state referee

[rusted180]

Sorry you guys gotta read this, this is probably the one millionth question about this topic, but i searched everywhere and it still doesn't answer my question. My question is, does anyone know exactly when a cop can write that wonderful memo stating the car is "non correctional" so that you go and see the ref? I recently got pulled over for a loud exhaust but was let off with a warning, and it scared the shits out of me. Some guys say an exhaust and intake tickets won't give you a trip to the ref but some say the cops can, even without popping your hood!. i always assumed cops can only give you a trip to the ref if they pop your hood and identify it as an unregistered US motor? sorry guys i'm a newb and i did my search. THanks for reading!

[UfoZ8myCow]

Cops can send you to the ref anytime they want at their own discretion. Even if you are running a bone stock KA24DE he can still send you to the ref to have it checked out.

I had a buddy get sent to the ref, he put everything back to stock except for a few vacuum lines that were just blue. Ref failed him.

And search more. This has been covered a bazillion times.

[rusted180]

THanks man! i did do a lot of search and i keep hearing different things, i was just confused because ive read some that do get popped for such and such reasons and some that dont for the same cases. But what you say does sum it up and makes sense that these pigs do different things in the same situation. I guess it's all about which asshole you get, the cool one? or adolf hitler himself! Thanks for the input!

[Flipzide]

^ You said it. It all depends on the cop you get. I've run into chill young ones, chill old ones, asshole young ones, old ones, etc. It's just luck. The city you're in also plays part into how bad or well they treat you.

Just remember, if you get sent to the ref, be as stock as possible or present all documentation that your parts have C.A.R.B. numbers.

[Kaizen.]

I got sent to the reff for an intake.

Certain intakes are CARB legal such as the AEM one. I had to take my Apex'i one off because it wasn't legit

As for exhaust, my catback passed smog all day at smog stations. I thought I was going to fail at the smog Reff, so I changed it back to stock. When I got there the reff said I could'ov just left it on because it just had to pass a sound test. There was an integra at the smog reff when I went and he had an exhaust that was stupid loud, yet he still passed. Even if you fail at the sound test, you get a free retest. Should've kept mine on to begin with.

[rusted180]

thanks for all the info guys! very enlightening.... i pray for the day when sr20det's will be legal.....hint hint joe, if your reading this....jk Joe's doing a great job tryin to get this shit legal, i can care less if i get a fix it ticket for intake and what have you, but seein that evil referee is what makes me sweat.......i will become a reality! Just gotta believe in it! ........i promised joe and i'll promise to you guys, the day this happens, and if we have a celebration(most likely we will) then im going to bring korean BBQ for everyone!:bow::x::2f2f::)

[steve shadows]

^ You said it. It all depends on the cop you get. I've run into chill young ones, chill old ones, asshole young ones, old ones, etc. It's just luck. The city you're in also plays part into how bad or well they treat you.

Just remember, if you get sent to the ref, be as stock as possible or present all documentation that your parts have C.A.R.B. numbers.

take the car off the street, provide proof of non-operation

then go from there :fawk:

you should be able to avoid the ref in that case.

unless they want to force you to drive a non-op vehicle on the stret, that illegal :)

[TheSquidd]

I just got a ref ticket for a cone filter.

Dumbass didn't even notice the turbo, BOV, intercooler, boost controller, etc. etc.

:cj:

You can be sent to the ref for anything.

[PRADOgy]

friend got sent for a front mount.. the cop said no reason for two radiators..didnt notice the GTIR sr at all LOL just the front mount.. he never went for the correction.. just paid the fine.. AND THIS WAS IN ONTARIO CA... BAAD PLACE FOR OUR CARS...

[UfoZ8myCow]

^That's why my intercooler is painted flat black... Doesnt attract any attention from anyone at all.

[steve shadows]

^That's why my intercooler is painted flat black... Doesnt attract any attention from anyone at all.

you ruined your ic

[WilloW]

you ruined your ic
What if he used radiator paint? I've heard of people doing this without any harm to the intercooler.

State ref is not fun at all, I've been through it a couple time.

[blackcoupe]

Quick question do they if your car passes smog at the state referee (in California of course). Because i just state reffed for "modified intake". YOu know how the theres the intake baffle on the intake box; well mine is missing. does that even count as modified emissions? i got stock air box and piping.

[ixfxi]

What if he used radiator paint? I've heard of people doing this without any harm to the intercooler.

hes being retarded. painting your IC with radiator paint doesnt do shit

i painted mine, no problems.

[Vision Garage]

I just got done dealing with state ref. yes cops can send you for anyting emissions related as a failsafe or because they dont know shit about cars. The state ref just makes sure everyting is there. Vacuums all plugged up and what not. If you are rolling stock it shoudlnt be a problem. Its just a regular smog check. If not, good luck getting back to stock. Just non-op like ppl have said if you dont think you will pass.

[DJ_Sunrise]

Sport Compact did a test on spray painting intercoolers.. They used black Krylon paint, and noticed a 1whp loss of power on a 300whp vehicle. Now the guy has to up his boost .1 psi to hit 300 again haha. Im sure with the use of radiator paint you won't lose shit.

-Bart

[nismo-joe]

we just had a buddy pulled over for the same crap here is some info on what we found out.(thanks to the squidd)
27151. (a) No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor of the vehicle so that the vehicle is not in compliance with the provisions of Section 27150 or exceeds the noise limits established for the type of vehicle in Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 27200). No person shall operate a motor vehicle with an exhaust system so modified.

(b) For the purposes of exhaust systems installed on motor vehicles with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of less than 6,000 pounds, other than motorcycles, a sound level of 95 dbA or less, when tested in accordance with Society of Automotive Engineers Standard J1169 May 1998, complies with this section. Motor vehicle exhaust systems or parts thereof include, but are not limited to, nonoriginal exhaust equipment.
Amended Sec. 10, Ch. 92, Stats. 2001. Effective January 1, 2002.
In my honest opinion, don't be dumb use a silencer on the streets.

[steve shadows]

no

buddy clubs and built heads with oversized turbines only

[UfoZ8myCow]

you ruined your ic

Yeah no I didnt. I used radiator paint and it works just fine still. Even if I lost 1whp, I think I could live with 324 instead of 325. :D

[GabeS14]

friend got sent for a front mount.. the cop said no reason for two radiators..didnt notice the GTIR sr at all LOL just the front mount.. he never went for the correction.. just paid the fine.. AND THIS WAS IN ONTARIO CA... BAAD PLACE FOR OUR CARS...

Question, how much was the fine?

I am going to pay mine as soon as it comes in, so want to be ready.

[Vision Garage]

looking close to 500 for it.

[k's_silvia2.0]

Firts sorry to hear about all the hassles.This is FUNNY though ive lived & worked in ontario ca for like 2 years.Rolled like this.Now in the 951 area:coolugh:
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t164/ks_silvia/parts016.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t164/ks_silvia/silvia-1.jpg
REAL BLITZ ALL they way through.(TRUST this shit is LOUD)I like it.
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t164/ks_silvia/parts007.jpg
Never got ANY kind of fix-it or REF ticket NEVER.I did get pull over for some late night speeding.ONLY thing I got shit for was my Hks DD filter....But i just told him it was just like the K&N on his F-250 & mustang at home and he said oooohh ok:jerkit: No ticket for the redtop,greddy vspl,Shiny ass koyo,BOV,just the speeding.:2f2f:So NO SPEEDING!!!

[silverarrow27]

951 police are more relaxed than everywhere else from what I've noticed. Although a couple months ago I saw the local Beaumont PD pop a kid's white honda civic that had a huge wing, dropped, Muffler/tip, and bunch of stickers on it. Forgot whether it had a body kit on it or not.

Been hearing that the Beaumont PD are d|cks if they have any.

[deadpirate]

i love riverside cops...so lazy..they just straight up dont care


beaumont cops are complete pricks

[k's_silvia2.0]

I have yet to find out.

[jflo]

i got pulled over in my friend's ae86 GT-S...stock 4age motor. the cop said that he thought the motor was an illegal swap because some things under the hood were in japanese (all it had was an intake filter, and maybe some mad-tyte-jdm-y0! sticker or some shit) and sent me to the ref. complete asshole about everything too. i never went, i paid the fine, but that was completely unnecessary how he treated me.

[k's_silvia2.0]

^SUCKS to hear that.

[Flipzide]

looking close to 500 for it.

when i got sent to the ref for the first time, i got it corrected and was fined 30 bucks. the traffic court judge told me that if i get caught again within a 3 year period (2 years from this month) i will have to pay the full 500 fine. or something like that.

[Indolent]

I remember getting sent to the ref just for exhaust, but i paid it off along w/running a red supposedly which came to $500 almost

Just wondering, is this "$500" fine for the state ref the most you can be fined if you get sent? or does the price vary upon what he gets you down for? (intake, motor swap, etc.)
Also, is there a such thing as after a number of times getting sent to the ref and paying each of them off something else may happen to you/your car if you were to get caught/sent again? like a 3 strike type of rule

[GabeS14]

looking close to 500 for it.

If its 500 ill be more than happy to pay.
I dont see why go through the hassleat and time of doing the re-swap, to get it signed off when you can just pay 500.
anyways.. thanks, ill let you all know when it comes in the mail!

[Vision Garage]

I think the reason is they have it on file and if you get caught again the fine is multiplied. Never been in the situation but from what I have heard. I guess paying off the fine is like a slap in the face of "THE SYSTEM." Kinda like "Bitch take this money and look away." So if you get caught for it again, penalties may be steeper.

[rps13drift]

Holy shit!!! after reading all these stories im pretty glad i dont live in cali! Is it seriously that bad? you just get pulled over for nothing and they are allowed to search your car?

[esmeuskees]

i just had a ref ticket.. registered the car as non-op, cost me $17 then had to pay $430 fine.. i thought it would be worse so im happy. if i wanna re-register ill just need a plain old smog check.

its funny u can just pay your way out of this situation. no correction? ok pay the fine, case dissmissed. its like highway robbery.. or bribery..

so if they really cared how u moddified your car or the emissions its puting out, wouldnt the fine be higher? then everyone would do the correction instead of paying the fine .

my point is they only care about money thankfuly. lol

[GabeS14]

YAAAAAYYYY!!!!:rawk:
UPDATE!!
I gave my tik some time to process and just called the court today to see what my options were in processing the ticket, and it gave me the option to pay the fine,request a hearing or an extension,
the fine is going to be $ 561.oo
My ticket says:
1 Modified Emissions system
2 Modified exhaust
3 tinted windows
4 Referee sign off only!
so I will be glad to pay the ticket!!:bowrofl:

I requested the extension because i am currently doign a turbo setup upgrade
and want to have the cash to finish my project before i pay the fine.
anyways, I am happy I can just pay the fine.
I would not want to have to re-swap, or non-op my car.

[rusted180]

good shit! very good to know, real time experience! phew...at least i can just pay off the fine if i ever get nailed and not deal with all this non op bullcrap!. but next time you get hit...well, from others experiences, fine is larger! Fuck this system, i just wonder if any domestic sports or raised trucks get targeted for emissions? where i live, all i see is a bunch of raised trucks with exhaust tones much louder than mine ! Beautiful trucks though. ....are the police automobile racists or do ppl with import cars cause more trouble and attention? maybe buncha Fags out there killing the scene for all of us....hmm.. thats my opinion....

[Vision Garage]

Anyone know about what will happen if pulled over again? From what I hear its a tow. But its just hearsay.

[TougeRacing]

Im in California, does anyone know if State referee for modified emissions affects your insurance policy? That is if you did the state ref alraedy and passed.

[240truk]

Just non-op like ppl have said if you dont think you will pass.

^^does anyone know if this actually works????

[beeracing s14]

i got pulled over by an irwindale cop before at an intersectton on irwindale and arrow hwy. the prick went behind me saying that my exhaust was loud. I said how can you hear it loud when you saw me stopped an intersection, accelerated at 10-*15 mph and he had his window closed listening to his loud response radio on a cold winter morning? Well he diddnt give a rat ass and shoot a digital camera on my exhaust. Well to counteract i took picture as well of my piping under my car stating that my exhaust is welded still on the stock pipe. my 560 bucks became 10 bucks court fee! whoo hoo!

[powersteeringless180sx]

I got popped a couple month's ago in rowland heights off of Fullerton. They said my exhaust was too loud. I couldn't argue w/ that cuz it was a Apex N1
w/ a bunch of leaks in it. They popped my hood and ref'd me. I only had the option to appear in court. I waited till my court date and plead guilty to the judge and he gave me a fine of $467. That was that. Hope this helped.

[BustedS13]

threads like this always lead me to one question: if california is so insanely strict on modification, WHY are all you 240 owners from california? it seems, in online presence, at least, that something like 99% of all 240sx "tuners" reside somewhere in the Golden State.

[Vision Garage]

haha. Its because we have the best weather for the cars. Good luck finding a pristine 240 in new york. Plus all the tuners shops are down here.

[TougeRacing]

Damn your only option was COURT? that is BS. I got modified emissions and loud exhaust violations. I could go to court which would cost me $450, or show proof of corrrections for $129. The amount they charge ranges so much.

[platypus_s14]

got pulled over in pasadena, ca and cited for modified exhaust and sent to the refs.

previously i've been pulled over for the exhaust and i cleared it and had the certificate from the BAR (bureau of automotive repair) stating my exhaust was under the 95db limit and thus legal. the cop said he didn't kno what that was and cited me anyways and made up some bs about how it was an 80db limit. i'm so glad that our cops are so well trained that they understand completely how db is a logarithmic function and that a 15 db difference is quite pronounced. he then proceeded to have me pop my hood and sent me to the refs for my msd blaster ss coil. a damn coil on a stock ka! cops are utterly ridiculous but the moral of the story is that they can say whatever they want and you can't do a thing about it.

oh and so the best part of the story is that i asked the cop if i was doing anything illegal and he confessed no, but said that he saw my "racing" wheels, which happen to be a set of blitz wheels, and that is why he pulled me over, but in the end realized i didn't look like a racer and told me that if i were driving an suv he would have ignored me. hmmm...i can't help now but to admire traffic cops, what a high calling for a profession (said with as much sarcasm as i can muster).

[DP_Michelle G]

you got pulled by a pasadena cop? thats funny i've driven next to them with a open exhaust and never had a problem i guess things are changing in that area pasadena cops are some of the chillest cops when it come to modified cars

[kensreliableb18b]

got a modified car? its probable that you have parts that are for off-road use only. cops are gonna pull you over if they want to. just cuz a cop pulls up next to you, or drives by you, and does nothing, doesnt mean all cops in that city are like that. maybe he/she had to take a piss, maybe he/she had some more important shit to do. they are human u know.

i have a friend who's a cop. jokes all the time that he's gonna pull over modified cars. why? cuz he can. simple as that. theres no, this city is chill, this city is not, thing going on. u drive your car and you take ur chances. period.

[TougeRacing]

sucks to have unknowledgable cops pull over. I got state reffed for having no baffle on on my intake box.

[dgafs13]

its ok to pay the fine and get the case dismissed but it sucks to have to pay that fine again and again. when you go to bar your vehicle its to legalize that swap or modifications to the vehicle.

the ref at my college says the easiest way to go about an sr swap legalization is to convert the engine to propane. the whole kit (according to him) is about 500 bucks to buy, and 38 bucks for the trip to the ref along with the cost of the certificate. if you do this before hand you'll now have a nice little sticker to show the cop that its been reffed and he'll leave you alone.


and FYI everyone there always converts back to gasoline once he passes the swap

another bit, if you convert to propane you'll still have to pass propane emissions bi-annually as you would with gasoline injected vehicles.

:bigok:

[MADE]

Can cars that are registered out of state be "reffed" by the California bar? I'm getting mixed messages on this?

[GabeS14]

I have talked to a few people on here that registered their cars in AZ so they cant get the ref ticket, and I believe it because it is a california law, not a US law, so it could only apply to CA cars.

[golds1400]

thanks gabriel just got some ticket exhust emissions all that good stuff got scared off my ass was already planing to do the swap back to ka knowing it isnt that much took the burden off the shoulders

[blackcoupe]

exhaust and emissions? theyre gonna rev your car a 4200 and check the decibels, then theyre gonna visually check you got everything and no engine check light. then they will put the sniffer in your exhaust do the reading such n such. and finally they will test gas cap pressure (they told me a lot of people fail this). goodluck.

[miklos]

threads like this always lead me to one question: if california is so insanely strict on modification, WHY are all you 240 owners from california? it seems, in online presence, at least, that something like 99% of all 240sx "tuners" reside somewhere in the Golden State.
Owners are all masochists.

[miklos]

In California, cars older than 1996 get the gas tank seal checked and the gas cap. And it takes longer so they charge more.

[Nismoknightska-t]

like i tell everyone.. who cares about getting a ref ticket..

really.. think about it.. most of us have 10k plus into are cars right?

i told the last cop that stopped me in my ls2 s13 fully gutted, that a ref ticket wouldnt do shit:cj:.. i have 20k into these car.. wtf is a 500 ref ticket gonna do.. he laughed and said thats true..