Sort of Orwellian

But true, Even the Peoples Republik of Maryland has something like that

 

Interesting...I would have thought they would have said something about it at the time the car was totalled...but nope, not a word.

Anyway, the whole thing was not really about intentionally "skating" the fees (because the car itself was a POS and I think the fees were going to be around $100, big whoop)...it was more of a thing where I didn't know if I was going to be staying, and then to pay the fees to just have to turn around and pay them again and do the paperwork again in Wisconsin to bring the car BACK...etc. And apparently technically was legal, as I was a college student.

It's interesting though, that apparently so many people do it that they have a program to report them. Maybe that should tell them something about their fees??

 

By that logic all stores should lower their prices because there are so many shoplifters

Anyway, getata, there are some nifty tow hook lic plate holders available that do not require any bumper drilling Lots of great driving roads in NorCal, hope you enjoy it

 

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/05/576.asp

 

Now you are gonna scare everyone Chows Fwiw we've each driven some obviously modded cars, motorsport flags and all, and not run into that kind of problem; I think how you drive and present yourself is a factor. Super loud exhausts will probably contribute to getting noticed - I've had aftermarket ones that do change the tone and volume at WOT but never anything obnoxious enough to call attention to myself by setting off car alarms and scaring children

PS: As that article is from 2005 I am also guessing the Federal money for that ran out long ago and may not be a focus for funding anymore...

 

Somewhere between 'keeping honest people honest' and 'misery loves company' - aka if I'm gonna get screwed, I want company.


Good info on SF front plates, eVal - I've never run front plates, and have been lucky thus far. All the more reason to park in a garage in SF, I guess...

 

I guess I have to have the front plate ready before the move.
BTW, I heard that the road around "red wood" park is awsome to drive. Anyone know that area well?
In Miami, it is basically a big flat straight road. No hill or curve whatsoever =P

 

Red Wood park is a great road and MANY others
There is MOASF (more Minis)
I am part of norcalminis.

check us out on the web and hope to meet you

 

Also, yank the tinting if you have any.

 

I wouldn't go that far unless your driver/passenger windows are reeeeally dark. If you run into any trouble with tint it will be a fix it ticket, which is cheap and easy to deal with unlike the spendy no front plate tickets the meter maids give out that you cannot really do anything about. And the front plate thing, in my experience, is only a true threat if you park in public on the streets of SF (yeah we've gotten them in residential and shopping areas); as Eric_Rowland pointed out, if you park in lots it shouldn't be a problem.

 

Just had a friend ticketed by the local Sheriff for his tinting. It was darker than stock, but not super dark.

 

Like this?

 

I don't know the particulars, but as I hear about it it is most often a fix-it garnered frrequently when pulled over for some other reason - there are always exceptions however - sorry. Tint is particularly apparent on cars with black interiors and no sunroof; the mini roof really lightens up the interior and thus a light tint does not stand out as much as on some other cars.

 

Our typical Florida tint will probably get a ticket in California, I think...

 

Gun rack in a MINI, now that is a unique interior mod… Time to move back to Jackson, Wyoming…

 

I am soooo jealous!!!! I LOVE San Francisco. Hope to move to Nor Cal there someday or somwhere out west with mountains and cool air.

Jackson, WY is another GORGEOUS town.

 

Who cares what California says just do it! hahaha thats what I do. Then when you get caught say, "I didnt know I couldn't do that!"

 

The People's Republik of Kalifornia

 

If it is on the drivers and passengers windows - yes. If the factory tint is in place on the drivers and passengers windows, but the rear quarter windows are tinted, you will probably not get a fix-it ticket.

 

Don't be surprised if the judge responds that ignorance of the law is no excuse....

 

but for emissions we led the way to breathable air. And came up with Ronald Regan and **** Nixon. The label is just wrong, but an easy shot.

Matt

 

I wouldn't. In fact, I didn't.
I have VA legal - maybe 50% - and I haven't had an issue in two years. I wondered if DMV would care. They didn't. If you have tint and get stopped, be sure to roll down your windows immediately - the whole idea is that the tint makes it more dangerous for officers approaching a car.

 

Tint will depend on the area you are in. Basically any non factory tint of the front side windows is illegal in California. I've only ever had two ticket for it both when I was pulled over for other issues. Modifying your car isn't really a problem unless you cannot pass the sniffer test and the visual. Even then there ae still shops that will let you slide on the visual as long as you pass the sniffer. My old Mazda MX-6 was modified very heavily but would still barely pass the sniffer test and I had a shop that didn't care about the visual so I would pass every time.

 

I think the key to the sniffer test is to have a shop that know's you and you wont have any problem with the visual as long as you pass. I belive if you fail the test, they must report it unless you do the check test only first to make sure it will pass the official test . On a new car with pulley CAI and exhaust I wouldn't think you would have a problem passing the test. I'll find out in a couple of months my self .

 

In the S.F. Bay Area, I doubt if there is any such thing as a check test. For the testing station's SMOG test computer to commence the test, a connection to the DMV computers in Sacramento must be established. The VIN is entered by the testing technician at the start of setting up for the test. As soon as a test result is available (maybe even before the test result is displayed on the computer's screen), it is transmitted to the DMV computer along with the VIN. If you pass, then you can get your registration tab. If you fail, then you go down a whole other path.

Regarding the pulley and CAI, you probably will pass the sniffer test. Visual is another matter. If you have a CARB Exemption number for the CAI, that will pass. As Dr. O mentioned, most test technicians will not know the difference between a factory s/c pulley and a reduction s/c pulley. But that is a risk - it might be your luck to get a technician that owns a MINI (or, worse yet, their ex owns a MINI... ). A cat-back exhaust is not an issue from an emissions perspective since it is attached after the catalytic converter. But there may be an issue (with the CHP) regarding noise.... But that is a whole other matter.