State Inspection vs. The Cops

[Hummin Cummins]

Ok, I just had a run in with the local "gestapo" in a neighboring town. I pulled into a convenience store to get gas (for my mower ) this cop pulls in behind me and asks if my stacks are hooked up. well, DUH! I said yes, he asked where my heat shields were. I said I have a diamond plate cover in the bed to protect cargo, (he was vertically challenged and couldn't see in the bed) "No, he says out here", and proceeds to put his hand on my stack. I said I didnt think I need them. He said "Oh, yeah someone might grab them and get burned" (see previous sentence). After 30 seconds or so, he finally takes his hand off the stack without any signs of visible burns (darn). Anyhow, I said that "people shouldn't be touching things that dont belong to them. If someone puts their hand under my lawn mower while its running they will get their hand cut off, whats the difference?" Maybe I shouldn't have said that but he was ticking me off. I didnt speed or carry on, I just wanted some gas. He never said a thing about my tinted windows, or roll bar lights. (big no-no in PA) He didnt even write me a warning just pulled in, yelled at me and said get them on there. He was extremely rude and obnoxious and treated me as though I had just robbed a bank.



I just had the truck inspected a few weeks earlier and my inspection guy always checks it out good, but he doesnt fuss over the accessories, just the mechanicals of the truck and he loves my stacks. I didnt want to possibly get him in trouble so I politely told the "officer" I would take care of it, and he left.



How should I handle this next time. I'm calling my inspecton mechanic today and fill him in, to make sure the stacks are good the way they are before I argue with the cop next time and I'm sure there will be a next time, the locals say that cop is a real PITA (I have underwear older than he is) I know there will be a next time, I travel through this town several times a week. My stacks have been on almost a year and he just now decides he doesn't like them? Anyone else have this problem and how did you handle it? I could get a nice set of stainless shields made with lazer cut lettering in them like the big rigs, but I like them better the way they are.



Sorry for the long post but I had to blow off some steam



Chris

 

[HEMI®Dart]

I would find out what the exact law is in PA concerning shielding exhausts stacks. Maybe its just for the larger trucks or over certain GVW?



TDR member BigSaint may be able to help.

 

[Shovelhead]

If he can hold his hand on the stack for 30 sec. , what's the problem? Why do you NEED a heat shield to keep someone from getting burned on an object too cool to CAUSE a burn?



Some investigation is in order.



Sounds like Diesel-envy to me.

 

[Hummin Cummins]

I've made several phone calls to inspection stations today and they have never heard of such a thing on non commercial trucks. Thats exactly what I thought, how can he sit there and touch them and tell me I need shields? Then, never write anything up or even ask for my drivers liscense or anything?

 

[dmurdock]

Super easy solution. .



Tell him the interior wall of the stacks are cryo-coated with



"piezo 6a-1bt thermal barrier" and have a fenuckel rating of 18, which is 11 points higher than that required by law.

 

[Shovelhead]

Originally posted by dmurdock

"piezo 6a-1bt thermal barrier" and have a fenuckel rating of 18, which is 11 points higher than that required by law.

Dang I'm gonna hafta remember that one! :-laf :-laf :-laf

 

[Doubleclutch]

"piezo 6a-1bt thermal barrier" and have a fenuckel rating of 18, which is 11 points higher than that required by law" Dmurdock, where did THAT come from??? No matter, I like it!

 

[Hummin Cummins]

I was thinking of maybe placards, warning labels, flashing neon lights, and an armed security guard which force people to sign a release form before coming within 6' of the truck. The more I think about this, the madder I get. This town doesnt even have a flippin red light, there are kids that are stealing Anhydrous Ammonia from the fertilizer plant that I work part time for (they use it to make methamphetamines) sp? They havent caught them in a year yet they are scared of my stacks.



BEWARE THE BIG SMOKIN DODGE:--)

 

[Hummin Cummins]

Boy they sure do leave alot of detail out of the ole inspection code



(4) An exposed exhaust system shall be equipped with an adequate heat shield or protective system.



Is inside the bed exposed? Give me a break!

LarryB does such a nice job on turbo shields, maybe I need to see him for some stack shields. Get CUMMINS cut into them and put a purty light behind them like the big riggers

 

[Oasis-3]

H C the next time he stops you go over and grab his tail pipe and ask were his heat shield is

I would bet his tail pipe is hotter then your stacks



Good Luck

Cliff from PA

 

[Hummin Cummins]

Guess I better not ride the harley anymore. It sure would look funny with big old heat shields on it.

 

[_MACKIN]

We do live in an over Policed society ... ... Some times it appears the go after the wrong individuals ... ... They should be looking for this guy . Well, he does have heat shields. LMAO



#ad




MAC :--)

 

[Hummin Cummins]

Hmmm, I felt a little twinge of "stack envy"

Keep telling myself size doesn't matter, size doesn't matter

 

[Bigsaint]

Hummin Cummins, Hemi offered the best advice, contact the State and inquire as to any restrictions that may be in place regarding the stacks. I might be able see his point if they exited from under the truck and were mounted on the outside of the bed, even then it's probably pushing the envelope as any regs. in place more than likely only affect the big rigs. I can't see how a shield would be required for stacks mounted through the bed, like you said, no one should be touching them without you approval.



I only have a single stack on my truck, but the thought never even crossed my mind to add a shield. Sounds like another case of a LE in need of real police work, sorry it had to happen to you but you did the right thing, just yes him to death and move on. Arguing, until you know the facts, is senseless in this situation. If you are unable to locate any info, send me a PM and I'll try to make some calls for ya.



Hope I hepled !!!



Scott

 

[Hummin Cummins]

Scott

I searched the inspection code for PA and all it said was



(4) An exposed exhaust system shall be equipped with an adequate heat shield or protective system.



This doesn't tell me a whole lot. I thought maybe a trip to the state police barracks, but I like to let sleeping dogs lie

 

[WDaniels]

dmurdock,

ROTFALMAO!:-laf Would have been nice if you threw something about a muffler bearing in as well

WD

 

[Hummin Cummins]

I found by removing the muffler bearing I gained 15 HP and a 50% increase in mileage

 

[JR2]

Here is what you do... get two sections of 3 inch exhaust pipe have them installed inside your stacks. Then when the guy asks you can say... no those are the heat shields. . if you look down inside the stack the actual exhaust pipe is in there. Or you could use dmurdock's solution.

 

[tgbol]

I would just tell him that there is an inner pipe. He didn't get burned when he touched them.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

When you have to get gas, wrap the stacks w/ 2" header wrap. Takes about 5 mins. Secure it with a safety pin. I can grap my downpipe after a hard run and its only warm.