Because MINI offers many possibilities for "individualization," I find myself upgrading my MINI with many potentially illegal accessories and sometimes deleting items (i.e. front license plate). Have you ever been pulled over for reasons other than traffic violations? Worst yet, ticketed?

Here're some of possible reasons:

- window tint that's too dark
- not having front plate
- blue/white signal or parking lights
- headlights being too bright (aftermarket bulbs or HID)
- white tail lamps without reflector
- blacked out tail lamps
- etc.....

I wonder how strict our law enforcement officers are with these issues? What have you done to your MINI that're ptentially illegal?


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04 IB/W JCW MCS

 

I haven't been pulled over in the MINI period! The troopers and cops in my area have better things to do. But they will nail you for speeding more than 9 over the limit.

X2

 

Pulled over 3 times, twice for speeding (laser and radar) and once for chirping the tires at takeoff from the light. No ticket for the last one even though the cop followed me for 15 minutes in an unmarked SUV and pulled me out of a group of cars that were passing me (all over the speed limit!). At that time I had, no front plate, tinted rear tail lights and tinted windows. The 2 speeding tickets happened the first month, no more speeding on the way to work! No front plate for any of the stops and the cops never mentioned it. The best bet is to try not to stick out of the crowd which isn't easy with a MINI.

 

I got pulled over for speeding (50 in a 15 zone exiting Hoover Dam). I didn't have my title in the car, and I have no front plate (mandatory in Nevada) and I got let off.

 

>>The best bet is to try not to stick out of the crowd which isn't easy with a MINI.

I totally agree, especially with your EB.



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04 IB/W JCW MCS

 

I've been pulled over about 6 times in the past year while driving the MINI, but only ticketed once. All of the stops were allegedly for speeding, but it turned out in all but the one case that resulted in a ticket that the cops didn't actually have me on radar/laser. Rather, they stopped me for things that "appeared" to be speeding (I too got the tire chirping one...and once a cop claimed that I was "changing lanes too fast&quot. All in all, a bunch of BS and proof positive (to me) that the MINI just attracts too much attention.

It's gotten so that I now expect to be pulled over if I pass a cop going even a hair over the limit...whereas when I'm driving my minivan, I can (and often do) blow right past traps doing 20 mph over the limit. Argggh. This type of attention I don't need.

Oh, I have an EB too.

 

I got pulled over 8 weeks after delivery for not having a front plate.

be prepared for them to look under your bonnet if you have an aftermarket exhaust or intake..they do check for illegal mods in So Cal.

 

Early on, having the speedo in the center of the dash made it harder to keep track of the speed. I now have the basic speed limits based on RPM's memorized, all at 3000rpm. 2nd gear = 30, 3rd gear = 40, 4th gear = 50, 5th gear = 60 and 6th gear = 70. I try to stay within 5 mph of the speed limit during commutting hours as the cops seem to be out more then. I also don't go to Troutdale anymore. The area near the dog track is a radar trap!!

 

I got pulled over for not having an inspection sticker the very first day I picked up my MCS. Actually 2 hours after picking it up!

Cheers,

JD

 

2 ticketes so far. 1 for an intake and another for no front plate...CA sucks

 

I got pulled over once for what I thought was going to be for speeding (I was running 10 over at the time) but, the state policeman just wanted to ask me some questions about my Mini (04 MCS). We talked for about 5 min. then he gave me a verbal warning for exceeding the speed limit. That was it... never even asked to see my drivers license.

 

I have a friend who bought his MINI after I bought mine and the first thing he did was tint the windows because he liked the way it looked on mine. Within a week he was stopped because the temporary plate he had in the rear window had fallen off, and after he showed the car was properly registered the cop wrote him up for illegal tints....a $300 ticket, but he had 10 days to have it taken off and then was let go with a warning.

I have always felt that they would not bother stopping you just for illegal tints, but if you get stopped for something else, that you would be fair game for the add on of illegal tints, and his situation proved that !

 

The last time I was pulled over was on January 1, 1977. In a friend's VW bug. In below-zero Wisconsin weather. (yes, the local cop was pissed he had to work on New Year's morning and I incurred the wrath)

I hope the MCS doesn't destroy my streak, but it probably will. I'm due!

 

Got stopped for speeding on PCH.... If i did not have the schroth 4 point belt on, i probably would not have gotten a ticket.

 

I was a dork and forgot to run my rear fogs off after coming through the passes (foggy) in Oregon on my way home from Classic. Cop was cool about it though.

 

I got ticketed last week for my tinted windows, the cop was using radar and I was not speeding.

I gave him a hard time cuz I think he should have better things to do. where i live people get killed in cross walks and he writes me up for tinted windows.

 

i haven't been pulled over (knock on wood)... but i avoided a fixer (no front plate) and a curfew ticket (but i'm 18 now hehe) durring a sobriety check-point a few months ago because the cops were so intrigued by what just pulled up

-nardo

 

i live in a lil suburb in SoCal so im lucky i havent been pulled over yet becasue there isnt much action out here. But i have the tints, tinted lights, tinted side repeaters, 4 auxillary lights, exhaust, intake. I really hope they dont write up for exhaust and intake, that is just ridiculous. I dont even kno if what i have is illegal or not in regard to the 4 lights and the tinted rear lights. Are upgraded fog lights (Xenon or hyperwhite) and turning signals (xenon or hyperwhite) illegal??

 

So far, so good, and it's not like I havent given them a reason not to. On a few occasions, I rolled up on a speed trap (I saw the cops as well as the brake lights in front of me so I was safe) but the cop took out the car behind me each time. I was still a bit over the limit each time (I fell in line with the traffic flow) for the most part.

For the record, I have not used a radar detector or any other electronic countermeasures in over 15 years. I like being observant and stealthy. The latter can be a bit touch in a MINI, even with it's small size.

 

>> i haven't been pulled over (knock on wood)... but i avoided a fixer (no front plate) and a curfew ticket (but i'm 18 now hehe) durring a sobriety check-point a few months ago because the cops were so intrigued by what just pulled up

-nardo



You got lucky dude! I was warned once for my euro plate...but it was a matter of time before I'd get a ticket.

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24,000 miles one ticket dismissed , one almost ticket. Got a real chicken shxx one for rolling a stop sign. Fought it thru the mail with all kinds of pictures up to and including a aerial photo of the intersection. Got that one dismissed. Was pulled over a week ago for no front plate. While he was writing me up something more important came up, go figure, and he gave me my license back and took off. Didn't have time to look at the intake, header,exhaust, tinted lights , windows and nitrous bottle between the seats :smile: So far so good knock on fake wood :smile:

 

>>I was a dork and forgot to run my rear fogs off after coming through the passes (foggy) in Oregon on my way home from Classic. Cop was cool about it though.

WOW! How picky!!!

 

Got a warning for no front license plate. I bought the bracket for the aero-kit, but
have not put it on yet, cause i haven't been driving the MCS for the last
month or so due to snow and if at all possible, i DON'T want to put it on my
aero bumper.

Cop mentioned that he'll be coming back checking up on me from time to
time, but since i haven't driven the mcs, im hoping that he'll forget about it
by Spring. :smile:

 

Got pulled over recently for my tinted tail lights. The cop marked it as non-fixable, so I had to pay the full 108.00 bail amount, and then take the tint off as well. I got also nailed for the front license plate and the window tint.

California sucks, but Huntington Beach, CA sucks more. The cops will get you on anything at all...

 

driving on (left side) two wheels

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