What are my options - State Referee modified exhaust ticket

[2mAn]

Pretty sure theres on sitting in Long Beach for less than $500. Diesels are quite simple. No ECU, no fuel pump and they bolt up to your existing front subframe

[Sh3rpak!ng]

It's real dumb, but should only take a weekend to swap back to an m20. Get the thing checked and have your car be clean in the system. Tell the judge the cop was just being a dick. Spend another weekend putting all the go-fast bits back in.

Side note, the Montana registration idea can be very risky because you're supposed to get CA plates within 2 weeks of moving to CA. There are several counties in CA that require an initial smog but don't have any yearly checks. You may want to look into registering it to a place like that to keep your CA plates.

First I'd need to buy the damn drivetrain. I really don'y have the free time nor enthusiasm to do this.

Leaning towards Montana registration which will result in a registered road legal car within 2 weeks. Then I still need to deal with the ticket/fine/whatever here.

Trying to get a better gauge on the possible risk with the out of state plates... I actually had my E36 here for two years initially with NJ plates, got pulled over for stupid things several times and never got hassled. Of course that was 5-6 years ago already...

Could always try and get your hands on a M21 Turbo Diesel setup and get the car registered as a Diesel IE Smog exempt... but picturing your car with a Turbo Diesel in it would be hilarious

the intention is to pursue the easiest, least labor intensive solution here Simon... not source an impossible to find motor and re-engineer a motor swap

[2mAn]

Or I guess it wouldn't actually be insane to consider buying an entire M20 drivetrain + exhaust + driveshaft and dropping that back in to pass.... should actually all plug right in.

Could always try and get your hands on a M21 Turbo Diesel setup and get the car registered as a Diesel IE Smog exempt... but picturing your car with a Turbo Diesel in it would be hilarious

[McGyver]

Or I guess it wouldn't actually be insane to consider buying an entire M20 drivetrain + exhaust + driveshaft and dropping that back in to pass.... should actually all plug right in.

It's real dumb, but should only take a weekend to swap back to an m20. Get the thing checked and have your car be clean in the system. Tell the judge the cop was just being a dick. Spend another weekend putting all the go-fast bits back in.

Side note, the Montana registration idea can be very risky because you're supposed to get CA plates within 2 weeks of moving to CA. There are several counties in CA that require an initial smog but don't have any yearly checks. You may want to look into registering it to a place like that to keep your CA plates.

[Sh3rpak!ng]

Aannnnddd....... this is where you're screwed. They are going to scrutinize everything about the car and give you a hard time until you're smog compliant. If you did a pirate smog, it'll be a red flag towards that shop too.
Most guys in the Nissan 240/Honda community, just part out their cars so to not deal with the ref.

This is what I've been most afraid of. So considering the ticket was written this way, it means I've been flagged in the DMV system for a smog check at a referee location?

I need to understand more about how to possibly navigate around this via non-op and Montana registration.

Or I guess it wouldn't actually be insane to consider buying an entire M20 drivetrain + exhaust + driveshaft and dropping that back in to pass.... should actually all plug right in.

[IRON-E]

The ticket also states a ref smog check. No idea if that then means I'm flagged in the smog system as needing to do it at a state ref? In which case double screwed?

Aannnnddd....... this is where you're screwed. They are going to scrutinize everything about the car and give you a hard time until you're smog compliant. If you did a pirate smog, it'll be a red flag towards that shop too.
Most guys in the Nissan 240/Honda community, just part out their cars so to not deal with the ref.

[Sh3rpak!ng]

I wonder how much a lawyer would cost in court, seems like you would have a good case. Could you fight it and if that failed then do option 2?

yea, I'm going to see what that entails. Kinda sounds like I can't drive the car on the street until this thing is resolved though, or at least that's what the officer told me. If this is true, my court date isn't even until late October. That will be painful.

[Motheye99]

I wonder how much a lawyer would cost in court, seems like you would have a good case. Could you fight it and if that failed then do option 2?

[Sh3rpak!ng]

Oh man......... now I have to have my car barred. It pains me to hear you going through this Charlie.
I thought the cops had eased up on the exhaust tickets, guess I was wrong. It's an all money grab right now. Screw the blue collar worker, while rioters, vandals and the homeless get away with bullshit.

I gotta say. It's really disheartening. I still can't get over the fact that the guy "pulled me over" while I was stopped at a stop sign waiting for traffic to clear as he was blocking the right lane. And on a "no front plate" and vague "modified exhaust" justification. That was low. The whole thing is depressing.

I still don't have any good options yet. Lawyer basically said: 1) fix it and try to pass the inspection... 2) just pay the fine and hope you don't get another ref ticket resulting in a misdemeanor for failing to obey police order... 3) fight it in court with a lawyer 80% success rate...

The ticket also states a ref smog check. No idea if that then means I'm flagged in the smog system as needing to do it at a state ref? In which case double screwed?

[IRON-E]

Oh man......... now I have to have my car barred. It pains me to hear you going through this Charlie.
I thought the cops had eased up on the exhaust tickets, guess I was wrong. It's an all money grab right now. Screw the blue collar worker, while rioters, vandals and the homeless get away with bullshit.

[Sh3rpak!ng]

Try IG: ticketdismissers

Theres a guy from there that has a supercharged s52 e30. Seems like a cool dude the one time I met him. I believe theyre in woodland hills.

thanks!

[Mike36]

Try IG: ticketdismissers

Theres a guy from there that has a supercharged s52 e30. Seems like a cool dude the one time I met him. I believe theyre in woodland hills.

[Sh3rpak!ng]

another idea is would it be possible to swap your M20 back in? making it legal

it didn't feel like it either. m20 and everything associated are long gone. I think I still have the harness, ECU and some other odds and ends. Man that would be a pain.

Doesn't sound like a legal stop tbh.

California Ticket King, they are up north somewhere but I’m sure that doesn’t matter. IIRC, it was an online form but the guy was very helpful when I called to speak to the actual lawyer. Couldn’t hurt to check it out.

as for the M20 route, if you decide to go that way lol, I have one that passes with a full factory exhaust that is out of the car. That sounds like a huge pain in the ass but you’ve got options.

thanks, I'll check them out.

I know I have options. It's not like the car is going to get crushed. I've just been looking forward to slowing the projects down for a minute and enjoying the drive.

[e30devo]

Doesn't sound like a legal stop tbh.

California Ticket King, they are up north somewhere but I’m sure that doesn’t matter. IIRC, it was an online form but the guy was very helpful when I called to speak to the actual lawyer. Couldn’t hurt to check it out.

as for the M20 route, if you decide to go that way lol, I have one that passes with a full factory exhaust that is out of the car. That sounds like a huge pain in the ass but you’ve got options.

[Motheye99]

another idea is would it be possible to swap your M20 back in? making it legal