Can a Cop make you Pop.... Options

[Random_Stranger]

Your hood for no reason (Or even in California)? I was hearing about things like this happening. Today I got pulled over because my license plate was falling off due to a screw missing, so I put it on my dashboard. I got pulled over for a fix it ticket (not a problem) and the cop asked me if I had any engine modifications. I told him "No", and he took my word for it (and believe me, I have no modifications other than that aluminum hood, not even an exhaust). I was curious why he didn't make me pop it anyways. Was it because had I said yes, he would be allowed to then check it?


I wear hearing that in Santa Barbara, because of illegal displays of "exhibition of speed" (Hah! I didn't say the R word), that any car for whatever reason, they just pull over and say "Pop your hood" and then cars get impounded. I am not saying it is okay to do the "exhibition of speed thing", but some of us cannot afford a Mercedes McLaren, and just want that luxury, ya know?


Anyways, what are your thoughts or facts?


Thanks

[97Celica]

Not to sound rude or anything but how old are you?


When I get pulled over because I am tat'd and pierced cops ask me... Are you under the influence of drugs or in possession of firearms...


If they are only askin you if you have mods you must be young...and/or I look like a drug crazed killer?


But,seriously, COPS ALWAYS ASK DUMB QUESTIONS to see if you will slip up.

I've been pulled over for loud music,loud exhaust,window tint,etc... They always do it just to effe with you and I've never had a ticket from any of those... I even had a cop say...wow...this is a celica? it looks way nicer than the one I used to drive in college..... ahha

[DropTop95]

im not sure about ca but in redneckville fl i get pulled over constently and im in LAW ENFORCEMENT and they still like to give any rice rocket crap. whether it be jdm or all riced out the cops dont really care out here they hear a buzz of a 4 banger and there lights come on. the only tickets i had recently was a dragging ticket in my mini but that was a year ago.
by the way anyone out there live in the pan handle area?????????

This post has been edited by DropTop95: Jul 21, 2008 - 7:32 PM

[Random_Stranger]

Not to sound rude or anything but how old are you?


When I get pulled over because I am tat'd and pierced cops ask me... Are you under the influence of drugs or in possession of firearms...


If they are only askin you if you have mods you must be young...and/or I look like a drug crazed killer?


But,seriously, COPS ALWAYS ASK DUMB QUESTIONS to see if you will slip up.

I've been pulled over for loud music,loud exhaust,window tint,etc... They always do it just to effe with you and I've never had a ticket from any of those... I even had a cop say...wow...this is a celica? it looks way nicer than the one I used to drive in college..... ahha

I am 26 and I look 18, plus I guess it didn't help I was wearing a bandanna. I drove around with my license plate on my dashboard for nearly two months, so that was expected. But I did drive in front of many of cops and they didn't look at me strange or anything. So I was just asking, because I do have many future plans for my car. I just wanted to know other than speeding and such, if they can just do it for no reason.

I heard that you are to ask (if you obviously did nothing wrong) to ask them what the problem is, because usually 9/10, they just want to see if you slip and give yourself up.

[Random_Stranger]

For the record, this is my first time ever being pulled over in my car and the cop was very nice. I was just asking hypothetically, can a cop make you pop the hood under any circumstance for engine/under the hood modification?

[DropTop95]

are you not alowed to modify a car an ca?????

[Random_Stranger]

are you not alowed to modify a car an ca?????

I guess some people can get away with it, but for our cars, nothing except exhaust and injen (or carb approved) intake from my knowledge.

[Akirad1]

from what ive heard they can due to the high restrictions on mods and stuff like that when i was visting my cousin in Pomona we where pulled over in his 240 and they made us pop his hood and cause hes a speed freak, he put a sr20 with big turbos on it which from the cop was illegal mod and wasnt considered street leagal so was towed. but cali is weird on there road safety laws. i was pulled over for whereing a hat and sandals got a dang ticket for it too i was like wtf this is gay

[DropTop95]

wow thank god i live in redneckville fl very few restrictions and the ones we have are not enforced!!!!

[Akirad1]

same here in texas bro only mods really illeagal here are t88 turbos

[goferris]

i don't think they can make you unless they take you into custody or have probable cause. otherwise that's like searching a house without a warrant. but i might be wrong.

[DropTop95]

i don't think they can make you unless they take you into custody or have probable cause. otherwise that's like searching a house without a warrant. but i might be wrong.

you are very correct. at least in fla they cannot search you with out probable cause.

[lagos]

i don't think they can make you unless they take you into custody or have probable cause. otherwise that's like searching a house without a warrant. but i might be wrong.

That would make sense, but this is Cali we are talking about.
Everyone I have spoken too said that a cop can pretty much MAKE you open your hood. The probable cause in that case is that they think you are violating smog laws. Its pretty much Nazi Germany over there.

[Akirad1]

lol yeah

[goferris]

i don't think they can make you unless they take you into custody or have probable cause. otherwise that's like searching a house without a warrant. but i might be wrong.

That would make sense, but this is Cali we are talking about.
Everyone I have spoken too said that a cop can pretty much MAKE you open your hood. The probable cause in that case is that they think you are violating smog laws. Its pretty much Nazi Germany over there.

good point. but what if you aren't doing anything to warrant probable cause? no speeding, not extreme styling, mostly stock... would that warrant a "search" just on the fact you are a teen driving a japanese sporty car?
i will say this much. i'm damn glad i don't live in cali for that reason. can't do anything to the car without all sorts of hassle from the fuzz

This post has been edited by goferris: Jul 21, 2008 - 10:11 PM

[808celica]

From what i learned in democracy........

cops can "ask" you to pop your hood if:
-they have a really good cause
-got a tip from someone
-if they're part of this special units cracking down on street racing (only know of this in hawaii dont know about you guys)

-there are many loops hole in our laws and such.....i do know that some of your privacy rights are forfitted when in your car.

and some other things i cant think of

This post has been edited by 808celica: Jul 21, 2008 - 10:22 PM

[celica9110]

ive been stopped a few times and the man has never asked me top pop my hood
but yeah...
i dont think they can just roll up and ask u to pop ur hood
=/

[Random_Stranger]

Well, I heard in some cities they can make you but I wish there was a way to know for sure. I almost asked the cop today, because I thought it was strange that he took my word for it and didn't make me pop the hood.


He was just like "Do you have engine modifications?" and I was like "No" and he was all "okay". He was real cool, so I was about to ask him but I was like "awe, never mind".


Of course if you were speeding or anything like that, yeah I can see them asking you to pop the hood. But this was my first time getting pulled over in this car, so I thought it was kind of strange he would ask and take my word for it without "forcing" me to pop it open.

[celica9110]

true true...just dont do anything stupid w/ ur car lol
i just got out of high school
and my dad is kinda iffy when it comes to me and my car
i did the custom CAI behind his back
=/
and he still doesnt know about it...
lol
but yeah the more tickets the more $$$$ u pay in insurance and wat not soo...
yeah...
lol

[Nyczroflz]

heh i dont have to worry about cops... my car is too stock
however my 6gc.net stickers have been giving me a lil hassel lately lol