip out their badge and expect that to be the end of the matter. We're all equal before the law. It's just that some of us are more equal than others. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted April 3, 2004 Author Share Posted April 3, 2004 Well...it's not really a big deal...just a fix-it ticket. At the end of the day, breaking the law, is breaking the law...and CA has gotten pretty hrdcore about front plates because of cameras at intersections. I'm just happy that he didn't give me trouble with any of the 'other things'.. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilRufusKay Posted April 3, 2004 Share Posted April 3, 2004 5 pint harnesses Now that might get you in trouble though!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nic-Rebel450CA Posted April 4, 2004 Share Posted April 4, 2004 Well' date=' he was really cool about it.....he said he was just bored as he had a 10 hour shift doing perimeter patrols around the airport (homeland security thang), and that I was just a way of breaking up the boredom. [/quote'] I would have said hey, if you're bored, lets pretend I am evading arrest, I'll keep it under 80, honest What's the problem with having a V8? Isnt your Z a smog legal swap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted April 4, 2004 Author Share Posted April 4, 2004 Nope...I've taken off all the EGR stuff and the air pump. Plus there are no evap. controls on the fuel cell. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrenchtech Posted April 5, 2004 Share Posted April 5, 2004 Well...it's not really a big deal...just a fix-it ticket. At the end of the day, breaking the law, is breaking the law...and CA has gotten pretty hrdcore about front plates because of cameras at intersections. I'm just happy that he didn't give me trouble with any of the 'other things'.. Tim How much time and effort will you have to put into correcting the violations and getting them signed off? I lived for a year in Long Beach and 9 years in the Bay Area. I've lived in Wisconsin for a couple of years now and I guess I've forgotten how tough the enforcement is in California. In Wisconsin we have emissions inspections in five out of 72 counties. I live in one where we don't. We don't have a primary seatbelt law, no motorcycle helmet law and we dont have proof of insurance requirements. It's amazing how little cops have to hassle you about here. At the end of the day, breaking the law, is breaking the law... Like I said cops rely on that badge of theirs to get out of tickets all the time. And even if they don't, they let other cops off who do. Do you think you would have gotten a fix-it-ticket if you were an off duty cop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forrest Posted April 5, 2004 Share Posted April 5, 2004 Tim, have you put a clearcoat on your license plate? I hear they're relabeling clearcoat-in-a-can and calling it a super special secret formula for making sure your plate is overexposed on camera. If I had to worry about the Nazis over there I would give it a shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dot Posted April 7, 2004 Share Posted April 7, 2004 Your lucky Tim: I have been stopped “just for a chat†a few times. Usually I am just cruising slow on a weekend. They just pull along side with the windows down and say “Got a minute?†The guys are usually really nice about it. Any violations that have been found, like lights, they just say drive by the shop with in 24 hours and show the desk sergeant it’s been fixed. I don’t have a problem with any of it. My car is legal here. What’s wrong with a five point harness? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted April 7, 2004 Author Share Posted April 7, 2004 5 Point harnesses are DOT approved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsunlover Posted April 8, 2004 Share Posted April 8, 2004 I remember a few years ago I had a MINT 280zx. T roof, front air dam, loud exhast, ect. I had just got it back from the body shop (beautifull black.. shiny.. ) and hadn't got plates on it yet. (Here in Canada, you can get a "ten day permit" that you stick on the inside of the front windshild, so you can drive around to get it home, a safety inspection, ect) This cop gets behind me and follows me for about 15 mins. I was just crusing through town, you know.. roll in the nice sports car on a friday night. Anyway, I turn down a side street because I'm a little woried about the cop behind me.. sure enough, on come the lights. I pull over, cop walks up and says "I see the ten day there (Im lookin for my licence, insurance, ect) but I just wanted to know.. What is this thing man?!?" He was cool. Just checked my info, and said "have a nice day". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two40MuscleZ Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 Tim: He doesn't have a quota, only a "one site per patrol hour" minimum...just like the CHP! (Now how would I know about that. LOL.) The real reason he cited you was not the missing plate, but rather the generation of City/County funding. He probably was a "Fish" and after you've been on the Department for a while, the "Letter of the Law" is usually superseded by the "Spirit of the Law", eleminating all kinds of time and unnecessary paperwork. A verbal usually will suffice. But, it sounds like he definately was a "Fish"...aka "Rookie." Sorry to hear about that Tim. VAN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 I came off a stop sign full bore in my 340 'Cuda one night, grabbed 2nd going through a T intersection, finally reaching 85 (in a 25) before shutting down for the next stop sign. As I came to a stop I saw a set of headlights (from the side road at the intersection) do a bob as if under heavy accelleration. Oh-oh. Flipped on my turn signal to indicate a right turn and the red flashing light came on. After pulling over and getting out of the car to walk back to the patrol car (you could do that in those days) the officer walked up to me and said "I guess you know you're a had Dad." I said yes and some more discussion ensued. He then said"That's a beautiful car, I'd hate to see it get bent up. Be careful" He then turned around and got back in his car without gining me even a written warning! In my hometown we had a sergeant detective that drove a lime green Chevy Impala SS with Cragar chrome wheels. Had a souped up '57 Chevy next to me at a lioght one night in the 'Cuda that really wanted to run. I saw the green SS slide up behind him so I revved my motor a couple times and slipped the ca into 1st. When the light went green the '57took off smoking while I eased forward at a normal space. Officer Bisterfelt (AKA: Officer Blisterfoot) got a big grin, flipped up his pusuit light and pulled the guy over. I'm soooo bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nic-Rebel450CA Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 Tim, have you put a clearcoat on your license plate? I hear they're relabeling clearcoat-in-a-can and calling it a super special secret formula for making sure your plate is overexposed on camera. If I had to worry about the Nazis over there I would give it a shot. At the local auto parts store here you can buy a license plate cover that is a plastic lense with ridges that makes it impossible to see the whole license plate number from any angle except exactly perpendicular to the surface of the plate. I'm surprised they can sell them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.