Feb. 8, 2003. 01:00 AM



Police target teens in Honda Civics



I'm 17 and the proud owner of a red 1998 Honda Civic hatchback, which I received as a birthday present.

It is lowered and has low-profile tires, tinted glass and a stereo system.

A few days after I got my car, I was pulled over by police. I showed the officer everything accept for my insurance papers, which I hadn't received yet. (I did have a photocopy of my insurance policy.)

The officer was quite rude.

He proceeded to check everything on the Honda.

My father had bought the car certified and emission tested from a Honda dealership. So I knew I had nothing to worry about.

Boy, was I wrong.

The cop wrote me four tickets:

One for my exhaust being too loud, which it's not; one for my tint being too dark, which it's not; one for my tail lights being illegal, which they are not — they just had a white bulb that I forgot to replace; and one for failing to provide insurance.

I find that police treat me unfairly because I drive a modified Honda Civic.

My mother has a Honda Accord with tinted glass and the same exhaust as mine. Yet she doesn't get pulled over.

I've been followed by officers when driving friends home, but when my father has been in the car they don't follow me.

I know there are people who race and drive stupidly because they have a Honda, but police know who those individuals are. They should move against them.

Every time I drive, I'm paranoid about cops writing the same tickets again for my car. Police will look right by unsafe cars on the road when they see a modified Honda.

Being treated unfairly because of what I drive, how I look or my age is discrimination, something that officers should not have.

Our police should receive some harsh words for the things they do to young people.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shane


http://www.thetorontostar.com/NASApp...=Weekly/Wheels

i also have another one coming soon, in the t star, with my pic and everything

 

i know EXACTLY how you feel..........

cop pulled me over and dropped a stack of tickets in my lap for

illegal exhaust
illegal headlights
illegal tailights
illegal this
illegal that

grrrr........ :fustrated


go to court.... and fight em

 

i did got let off on most of them, but im making big rucuss in newspapers and **** showing were not all lil punks with rice rockets racing everwhere, and the cancer drive is gonna help prove were good ppl, as well as my next article

 

I got nabbed 3 times WITH MY PARENTS IN THE CAR!!!! WTF!?! Before the first time, my parents tought I was a jackass cuz I used to be, but when I got the Civic, it was 180 turnaround... I was/am pure granny-driver... yet I get harassed all the time! I did once spin out with my mom in the car cuz it was cold out and my tires weren't up to temp... but my mom took that okay Great parents I have

 

Your car is lowered which (most don't like to admit) is illegal

You said you’re self your exhaust is not stock
(Cuz your mom has the same one)

You have white bulbs in the taillights
If they shine white that’s illegal

Think before you post or send letters when you stated your self you deserved the tickets
Whether or not the judge agreed or not doesn't make it right or wrong


I’m so tired of people bitching about getting tickets for things they know perfectly well are illegal

 

Cool...can't wait to read your next article.

 

A lowered car is not illegal.

Do the tires hit when the car's wheels are straight ahead? No? Then don't worry.........but......they will also tell you to turn the wheel all the way to the left and right, and if it does touch the inner fender well, they can give you a ticket for that.

This is a "grey" area, and I can't wait until they ammend the HTA so it does state what is legal and illeagal; just like the State of California.

They are lucky....they have regulations that they can follow....ie.....how dark a tint can be.....how low a car can be (center of head light to the ground has to be a certain amount of inches...i believe it's 22)......."carb" exempt parts.....ect.....

Until these kinds of regulations come here, expect to get tickets for WHATEVER a cop DEEMS illeagal. That is what court is for.

Until that does happen.......follow the rules of the road.....slow down......and obey the traffic signs.....in other words.....behave, and they won't have a reason to pull you over.....but I'm sure they'll find a reason to do it anyways....

My 2C's.

 

Cluster according to the HTA a lowered car is only illegal if with the wheels pointed straight any part of the car touches the wheels... that is the only case where a "too low" ticket can be issued this crap about getting tickets because the cop asks you to turn your wheels from lock to lock is junk....

 

If a cop want's to give you a ticket for ANYTHING, it's his right to do so.....he's a cop. It may not be right, but he does have the right to write a ticket.

Again, I say......that is what court is for.

 

 

Your letter started two weeks of anti-import letters in the Wheels section. Fortunately, last weekend they finally published a letter (from ZC911 on clubsi.com) that defended import owners and didn't make us all out to be street racing punks.

 

hey guys i know, my car isnt illegaly lowered it doesnt touch anything, my light bulbs i replaced that was my fault i know that and the exghaust doensnt have to be stock to be legal, it just has to perform to manufactures specifications, in the hiway traffic act is says if something is missing on the exghaust or if its rusted or falling apart its illegal but nuthin bout aftermarket parts

 

Welcome to owning a honda. Unfortnaly the attitudes and ignorence of our police arnt going to change anytime soon.

Mind you some police are fair, and then some are just stupid.
Keep a HTA manual in the car highlighted regulations and even a certification to defend against a officer when he herasses you.

Once officer told me that if he sees us "guys"(hondas) doing like 5 over the limit, were getting a ticket.

Basicly if you dont do anything wrong that limits the chances of getting pulled over.

Ive lost alot of respect for the local police abusing our rights and taking this modified car **** too far.

 

The drivers that should be pulled over and ticketed are the ones that don't get out of the fast lane while they're doing the limit or below, with like 5 cars behind them, those idiots that cut you off while talking on their cell phone, and the morons that drive within 1/4-1/2 a car length behind other cars. Also pretty much every day I'm out on the road, I see a car making a U-turn in the middle of a major intersection or road.

 

yup trust me i know how you all feel, i have had right of way at stop signs, have a guy run it and look at me like im doing something wrong, i just so pissed, i want to get out and kick their asses man.......

 

Yeah, I know what you are saying. I am over that now, soon you will know that there is nothing you can do about it, and getting mad will drive you insane - trying to bitch slap the law will get you into more trouble.

Here is the reality that I have learned, any mod that you put into your car is illegal and they have all the rights to give you a ticket. This depends on where you live and the cops. Some are nice and don't really care about mods, but some do. You can ask any ticket agent or lawyers, they will say the same thing. Factory cars have to meet government regulations and any changes is illegal. That is why it takes $50,000 + the cost of the car to certify a Skyline GTR, and all the other factory japanese turbo cars. Which means that they will not performance like the jap. cars after certify. And that is why CTR and all those high performance cars are not here. We cannot do anything to prevent this, that is our government, all you can do is protest. HAhahehe......

 

The Toronto Star is very anti police... You're making a good move publishing it there.