Questions about northern CA CHP street racing enforcement

Here are a couple threads from people that saw what I'm going to be talking about (I posted in neither of these, and don't agree with every comment, I'm just trying to show the situation):

http://www.norcal-ls1.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49600

http://www.ca-mustangs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3035

Apparently the CHP is setting up a checkpoint outside of Sacramento Raceway on street nights (wednesdays). They're looking for illegally modified cars.

For years they've been targeting the idiot street racers who endanger people's lives by racing on the highway in traffic. I have no problem with those kids getting busted and their cars impounded. If you race on the street, I HOPE the cops get you.

What I don't understand is why they're busting people that go to the track. Everyone I know that goes to the track, goes there to race legally, and keep track of their car's performance and how they improve as a driver. I've been going to Sacramento Raceway and Sears Point for years as a drag racer, in various vehicles I've owned.

I thought the whole point of HAVING a street night at the track was so that kids could go there to race instead of racing on the street. Seems to me that's the best alternative. Now the cops are driving people away from the track, and more street racing WILL occur because of it, I guaran-damn-tee it.

Hell I trailer my car there, but I'm hearing that even people with trailers are getting their rigs pulled over, every inch of it inspected, and one guy even got his TRAILER towed, and his car was left on the side of the road!!! This is RIDICULOUS! Most of the people that go there (except for the stupid kids in the imports) are real car enthusiasts who go to race their rides in a safe environment. My first gen camaro isn't safe to even drive on the street. I can spin the tires at 65 mph if I want too just by puttin' the pedal to the metal... instead I trailer it to the track and run it safely. I also take my '97 and run her safely.. am I going to get hassled for being responsible? If so, why?

I was hoping a CHP or a Sacramento officer could answer my questions.

Thank you,
- Tony

Ok here is a question for you. If your legal and your ride and trailer are legal, why does it matter where the police set up?? I bet they are there because there are alot of idiots who are driving their drag cars to the track and that is illegal. The law abiding citizens have nothing to fear from the police, just the ones who are breaking the law.

Well my first gen is smog exempt and it's registered so yes it's legal. My truck and trailer are legal. My '97 is legal.

What's happening is people are being pulled over "illegal" modifications, and given tickets for CARB legal mods. The guy's trailer that got taken was legal, and even after getting it back (and proving it was legal) he still got charged outrageous fees.

They're out here meticulously inspecting cars (at least 30 minutes per car they pull over for "no front plate" or a missing liscence plate light bulb or whatever) for "illegal" modifications (some have them, most are legal though) whilst south sacramento has had multiple homicides over the past month and it still has hardly any police presence. And I know that for a fact - I've been there many times.

It seems to me someone is really misallocating resources trying to catch someone that gutted their catalytic converter but was otherwise enjoying some safe, legal racing instead of paying attention to what they should really be doing..

I mean wasn't the track supposed to be the legal and safe alternative to street racing? Going to the race track is really alot of fun, but if I get pulled over for a missing liscence plate bulb, or have my truck inspected because of my Flowmaster (completely legal...) muffler or the trailer I'm hauling, it's just stupid.

The purpose of my questioning is not because I myself am doing anything illegal, in fact I take care to make sure I don't, however many of my friends have nice cars that get pulled over just because they look fast. And I'm not exaggerating.

I was in my friend's '02 Camaro and we got pulled over. The guy said he thought the hood was too big (2.5" cowl hood - legal) and after he measured that, he inspected EVERYTHING he possibly could. He found nothing but the burn out lisence plate light and wrote him a fix-it. Is this really necessary when people are literally dying every week in drive-bys just 20 miles south of the racetrack?

And how about it like this.. what's better.. a bunch of teenagers tearing through the freeways full of traffic in their modded Hondas doing 100+ mph, or those bunch of kids going to the track and learning how to really drive and mod their rides in a legal, safe environment? This kind of stuff discourages those kids (even people with totally legal rides) from going to sacramento raceway. When I was young, the track taught me to respect my car and it's power.. and it's done that for my children. I don't understand the logic behind discouraging kids to continue going to the racetrack.

Let me just start by saying that CHP or cops in general do not just pull people over without a reason. Now with that said I'll shed some light on some of your other points;

1) "What's happening is people are being pulled over "illegal" modifications, and given tickets for CARB legal mods."

CARB stands for California Air Rescources Board, they do not write nor enforce law, they simply set a "standard" for emissions. This has nothing to due with whether a vehicle is "legal" or not,
see California Vehicle Code Section 27156

27156 "No person shall operate or leave standing upon any highway any motor vehicle which is required to be equipped with a motor vehicle pollution control device under Part 5 (commencing with Section 43000) of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code or any other certified motor vehicle pollution control device required by any other state law or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to that law, or required to be equipped with a motor vehicle pollution control device pursuant to the National Emission Standards Act (42 U.S.C. Secs. 1857f-1 to 1857f-7, inclusive) and the standards and regulations adopted pursuant to that federal act, unless the motor vehicle is equipped with the required motor vehicle pollution control device which is correctly installed and in operating condition. No person shall disconnect, modify, or alter any such required device."

2) "whilst south sacramento has had multiple homicides over the past month and it still has hardly any police presence. And I know that for a fact - I've been there many times" , "Is this really necessary when people are literally dying every week in drive-bys just 20 miles south of the racetrack?"

CHP's primary function is the enforcement of the California Vehicle Code, major crimes are handled by the local Law Enforcement agency.

3) "if I get pulled over for a missing liscence plate bulb, or have my truck inspected because of my Flowmaster (completely legal...) muffler "
Wrong again my friend, See California Vehicle Codes 24601 and 27151

24601 "Either the taillamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear license plate during darkness and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear."

27151 "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.

If you want more info go by the nearest CHP office you may try the North Sacramento office at

5109 Tyler Street
Sacramento 95841-2583
916-338-6710

Ask them for a pamphlet called "Street Legal" Tips for owners of custom cars. It will help to further explain many of your misconceptions about what is "legal" and not.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fortune

I posted in neither of these, and don't agree with every comment, I'm just trying to show the situation):

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I can't quite figure this out, I went to both of these sites and the posts there are virtually word for word the same as your original post.

I think you're just here to try and piss us off.:argue:

Personally I could give a shit, if people want to drive their cars illegally then they get a ticket. I don't want to hear them cry about what they've chosen to do. :tape: :nono:

Don't ya just hate it when cops pick your post apart and have an answer for each and every little nit-picking thing?

:boink:

I think the original question was simply "Why does CHP bust racers from driving away in their dual purpose cars?" The answer is simple: it's their job. Now I race too (S/C altered BBC powered) but let's be honest. Few if any dual purpose cars are 100% street legal. If you want to play the game, know the rules & be prepared. I know a street machine I'm building now isn't going to be 100% legal. Do I care? No. Will I get Fined? Probably & I still don't care. The point is it really is all a game so if you're gonna play know the rules. Now if you want to change it I suggest you get ahold of the CHP district commander & perhaps the track owner & see what you can do to alleviate this problem. That way the racers are forewarned about the problems they may face & CHP may actually wind up looking like less of a bad guy.