Auto Extreme

Most of the violators have been ticketed for exceeding the noise pollution laws. Owners of modified cars counter that they are being singled out because of unfair comparisons to the drivers in such movies as “The Fast and Furious”. They claim that the portrayal of modified car enthusiasts in that movie series has caused a backlash against real life owners.

Owners of modified cars are finding it more and more difficult to show off their artistic masterpieces on streets all across the US. California may have led the way in cracking down on what the state terms as traffic offenses, but other states are following suit. No one can argue that the modifications in these modified cars is beyond what was being done to the original hot rods or race cars, but should these modifications really be illegal? Are they really hurting anybody? Should we put a limit in car modification?

While it is true that some enthusiasts have juiced up their engines using illegal means, it is also true that most of those modified cars that have been singled out were not initially pulled over for speeding infractions. In fact, the crackdown on modified cars seems to stem more from an aesthetic problem than anything else.

But owners of modified cars don’t appear ready to giveup or just roll over and play dead. In addition to flooding the internet to increase support for their side of the argument via blogs, forums and web sites, they are also attacking the problem via America’s greatest legacy: DISSENT.

For instance, modified car owners are attacking the crackdown in the state of Virginia with an online petition. The petition identifies the problem as stemming from the vague terminology in Virginia’s laws for modifying exhaust systems and suspension.

Modified cars have been targeted by law enforcement officers for decades. And it is certainly true that owners of modified cars may be more tempted to engage in high speed racing than the rest of us.

The debate is sure to rage for some time as owners of modified cars feel unfairly singled out and as law enforcement officials feel compelled to make the streets as safe as possible for everyone. The divide between car enthusiasts and the police is likely to grow wider, however, as new and more exciting modifications are discovered…. And i guess it will never stop!…

Car modification is not illegal… Not unless you will use your modified car in illegal street racing or put the pedal on the floor and go faster than the speed limit.

By the way, here are some penalties faced by street racers issued by city and state ordinances :

• You can be arrested and have your car impounded for 30 days.
• If convicted of street racing or aiding and abetting a street race, you can be imprisoned for up to three months and fined up to $1,000. Spectators are subject to penalties as well.
• Your driver’s license can be revoked.
• Your car insurance may be cancelled or the rates dramatically increased.
• Cars in and around illegal street races are often issued equipment violations.

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