Your car and the authorities

[Jiggs]

How does the local law and insurance companies feel about your modded car?

We had our annual car show with 1100 cars in the city a few weeks ago and the results were less than impressive. John law was out in force and showing off their authority during the 2 nights of cruising. Stopping cars for every little infraction, and picking on modified cars. The common thought amongst participants was they set up a barrel and were shooting at the fish. The insurance company and the police work hand in hand at these events and other spot checks on regular days.

A little background about me and my province's insurance. We have one company. It is government run. Most of the time it works really well. I am an autobody tech and am a part of both the vehicle inspection and body integrity programs the government insurance has in place. This is to do with mechanical safety and vehicle structure, not emmisions. That said, I have connections with the higher ups that make and enforce safety and standards within the insurance company and hence the province.

A conversation today with one of these higher ups basically told me that I could not modify my car's structure or suspension in any way. I didn't tell him what kind of car. He asked me if I was a certified engineer, and obviously I'm not, so it would have to be certified by someone that is. If I do modify, don't certify, and get caught (John law at the car show), its off the road, permanantly!

So after all that, how is it in your area of the world? If you had to do things completly by the book, cross every T and dot every I, would your car be on the road, or are we all playing hide and seek with the law and insurance people?

By the way, they are going after not only muscle cars, but lifted trucks, lowered imports, rat rods, and traditional rods. Basically everything that isn't 100% OEM.

[formula]

there would be war.

WAR. :machine:

[Jiggs]

I think that is how all the car guys feel about it, but we Canadians are a peaceful people. :)

[LowBuckX]

I think that is how all the car guys feel about it, but we Canadians are a peaceful people. :)
Didnt france say that a few times... OH yea Canada France...HMM


Sorry man just playin

[406 Q-ship]

Talk about a rigged system....the insurance is mandated and run by the providence and the constabulary writes the tickets that cause your insurance to rise in cost......nice, talk about kangaroo. Do the judges (I forget what Canada calls them right now) get a kick back from the insurance agency too......geesh. California has a rule in the Vehicle Code thats basicly the samething that any modification to suspension is illegal and subject to being written a cite. Do we California follow that rule......what do you think. Don't you have a SEMA like organization in Canada that can lobby the government to change stupid laws like that?

[CRCRFT78]

Sometimes you've got to throw peace out the window and fight for your rights. That's BS what Johnny Law and his cronies are up to.

[a73formula]

Most of the people making these stupid laws don't know anything about cars and think we're all put in the back yard slapping together crap. They don't realize that engineers make the parts we put on our cars. That and they think they know whats best for us though they don't follow the same rules

[Ash]

You can smoke a joint up there....but god forbid you throw some coil-overs on your rig. I concur in regards 406 Q-ship, No SEMA ACTION NETWORK type lobbyist you can support?

[Jim Nilsen]

At least you guys know who you have to eliminate to change the problem!

If you really want to create something worse than you started with ,all you have to do is get someone stupid to force an engineer to protect them with protective engineering. It has been proven that 2 stupid people are even more stupid than one and they usually want you to be like them!

[John Wright]

I hope American car enthusists are watching this thread.....I see a big "WARNING" sign.......there are laws on the books in most states that could cause many of us plenty of grief....A completely factory muscle car with the addition of a set of a set of air shocks is considered an altered suspension. That law came about in the late sixties when having the tail lights point to the sky was a cool thing. Few after market companies want to go through all the BS to have their parts DOT approved and there again is another trip hazzard for us.

[Jiggs]

Being that I am a part of these inspections, I have to keep in mind an example like this. A 2008 F350 with a 6" lift and 38's gets into a head on collision with a 2008 Acura Rsx with lowering coils. Instead of these two hitting bumper to bumper, the car goes right underneath and a lot more damage occurs. Would the car have a chance in the first place, no. But that is the thinking.

Besides that, they are lumping all of the mods together like we are all a bunch of hacks.

I've seen welds on unibody cars that would make you shudder in the structural inspections, yet on the other hand I built a push bar for my buddies land cruiser that protected his whole front end when he rolled it down a mountain side. The insurance company sure as heck didn't thank me for that one.

[JEFFTATE]

The government(s) DO NOT want us to drive high-powered , custom , fast cars .
They want us to drive 103hp Jelly-Beans that do not pollute:; and do not go fast enough to get into a serious accident.
The government(s) feel that we are not mature and intelligent enough to govern ourselves , so they feel that they know what is best for us.
They are making decisions to protect us from ourselves.
( I DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS !! )
I'm just making a statement.

[Tony_SS]

You beat me to it Jeff.

The problem is that all gov's seem to think they know what's best for YOU.

It's the creation of a giant nanny state.. they will take care of you because obviously we are not capable. I can understand the concept of protecting the innocent from irresponsible folks, but it sounds like the line is being crossed up there.

By their logic, all motor vehicles should be outlawed and everyone should be transported by a state run amtrak and trolley system.

Ever notice that gov types are just outright control freaks?

[parsonsj]

I'm all for banning modified cars that aren't like mine. :)

jp

[Jiggs]

So in your state/province, do you have to hide the fact that you have modified your car, or are the "powers at be" fine with what you have done?

[parsonsj]

Florida has easy to follow programs for modified cars. Either historic or street rod plates (for cars with more than 3 significant modifications from OEM). All the matters is that the title and VIN match, and that you have suitable insurance.

jp

[Tony_SS]

I'm all for banning modified cars that aren't like mine. :)

jp

John will all your knowledge and expertise you could become chassis CZAR. Then you could mandate that we all drive II Much clones. :)

[parsonsj]

you could mandate that we all drive II Much clones.Nah, but I would mandate that somebody buy II Much. :)

[406 Q-ship]

Being that I am a part of these inspections, I have to keep in mind an example like this. A 2008 F350 with a 6" lift and 38's gets into a head on collision with a 2008 Acura Rsx with lowering coils. Instead of these two hitting bumper to bumper, the car goes right underneath and a lot more damage occurs. Would the car have a chance in the first place, no. But that is the thinking.


Problem there is that an stock F350 in a head on collision with a OEM ride height Acura RSX is still going to be an up and over event for the Ford. That logic is kind of like outlawing people from sharpening knives because you can cut yourself with a sharper knife. :bsjerk: Stupid laws are meant to be broken.

[61ragtop]

I am from British Columbia on the far west coast, We are allowed to modify but it must be inspected after by a certified government vehicle inspection. This is the same inspection for any vehicle that looks to be non road worthy or altered as well as if it from out of province it must be inspected before you can register it to insure.

As far as suspension goes the lowest part of your vehicle can not be below your rim line. This is obviously so if you get a flat your rim hits the ground before anything else giving you a chance to maintain control.

[71RS/SS396]

North Carolina tried to do something similar to this. When you tried to title a car that was 35yrs old or older you had to take it to their fraud division to let them check the vin and hidden partial vin on the body. If you had any suspension,brake,steering ...etc modifications they would brand the title as a reconstructed vehicle ( they weren't above removing paint or asking you to remove the body to find the numbers ) and you can imagine the impact on the value of your car this has nationally. The car community banned together and fought them for 18 months and finally wore them down and got it changed. Most people think they don't belong in their own legislative buidings , but remember who those idiots work for,we own those buildings. The only way you can change things is to organize as a united group and fight them. :machine:

[Kenova]

SEMA is very active in Canada. They have put the brakes on several potential laws that would have put the screws to the enthusiast. It's hard to say what they can do for you now, but get in touch with them anyways. I'll bet they are already aware of the situation in Saskatchewan.
Without getting political, take a look at the political party that has done most of the governing over the past three or four decades. Do you think there's a connection? :idea:

Ken

[rentedmule]

We run auto-X events right beside a police station and I've never heard of anyone getting pulled over (when they didn't deserve it). Even bagged guys don't get hassled as long as they're not scraping. Police/insurance never seem to be an issue in Edmonton.

Do they bring the "D.A.R.E." cars to shows in Sask? Those are modified from stock and some of them are street driven.

[Jiggs]

Mule; I have seen a DARE car in Saskatoon. It was a older Caprice cop car. The only time I have ever seen it was at the drag strip south of the city. I have never seen it on the street. As a side note, I think they have detuned it a lot. At this cruise weekend drag event it was running in the 14's. I remember it running a lot faster in past years. Funny, I never thought anything of it... until now.

[killer69]

[QUOTE=61ragtop;574760]I am from British Columbia on the far west coast, We are allowed to modify but it must be inspected after by a certified government vehicle inspection. This is the same inspection for any vehicle that looks to be non road worthy or altered as well as if it from out of province it must be inspected before you can register it to insure.

Well the inspection thing is good and bad. we see alot of S*!t that comes into the shop and for that reason i agree 100% but the lack of Common sence is crazy. take this, we just finished a 33 kit.
your not allowed to bring a kit car into canada, but factory 5 cobras are ok????????????? cuz they dont inlude a bunch of parts like brake lines, so now your free to go and get any brake line you want and yse that.
so we brought in a bunch of parts, just so happen they fit together to make a car?????????? whats the differance.
i submit the paper work and have the inspection done it passes and gets insurance.
it is a 2009 Ubuilt. no safety requirements like air bags, bumpers,etc it doesnt need air car cuz its a 2009????????????? so a 7 year exemption :twothumbs

Fenders??? no Roof??? NO but it is supposed to have wipers???? hu and a defrost?????what oh yea and sun visors, gotta have sunvisors. 2500hp is ok but make sure it has sunvisors

none of it makes sense!!!!:smoke:the peace pipe
rule #1 it is easier to beg forgiveness than ask for approval :bsjerk::bsjerk:

[Jiggs]

rule #1 it is easier to beg forgiveness than ask for approval.

Yes, but I don't want to be begging on the side of the road. I would love to be able to shove a piece of paper in the face of the person who has pulled me over.

"This piece of paper says I'm legal" P!SS OFF.

[killer69]

yea that is what the inspection is for. but here the Police can order you to get another inspection if they want. you could have just pulled out of the shop and they can make you get another one BS

[Ishmael]

I think that is how all the car guys feel about it, but we Canadians are a peaceful people. :)
I think we like to think we are. Man that sucks. If I lived in Sk I would move to Alberta - joking (I'd move to BC). How does the province get away with that?

[Jiggs]

How do they do it? When you have one complete entity coming at you (police, gov, and the insurance) that are basically from the same place, couple that with the fact that we have one insurance company. Can you say MONOLOLY.

If you don't like what your insurance company is shoving down your throat, you can't walk down the street to the competition.

[a73formula]

and this is the direction we're moving, isn't european socializm great. Sorry for ranting

[86Cutlass383SR]

yea that is what the inspection is for. but here the Police can order you to get another inspection if they want. you could have just pulled out of the shop and they can make you get another one BS

This is where if you are found to be legal, they should have to pay for the inspection.

Do these "modifications" include aftermarket but bolt-in stock-type parts such as control arms and swaybars? In that case wouldn't *replacement* shocks fall into the same catagory? Tires? I'd be pointing these out on THEIR cars!

[nullshine]

Removed.

[Bad Bird]

Australia is pretty much the same as the above. It completely sucks, to the point that I'm seriously considering making the move to the US and bring my XB with me.

[wicked68]

sorry you guys have to live in socialist police states. we intend on keeping that from happening in the majority of the us - its already like that in some us states unfortunately.

Here in GA - its no big deal - I have never heard of anyone getting puleed over for an inspection.

[Jiggs]

I started this thread to see what others are expected to legally do to "certify" a custom frame, or suspension etc.... but her is another example.

In the city, there is one way to get to the landfill. Once you pass the last set of lights, its about five blocks to the dump turn off. No side streets etc. The police and insurance inspectors HIDE behind a burm and pull people over for a street inspection. They use the excuse of making sure loads are tied down properly, but it is an excuse to hand out inspection slips to older half tons, and trailers. My "dump truck" has a bad muffler, horn doesn't work, etc and if I get caught, everthing will have to be tip top. I guess they expect us to buy $40K half tons to haul our grass and tree clippings. I think its entrapment. Same weasels that are out during cruise nights.

[Scott Parkhurst]

We dont even have vehicle inspections here in MN. They just don't worry about it, I guess. No emissions inspections either. Anything goes, pretty much.

I moved here from CA where emissions are a big deal. It's no deal at all here.

I guess since we have winter 6 months a year, that's punishment enough for gearheads.

[Jim Nilsen]

sorry you guys have to live in socialist police states. we intend on keeping that from happening in the majority of the us - its already like that in some us states unfortunately.

Here in GA - its no big deal - I have never heard of anyone getting puleed over for an inspection.

All of the policed socialism only happens where there are the least amount percentage wise of people who own guns and know how to hunt.

Is that a clue as to how to keep your freedom ?

[41565 chevelle]

Don't worry, Obama and the socialist revolution is coming to us here soon. The insurance and police are both government organizations??? What is wrong with that picture? Just watch, the US government is going to take over(bail out) banks, take over the controlling interest is major automakers and mandate me to pay for your health care....

Wait, that just happened and is happening as we speak. Once they realize the amount of money is involved in aftermarket auto parts and such, they are coming and coming hard. They make up the rules, change them in the middle of the game and you have to pay....aka IRS.

I do wear the tin foil shinny side up so they cant read what I'm thinking!!!