Well, just got pinched for driving my Yellow CYM 1993 Mazda RX-7 R1 by the Rotary Engine hating California CHP. I was driving at a normal speed, but then again I suppose an FD just standing still looks fast (LOFL), and out of the corner of my eye I spot a black & white. At first I thought, wow cool, that looks like the decepticon car named, "Barricade" from the movie The Transformers. Turns out the CHP officer inside the car was thinking something quite similar, "hey, that yellow Mazda RX-7 Twin Turbo looks like the same car from that hit animated show in Japan about drifting". I don't think his appreciation went beyond that because he ended up pulling me over with probable cause, citing the fact that he didn't think my front mounted intercooler from Apex-i was regulation or that my J-Spec muffler was of factory-issued specifications. I tried to explain that it was only my weekend car and that I don't really drive my Mazda car all that much, even though the registration was fully paid for and all tags are current, I just don't want to drive it all that much for my daily commuting.

Anyhow, I ended up getting a State-Ref sticker adhered to the backside of my ticket, which was almost 3-pages long, for citations such as "modified ride height" and even a moving violation for making an unsafe turn at a 3-way intersection. Does anyone else have experience with getting pulled over in Alhambra by an officer Clark? He wasn't the nicest cop I've had the pleasure of speaking with and he seemed agitated. Quite frankly, it should have been me who'd be agitated and off-putting, but he was not happy either way. At one point, I even tried to plead ignorance about all of the citations listed on the tickets by saying that I actually bought the car this way, and that the seller (actually a family member who didn't want to put everything back to stock) sold the car to me this way, but he was simply too well trained to believe me. He said the only way someone could bypass having to fix a state-ref ticket is to sell the cited car to a bonafide car dealership, because by law that company would have to put everything back to stock. If the same car is sold to a private party, it doesn't exempt that car from having to get "fixed" because there is no guarantee that the new party will fix anything.

Long story short, I don't want to drive my 1993 Mazda RX-7 Twin Turbo on the streets of southern California any longer. There just aren't any places I can take this thing any more. Back when I was younger (2005), I would be able to drive anywhere without having to worry about smog-related issues. I miss my old school rotary engine car because it was smog exempt and by now is actually worth more than it was back then.



I need help. Can anybody recommend a smog-friendly State Ref? I don't want to go through the hassles of having to remove my block-off plates and put that big old air-pump back on.

 

just pay the $300 fee

 

$300? i wish, mine was $740 to not have to ref it and just pay the fine, but it was still worth it to not have to go through all the b.s.

 

Sell it

 

Sad to get busted, but sounds like he had you dead to rights.

Pay it, fix it, sell it out of state, or move, seem like your only options.

 

Alhambra is one the least import car friendly citys especially since its full of ricers...

 

Dude, that sucks. I just beat my ref ticket but it was a 4 month process of barely driving.
So horrible. The fine depends on your county...and NO FINE is $300 dollars. The minimum it will be is $530.. maximum $2000 depending where you live. If it was just smog I could help you out...but there are no "friendly" ref's. You have to fight it, fix it, or pay for it.

Really sorry man.

 

NewB! Serious7, you should have KNOWN better than to roll your MickeyFD in Alhambra, MPK or any SGV city. Your best bet is to junk the 7, or pay the fine.

Drive your B16A Cibic instead young Jedi.

 

Thanks so much, everybody for the sound advice...especially from the sensitive guy who told me to junk my 1993 Mazda RX-7 Twin Turbo car. Obviously he isn't aware of how rare and meaningful a car such as this one can be to a rotary enthusiast. I'll simply choose to ignore those hurtful implications.

I'll let you all know how it goes, and yeah, officer Clark had me pegged to the "T"

 

Thank god I live in Nor Cal...

 

I've been curious how the "pay the fine" route works. Frankly even $1000 would be cheaper than putting my car back to stock and then re-doing it. Thankfully I've never had to deal with a true **** like you ran into.

What are the rules on modified ride height?

 

V C Section 24400 Headlamps on Motor Vehicles
Headlamps on Motor Vehicles

24400. (a) A motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall be ( )1 equipped with at least two headlamps, with at least one on each side of the front of the vehicle, and, except as to vehicles registered prior to January 1, 1930, they shall be located directly above or in advance of the front axle of the vehicle. The headlamps and every light source in any headlamp unit shall be located at a height of not more than 54 inches nor less than 22 inches.

(b) ( )2 A motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall be operated during darkness, or inclement weather, or both, with at least two lighted headlamps that comply with ( )3 subdivision (a).

(c) ( )4 As used in ( )5 subdivision ( )6 (b), “inclement weather” is a weather condition that is either of the following:

(1) A condition that prevents a driver of a motor vehicle from clearly discerning a person or another motor vehicle on the highway from a distance of 1,000 feet.

(2) A condition requiring the windshield wipers to be in continuous use due to rain, mist, snow, fog, or other precipitation or atmospheric moisture.

Added Sec. 2, Ch. 415, Stats. 2004. Effectve January 1, 2005. Operative July 1, 2005.
Amended Sec. 9, Ch. 311, Stats. 2006. Effective January 1, 2007.
Amended Sec. 43, Ch. 491, Stats. 2010. Effective January 1, 2011.
The 2010 amendment added the italicized material, and at the point(s) indicated, deleted the following:
1. “:
(1) Equipped ”
2. “(2) Operated”
3. “paragraph 1”
4. “b”
5. “paragraph (2) of”
6. “a”

 

For real.

 

States going broke! lol...these law enforcments are cracking down hard on almost anything to make a buck. That officer is correct about the transfering things though....

I'm sure he'll see you again if you just pay your fine....then he'll really be an A-hole this time around. Most state ref guys wouldn't have much clue on what to look for on a rotary motor...same goes to some smog guys too. So they'll break out their manual books and make you wait longer.

CYM r1 is a very nice car just stock looking....maybe with a nice set of wheels!

 

Sorry it happened bud. Please keep us updated as to how it all goes down.

 

OMG...stop feeding the 'troll'.

 

no kidding. That fool rolls in an Acura anyways. Too stuck up for hondas...

 

Mr Dino and Mr 13B1, you're hurtful assumptions that I am a "troll" are somewhat discouraging to the rest of our rotary community. Please apologize, as I have proof of my rotary ownership status.

 

 

We need engine bay shots as well to confirm your ownership status...

 

while hoping on one foot next to the car?

 

^ +1

 

 

Ask around about "smog friendly" places other guys go to pass. You may have to drive to another town but you aren't the only one with a non stock vehicle in the LA area.

 

Ibl