State Inspection vs. The Cops

[dmurdock]

or, you could immediately drop on your back, put a crazed face on, and screem at the top of your lungs "Don't Take Me Back!! PLEASE!!! I'll Do Anything! Don't Take Me BAAAAAAAAAACK!!

 

[Wayno]

Or better than that, you might find out what his name is and see if he is listed in the phone book, go to a pay phone and give him a call and tell him hes a @##h###!!!!!! But I know one better than that, if he keeps messing with you over little bs things and he is a city policeman go see the city manager for that city and make a complaint. It has work for me before. Do not go and see the police chief, it will most likely get you no where.

 

[Bigsaint]

Chris, I think it's worth a stop by the local barracks for a definitive answer, if your inspection mechanic isn't sure. Be honest with them, ask to speak with a road trooper as you have a vehicle equipment question. Tell him you were stopped by a local officer who stated that shields are required. Indicate that you just want to be sure that it is indeed the case before you make the added modification. If you are not comfortable stopping by the barracks, let me know and I'll make a phone call for you. I don't personally know anyone in the PA SP, but I'm sure I could get an answer for you with a call.



From what you stated in the PA MV law, it sounds to me that the local officer could issue a summons. If by chance you run into junior again and he does issue, take a few pics. of the stacks and bring them to court. It's a roll of the dice who wins, but I'd argue tha fact that they are not easily within reach of passing pedestrians as a affirmative defense. Worse case scenario is that you are found guilty of a equipment violation which is probably worth no more than $50. 00 and shouldn't include any driving points. I'm not familar with PA MV law, but, here in NJ it would be along the same lines as driving with a loud exhaust ( which is very seldom issued by my PD) or having a lamp out.



Morale of the story is that I wish I had that kind of time on my hands, to look for petty issues as an exhaust shield, not that I would . If you every happen to come through Vernon Twp, stop by the Municipal Center. Promise the talk will be all trucks and no BS, grey area, obscure MV law .



Scott W.

 

[Hummin Cummins]

Thats pretty much the route I'm gonna take. After a stop by the PSP barracks to get the "real" answer. It seems like a judgement call to me. If the PSP says shields, then its shields. If not, and the local boy stops me again, I'll take it to the magistrate. Usually the arresting officer never shows up anyway.

 

[dmurdock]

On a serious note, we have the same law in Texas. However, I think the stickler is the word "exposed". There are class 8 trucks everywhere around here with no shields, yet you would have to "reach" to actually touch the stack(s). I would think stacks in the bed would be safe, stacks outside the bed (like merrick's) may "technically" require shields. Unfortunately, I doubt pickups were ever thought of when this law / guideline was created, so most likely it will initially come to the officer's opinion and then finally the opinion of the judge.

 

[rubberneck]

I can see how you may want a shield on stacks outside the bed like merrick's mentioned above. A kid could run up and touch them. But a stack inside the bed, thats just stupid. Anyone who is tall enough to touch a stack inside the bed deserves to get burned if they are dumb enough to grab it.



If i lived there and heard about this, i might just put a stack on my truck to pi$$ him off

 

[Blakers]

It will be interesting to find out what the law says. I don't have stacks, but I just moved to Pa from Ohio and know there's some weird motor vehicle laws here. I think the only thing I might be in violation here is my tires sticking out a little too far, since I haven't gotten my flares yet. If I get stopped, I'll just act like a dumb Ohioan that just moved in.



What other dumb Pa laws are out there that deal with our trucks?



Blake

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I've heard that PA has REALLY restrictive laws on vehicles. As a matter of fact I remember reading in a magazine where they said that the laws there were so restrictive that most brand new vehicles right off of the lot can be written up for something. Jeez

 

[me4osu]

Maybe Barney Fife is thinking of these little fellers:



#ad






They came out stock with heat sheilds, but they were mounted on the outside of the bed.

 

[MCummings]

Stacks? What are those ?? hehe



Yah, maybe my stacks would need heat shields,, But then why did I pay more $$ to have them chromed for the full 6' ?



My stacks are cool within 1 minute of shutdown.

If I don't shut off my truck they stay hot,, but a little kid would be much to busy putting his/her hands over thier ears rather than touching my truck. Between the Stereo, the Motor, and no mufflers, my truck requires earplugs if standing Behind the cab.



I haven't ever been pulled over for my stacks outside the bed, but I have been pulled over for sounding too fast (Literally) and just plain being to loud (That turbo's sounds like 100MPH when you lift off the go pedal with 30PSI of boost)



The smoke, the Noise, and the looks will get you pulled over in a heartbeat if you are driving anything above "Normal"

I don't drive normal 100% of the time. so sometimes I get pulled over for the smoke noise, and looking different.



Of course my stacks are illegal,, any modifing of the exhaust system is against the law,,, just read your owners manual.



Merrick Cummings Jr

 

[Hummin Cummins]

I did some checking today. Bad news. I guess if it's factory, its ok, but ANY modification from OEM, then the heat shield rule applies. I had some brushed stainless ones bent, I'll mount them and if i dont like the looks, just take them off and save for inspection day. Merrick pretty much nailed it. Almost any modification from original equipment is "technically" illegal.



"Technically", they can shove it. I like them and I'm making the payments. If I get stopped again, I'll fight it and go from there. Still thinking of using the stacks for tips and running duals out the back. Hmm maybe they wont think the stacks are so bad compared to the big black cloud I'll leave inside their windows

 

[DRR-24V]

DMurdocks Got It Right !!

If I was working the road and some guy told me that I would figure he must know what he's talking about, cause I Damn Sure Don't.

 

[Hummin Cummins]

Steve St.

Yeah, thats about right. Take one off the lot and they'll find something. After 12 years driving truck, I never had trouble with the DOT inspections. Why is it always some local hot shot tryin to make a name for himsef that ruins my fun?



DRR

Arent you a cop? Uhm, I mean law enforcement officer?

Damn, theyre on to me now.

 

[DRR-24V]

HumminsCummins-Yep I'm Guilty !

I am retired but in my experience the Shorter the Cop, The Bigger the Badge. !! Same thing with the violators you stop. You will very seldom have trouble with a big man, but the little guy will get right in your face. That's just my experience. !!

 

[TPCDrafting]

Originally posted by 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.

YEAH and if that doesn't work, givem the FIVE nuckle rating!!Oo. Oo.

 

[Bigsaint]

Here we go again

If all else fails, punch the cop... real smart . Nothing like turning a equipment violation into a aggravated assault, not to mention that the chances are real good that you will get your a$$ stomped by the same cop you hit. Believe or not, many of us are ex-military and not mommas boys. Idiot responses like the one above make me wonder why I even get involoved in the LE threads that circulate through the TDR. Nuff said.



Don nailed it on the little man syndrome with some cops. As for violators, drunk women are the absoulte worst.



Scott W.

 

[me4osu]

Re: Here we go again

Originally posted by Bigsaint

If all else fails, punch the cop... real smart . Nothing like turning a equipment violation into a aggravated assault, not to mention that the chances are real good that you will get your a$$ stomped by the same cop you hit. Believe or not, many of us are ex-military and not mommas boys. Idiot responses like the one above make me wonder why I even get involoved in the LE threads that circulate through the TDR. Nuff said.



Don nailed it on the little man syndrome with some cops. As for violators, drunk women are the absoulte worst.



Scott W.

LOL Scott.



I am not a real big person (unless you count the gut), but every time I am pulled over, I always give them half of a sir sandwich. Every answer I give is punctuated by Sir. I mainly say it out of respect, not just to get out of a ticket. You guys have to deal with the scrapings from the bottom of the genepool, most of the time. I respect any person in law enforcement for that, even if they get on my nerves. I don't have anything near the patience that most LE personnel have.



When I was a kid in Enid, OK, my brother in law knew an OHP trooper who drove a green car. The trooper was a HUGE guy with an advanced black belt in Judo. One time my bro-in-law rolled up behind him (he was a City PD) while he had a 5'-8" 170lb. middle-eastern man pulled over for rolling a stop. Just as my brother in law got out of his car, the little guy took a swing at the trooper. My brother in law told me that the trooper caught the guy's wrist about about half-swing, then grabbed his forearm down by the elbow and snapped the dude's arm like a twig.



Just a little example of how not to behave when pulled over by the law.

 

[TPCDrafting]

gggggeeeeeesshshsh here we go another thread subject change. Fenuckle sounded like Five nuckle to me. You know a joke when you see one right??? Funny HA HA

If you think for one minute I or anyone on this site would hit a cop who for one is typically trained in martial arts and two is carrying a gun and a night stick, who is making the brash response?? Sorry if I offended you and law enforcement in general. NUFF SAID.



I just hope that HC gets to keep his stacks, I like'em. Oo.

 

[me4osu]

Easy tpc

I knew you were joking. I was just relaying a FUNNY story, HA HA. Furthermore, I did not assert that any TDR member or lurker would do such a thing.



If you noticed a few posts before yours, the thread kind of ran to an end anyway. HC stated that he found out what the law was, and it said that he had to have heat shields. I don't see anything wrong with a little BS session. Put your name in the hat for moderator, you sound like you might be good at it.

 

[DRR-24V]

Moderators? Don't Think So !!

I think after watching that last Killer Oil thread there's not a lot of guys standing in line to be moderators.