Like many of ya'll, i have non-carb JDM headers, and i'm wondering if i get pulled over, do cops have the right to look under my hood?

 

Try telling them not to

(bring lube)

 

not w/o probable cause....

yshi - who heard that, but that statement sEEms like a rEEly gray area *shurgs*

 

I'm gonna say it depends. The cop will look at your car, and see if it's been modified (lowered, exhaust, wheels, other external mods). He will the typically ask you if you've modified your car. You are forced to say yes, if you've changed your exhaust, lowered it, etc. With that answer, he then has probable cause, and can look under your hood for other 'modified' parts. If he sees nitrous lines, he then has PC to search your trunk. This is one of the few opportunies that a cop has to search your trunk. Usually the car has to be impounded, or you have to give concent. There are very few instances for PC to search a trunk.

 

I've got away with it on more than one occasion. They always ask what you're trying to hide and I just say "Nothing, I just don't feel like playing show and tell on the side of the road".

You guys don't have to take crap from cops. It's not smart to pop off like a jack *** but if you stay calm and speak intelligently they usually won't get too snippy with you.

 

his probable cause is pulling you over for speeding, etc...he CAN look under your hood if he feels that there is some reason to check (ie, a car similar to yours was reported stolen, or even just to check VIN #'s...to see if they match what is on the dash)

This is true in JUST ABOUT every state, as far as the VIN info, that is a federal law, so they can get you every time on that!

 

"you dont have to break no laws cause they say probable cause" forgot the rappers name, but he was right

 

I would say no. They cannot search for anything.. only whats in "plain view"

Further searches for drugs only require probable cause, but stolen motors searches "just because the type of car" is profiling and not constatutional.

 

As long as you're legit. I wouldn't worry too much about a "carb exemption".

 

If you run the top heat shield, you should be ok. Just tell them it's a stock acura exhaust. That is indeed true, just slightly bent...

 

What about mine? My engine block does not have a vin plate due to it being replaced by the dealership

 

That VIN is a little bit harder to see than the tranny VIN.

Will

 

What did they punch it into the block? I don't have the plate at all on the new short block, only the holes where it should be rivited.

 

not sure what they punch into the block... but the vin tag on the block is not visiable from under the hood...

so you should be fine.

laminate a copy of the reciept anyway and keep it in the glove box.

 

well, i have a DC JDM one... so i cant use a heat sheild... but how important is the CARB # in other states besides CA?

 

Well, seeing as how CARB stands for California Air Resources Board... I'm gonna say not super important. However I don't know this for sure. I've had cops tell me that the CARB # doesn't mean chit here in Cali...