Im a newcomer to the traditional rod scene so please forgive (or pig-pile as the case maybe ) my amateur question. As I soak up every piece of TECH, PIX, and other trad info I can find Ive noticed one very common thing amongst all the rods no state registration or inspection sticker on the windows. I live in Texas and cant say I know much about any of the laws elsewhere. I know quite a while back here in the Lone Star State we went from tags on the plate to left inside of the windshield. Also I notice a lot of rods running pipes straight out of the engine no muffler/cats etc. I would have to guess, particularly in CA, that the eviro-nazis would be all over that. I suppose some of these cars could only be running at the track but the way I read most are run weekly if not daily drivers. So is it the cars are so cool the coppers never notice? Or some antique car grandfather clause? Thanks for info.
They're all in clubs that let in one geek who happens to have a judge for a father who writes off their fix-it tickets.... Well, it was a good supposition anyway, even if not true....
Well in my years of being around street rods, street machines, hot rods, customs, lowriders, sport trucks, classic trucks, mini trucks, choppers, sportbikes, dirtbikes, quads, etc, etc. There seems to be what I call an "allowable infraction" = meaning officer discreation. Most of the time these officers know that when you roll into a town you are helping the economy. They see what kind of reactions these hot rods get from everyone old, young and everything inbetween. Some even appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into the building of them and like to see them still on the road. Right now in my neck of the woods I think sportbikers and mini truckers are the most hated by the cops. Officers seem to always be busting the guy riding the sportbike in hopes of a pursuit(not trying to be a dick, just natural human tendency to try to break up the boredom) and mini truckers knowing these are ususally the younger guys and have some less than legal items(draggin blocks, hidden tags, etc). Harley riders get away with the most shit right now, open straight pipes loud as hell, shaking windows, speeding out of the gas stations but most officers know that most of that is RUBS. If they pull them over they might be busting a Dr, Judge, or a DA in all that fringe leather and buttless chaps. No offence to the REAL riders(you guys know who you are), so don't be giving me any shit... when my mother went into labor with me my father was painting a sportster tank (that he was running on his knucklehead) in the living room. Air compressor lines running through the window and all. Well kinda explains why I am so fucked up huh Anyway, cool is cool. I have seen cops that did burnouts during a cruise and have been harassed for being on a bike with the "we do not want any trouble out of you guys" speech. Sorry so long, I need to shut up
Not too long at all. Thanks for info Hard. I kind of figured it was something of that sort. I've got four cops in my family and know where their priorities are. If it were not for thw fact I'm gonna build one I'd never even conider looking for them things in the window. I assume that the same for most spectators.
In California, the registration sticker is on the license plate, no inspection sticker. Cars older than a certain year can get away with not being smogged or needing a cat.conv. These older cars also avoid the seatbelt laws as some didn't come with them. Most cops don't know what motor came in what, or what the exhaust is supposed to look like. And if they do, they usually appreciate it. That's my take on it.
In texas if you register your car as a classic you dont have to get inspection done. If you just register it as a regular ass car you do and all that is is a saftey sticker lights brakes horn and windshield wipers thats pretty much it.
No inspections here in Tennessee. Easiest state I have ever lived in for all that stuff. When I lived in WV, my Fairlane had an inspection sticker on the windshield.
After 3 years in east Texas I would have to say the law here is about as anal as they get. Our small town local fuzz seem ok but don't count on it in some towns. I got a ticket for going 55 in a 45 that cost $200, and the road had been a 55 but they had a construction sign a couple miles back. The asshole put on the ticket that there were workers present which doubles the fine. I think the only workers were the ones a couple miles back putting up the sign. Then I got pulled over for a light out on my brothers trailer and ended up with $405 worth of tickets before they got done with me. Before I got to Texas I only had one speeding ticket in 20 years. Also one of my crew got pulled over because the corner of the saftey sticker was missing on the crew truck. They made him spend the night in jail because he didn't have a valid drivers license and wouldn't even let me bail him out. Makes me want to kick their ass just talking about it.
Yeah there's always one or two buttheads in every precinct...no matter how cool you play it. Though word around here is tread lightly around any small towns near Houston or East Texas for that matter. A lot of these small towns make most of their rev. from tickets paid in full from non-locals via the mail so not too surprised there.
Alabama no inspection no title before 75.You must have a Brake light. you must have liability ins. Around here attitude and conduct have a lot to do with the interpution of traffic laws. Some times you get a ass hole cop but most they are to busy to waste time on something simple.
delaware can be tough and usually the cops are fuckers....sorry if i offended anyone,but it's a small state withe a ton of cops and there isn't alot of crime or important stuff for them to worry about,so usually the smallest infraction gets the shaft
[ QUOTE ] In texas if you register your car as a classic you dont have to get inspection done. If you just register it as a regular ass car you do and all that is is a saftey sticker lights brakes horn and windshield wipers thats pretty much it. [/ QUOTE ] I think you are mistaken. In TX if you register as a classic you still must obtain an annual safety inspection as well as an annual registration. However you are allowed to drive it all the time. If you register it as an Antique then no safety inspection is required, tags(registration) are good for 5 years. However you can only drive it in parades, to car shows, to the shop, you have a very limited ability to put miles on it. The laws are clear on the TXDOT site. Now that being said, I have never heard of anyone in Amarillo with Antique plates being pulled over for cruzin. I would do whats right. I mean hell if it can't pass a TX safety inspection I don't want it on the road!!!!
I've put 20k miles a year on my stuff for the last nine years with antique registration. No, you're not supposed to drive it everyday, but no one seems to care.
I used to live in WV too, and that state is damn near stupid in it's vehicle laws. For instance, you can't have a single rust hole in your car. Right dab in the middle of the friggin rust belt, and you can't have rust! Their inspections are nazist, especially depending on where you go... they yank tires to check brakes, to check for chassis rust, leaking shocks, etc. It took me a while to understand why... follow the money. A garage fails a car because the brakes look a little thin, well, you might as well get them fixed while you're there and get the sticker... I absolutely love WV the state, but the idiots who write the rules need to swing high...
[ QUOTE ] I've put 20k miles a year on my stuff for the last nine years with antique registration. No, you're not supposed to drive it everyday, but no one seems to care. [/ QUOTE ] Ooohhhh...I'm tellin! I may register my '55 as antique simply because I don't want to put the wipers back on.
in these parts the cops show up at the cruise night when they're on duty,they're after the rice rockets (cars AND bikes) mostly these days.
I think after getting burned a few times because they didn't know what the law really was, cops around here mostly let things slide unless you're doing something like a burnout out of Burger King. Keep a copy of the blue dot, fenderless, single plate regs in your car to show the rookies. They'll call the sarge to verify it and let you go usually. After the sarge tells them to go find a real criminal! What I have found is that bored cops will run the plate of interesting cars to see who owns it. Usually with a new car I'll get pulled over and asked about my insurance before the insurance company info makes it into the system. I've seen them follow me 1/2 way across town before they come up with a lame reason to pull me over. "You didn't signal far enough back when you turned, may I see your license and proof of insurance?" It's a dead giveaway when they forget to ask for the registration! Then they let you off with a warning after they see it's insured afterall. I've been pulled over to be asked where cruise night is this week and my paint tho...
Where can you find info on what your state says is legal? I haven't ever seen no open headers around here like I see on most of the rods and roadsters I like. The cops around here have nothing to do except give you tickets. I get ticketed for having glasspacks that are too loud. Yeah, I need a handbook or something. Anybody know where to get one for your particular state?
Check your state's website. Lots of states have them online. Did your cop have a DB meter? If not, you might want to get a lawyer. Here's Idaho's regs. http://www3.state.id.us/idstat/TOC/49FTOC.html
Thanks for the info joe. I have fought the tickets in court and I got out of 2 that they have given me, but what pisses me off is db meter or not, if they can hear a cackle they use it as a reason to pull you over and check out what's going on. Glasspacks in this area are like a headlight out or something dangling in your mirror (obstruction of view). Just another reason for the cops to figure out what you are up to and what they can get you for.
[ QUOTE ] Now that's a site everyone building cars ought to have bookmarked Radman! [/ QUOTE ] Oddly enough, that's exactly what I did when I saw it. Now I'll know what to do if I move back to Idaho Wayno
You guys need to move down here to mississippi! Year round cruisin life time antique tags no inspection. and if you saw some of the 90 model death traps the cops ignore y'all might faint. The last time I got in a road block the guy gave me back my license after checkin out the Buick and two days later I found it was expired at Wally World when I tried to cash a check. When I had my 65 GMC I came out of a parking lot after driving my 6cyl work truck all week and forgot I couldn't stomp the GMC. I did a little fish tale in front of a cop who followed me two blocks home and was BS'n about the truck till he got a call he had to do. Judd
Cool. Thanks for all the info guys. Sounds like I just need to play by the rules where I can or are fully required too...and of course don't do anything stupid.
In Texas, you are not required to show proof of registration unless the vehicle is for commercial use. We can however, pull someone over just to see if they have a license. I personally would rather hunt down drunk drivers than to mess with registration or inspection stickers anyway. I'll pretty much let stickers go unless they are out by several months/years. § 504.501. CLASSIC MOTOR VEHICLES. (a) The department shall issue specialty license plates for a motor vehicle that is at least 25 years old. The license plates must include the words "Classic Auto," "Classic Motorcycle," or "Classic Truck" or a similar designation, as appropriate. (b) A person eligible for the license plates may instead use license plates that were issued by this state in the same year as the model year of the vehicle and are approved by the department. The department may require the attachment of a registration insignia to the license plate in a manner that does not affect the display of information originally on the license plate. (c) The fee for issuance or approval of license plates under this section is $15. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1320, § 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. § 504.502. CERTAIN EXHIBITION VEHICLES; OFFENSE. (a) The department shall issue specialty license plates for a passenger car, truck, motorcycle, or former military vehicle that: (1) is at least 25 years old, if the vehicle is a passenger car, truck, or motorcycle; (2) is a collector's item; (3) is used exclusively for exhibitions, club activities, parades, and other functions of public interest and is not used for regular transportation; and (4) does not carry advertising. (b) The license plates must include the words "Antique[0] Auto," "Antique[0] Truck," "Antique[0] Motorcycle," or "Military Vehicle," as appropriate. (c) A person eligible for the license plates may instead use license plates issued by this state in the same year as the model year of the vehicle and approved by the department, provided that a passenger car must bear passenger car or truck license plates and a truck must bear passenger car or truck license plates. The department may require attachment of a registration insignia to the license plate in a manner that does not affect the display of information originally on the license plate. (d) License plates issued or approved under this section expire on the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance or approval. (e) The fee for issuance or approval of license plates under this section is: (1) $10 for each year or portion of a year remaining in the five-year registration period if the vehicle was manufactured in 1921 or later; or (2) $8 for each year or portion of a year remaining in the five-year registration period if the vehicle was manufactured before 1921. (f) The department may exempt a former military vehicle from the requirement to display a license plate or registration insignia if the exemption is necessary to maintain the vehicle's accurate military markings. The department may approve an alternative registration insignia that is compatible with the vehicle's original markings. (g) A person entitled to specialty license plates or to department approval under this section may register the vehicle without payment of any fees paid for or at the time of registration except the fee for the license plate. An owner of a vehicle registered under this subsection who violates this section commits an offense. An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $5 or more than $200. (h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a vehicle issued license plates under Subsection (a) shall be required to attach and display only one license plate on the rear of the vehicle. (i) In this section, "former military vehicle" means a vehicle, including a trailer, regardless of the vehicle's size, weight, or year of manufacture, that: (1) was manufactured for use in any country's military forces; and (2) is maintained to represent its military design and markings accurately. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1320, § 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. JP
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