California impounds cars with lowered suspension?

[Fanzotti]

So other than hearsay from the guy with the lowered Ford pick-up, nothing has been verified...

Nope, Haven't verified it yet. This is the reason I started the thread, to see if anyone had any info. Gonna see the guy today and I'll try to get a violation number.

I'm pretty sure he wasn't bullshitting. Say's it's a new law and you can get pulled over any time and it's up to the cop's discretion if the car is too firm. If you can prove otherwise later you get out of the fines.

If this is true I'm selling my E30, I can't be four wheeling.

[Jscotty]

So how stiff is too stiff? I have a 1¼-ton pickup truck that is designed to hold the weight of my gooseneck trailer. The average person jumping on the back bumper (when I am not using the trailer) will have a hard time making the truck rock to any significant degree.

[atomic]

Same here my 2005 F250 2 ton WILL NOT BUDGE !!! beats the pooh out of my when driving and it is stock factory oem suspension from Ford. So what are they going to do about those I wonder ? Very stiff suspension made for carrying heavy loads

[Fanzotti]

So how stiff is too stiff? I have a 1¼-ton pickup truck that is designed to hold the weight of my gooseneck trailer. The average person jumping on the back bumper (when I am not using the trailer) will have a hard time making the truck rock to any significant degree.

Well what dude was telling me is that he uses the pick up to haul shit and under those circumstances it's not stiff enough. Claims that even unloaded it's under the stiffness that is illegal, Says he knows his set up and the cop was wrong to impound it but in the end it's the cop's decision.

[atomic]

I bet when it comes down to it the cop is a rookie and was needing to impress his superiors. At least that is the usually the case. Veteran cops usually do not mess with petty tickets and just give a warning.

[Jon325i]

Seeing this is a truck in question, I did a little research in the CVC (California Vehicle Code) and couldn't find anything directly addressing stiff suspension. Here's what I did find though....

Under "Modified Vehicle" addressing ride height....

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc24008_5.htm

Here's the Table of Contents which I sourced it from....

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vc.htm

Some of the definitions of the Regulations seem a bit vague, perhaps there's more clarification elsewhere on the web. The reason this guys' truck was impounded sounds like BS to me though. Just a cop abusing his authority :?

Jon

[PiercedE30]

24008. It is unlawful to operate any passenger vehicle, or commercial vehicle under 6,000 pounds, which has been modified from the original design so that any portion of the vehicle, other than the wheels, has less clearance from the surface of a level roadway than the clearance between the roadway and the lowermost portion of any rim of any wheel in contact with the roadway.

Basically means that your frame/body can't be lower than the lower lip of the wheel.
That's all that I could find out that site.

[ldsbeaker]

reason # 476 why I will not ask to go to California. EVER.

[pineapplegti]

Cali cops can do what they want when it comes to modified cars due to all the idiots who drive modified cars. The first mistake your friend made is he was driving on sunset blvd lol .. Its about how u approach the cop .. last week i went through a insurance/registration check point .. it went a little like this
COP- how are u doing today
Pineapple- better than u .. im not working but im still getting paid
cop- (gives me a weird look)
cop - can i see your reg and proof of insurance
pineapple- here ya go son
cop- isnt this thing a little low
pineapple- nope
cop-(hands back my paperwork).. have a nice day buddy
Pine- (throws the shocker as he is leaving )
in this car

btw here are some track pics of the new jetta :)

[SchnellerVert]

http://www.semasan.com/main/main.aspx?ID=61834

California current issues. Join or browse SEMA's site.

[atomic]

California is a wonderful state but since it is mainly controlled by democrats this is what happens under their rule. They think of more petty things to spend money on then the things that really matters. Only imagine how this country will be when they have the majority rule !! SCARY !!

[Jordan325iC]

Fuck Cali.

[Jon325i]

Fuck Cali.

Hell ya - I'm with you man! Oh wait.....I live here :-P

Jon

[Hick]

Id like to know where this goes. What kind of gauge they would use to determine if a car is too stiff, in comparison to what, and how said officer was trained; equipment, calibration, etc. If nothing was found id tell them to suck a dick then punch the all in the faces.

[AlarmedBread]

I would be ever so pissed at such a law.

Looks like progressive springs may need to make a comeback.