EU to Ban Modding

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by Bristecom

What a communist, freedom hating government. Of course, many politicians in the US see them as a role model for us to follow so I'm sure they'll try to pass some BS law like that here too before long...

Actually don't worry.

The UK/EU is owned and operated by their governments. The USA is owned and operated by our corporations (and corporations from other countries) and you can bet something like this won't happen because it would affect too many "job creators" (aka: rich folk).

There's a billion+$ industry in automotive modifications that won't go unheard or unrepresented and also the cost to implement such laws are not something that any of our State governments could afford to swing as this would fall squarely in the laps of the States, not the Feds.

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by Gardus

In Italy you can fit suspensions, exhaust systems, lights, seats etc if they have a EU homologation, but you can't alter the tyre and wheel size without the manifacturer OK, you can't fit spacers (they modify the carriage width) or big bodykit (they change the size of the car).
In Germany you can fit most of these things if you can pass the quite rigid test at the local TUV centre, so if you're car is drivable on the road (-->adeguate tyres, not too low, steering angle ok etc) you pass the test.

Call me a freedom hating socialist but just about ALL of this sounds good to me.

Originally Posted by Gardus

Actually Italy made some steps toward the legalization of tuned cars with certified components. At the moment some company as Brembo has homologated kits that you can legally fit on your car.
Basically you can't fit:
Extreme engine mods (transplants, turbo conversions...usually the rule is if they can't see it's ok...)
Rollcage
Spacers
HID with no projectors, height automatic adjustment and washing jets
Steering wheels with no airbags
Bucket seats
4-5 points hareness (you can fit them but on the road you must use the 3 point ones)
Non homologated exhaust systems (but they basically check just the muffler if the sound is not too loud)
Wheels and tyre sizes not on the car documents (you usually can have a few different size transcripted on them a the "DMV", on the BRZ you can have 18" in 225)
Extreme bodykits etc...

Agree with about 80% of that too.

- No point in harnesses if you don't have a roll cage
- No point in roll cage if you're not wearing a helmet
- Bodykits make Baby Jesus cry.
- Spacer - you can get around that with buying wheels of the proper offset
- HID without projector is really bad for everyone else on the road

No bucket seats? Can't remove Airbag? No Turbo or swaps?! Oh no you didn't!

[Bristecom]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

Actually don't worry.

The UK/EU is owned and operated by their governments. The USA is owned and operated by our corporations (and corporations from other countries) and you can bet something like this won't happen because it would affect too many "job creators" (aka: rich folk).

There's a billion+$ industry in automotive modifications that won't go unheard or unrepresented and also the cost to implement such laws are not something that any of our State governments could afford to swing as this would fall squarely in the laps of the States, not the Feds.

But they're both owned and run by the same private central banks. But that's another story... But yeah, it seems pretty unlikely to happen here anytime soon. Or it would just end up as one of the millions of unenforced laws we have.

Of course, knowing my luck, I'd get pulled over by the one cop who does enforce it like, "Is that an aftermarket shift knob!?" *TAZE* *ARRESTED* *CAR IMPOUNDED* *CAR CRUSHED*

I actually knew a friend who got his car crushed in California for being modded and him street racing it so I guess we aren't too far off from that.

[Toyota86Fan]

Originally Posted by Bristecom

I actually knew a friend who got his car crushed in California for being modded and him street racing it so I guess we aren't too far off from that.

Wait...car crushed? I'm not doubting you but that seems pretty extreme. When did that become a punishment for car modding / street racing in California? It seems like it flies in the face of most US property protection laws - even if the mod isn't legal it could be removed and a citation issued. Is there a trigger for such a nuclear option?

[Bristecom]

Originally Posted by Toyota86Fan

Wait...car crushed? I'm not doubting you but that seems pretty extreme. When did that become a punishment for car modding / street racing in California? It seems like it flies in the face of most US property protection laws - even if the mod isn't legal it could be removed and a citation issued. Is there a trigger for such a nuclear option?

Well, this was like 8 years ago. I don't know/remember the details but it was impounded and they kept it and crushed it for some reason. I know he wasn't lying because he would basically start crying every time he mentioned it (Acura Integra).

[bakerr6]

they did implement this law many years ago, and technically, it is still partially valid today. They use the same clause that they do for drug runners, etc. about breaking the law and losing the property for "evidence." I remember seeing one bust to where the county kept a vette from a drug bust, and used it as a cop car.

[themadpants]

Originally Posted by Toyota86Fan

Wait...car crushed? I'm not doubting you but that seems pretty extreme. When did that become a punishment for car modding / street racing in California? It seems like it flies in the face of most US property protection laws - even if the mod isn't legal it could be removed and a citation issued. Is there a trigger for such a nuclear option?

Check it out

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnmjVKlCHB0"]videos[/ame]

[nashsnazzy]

Its only a matter of time before this happens in the US the way things are going. You'll probably see it happen in CA or MA first then some overzealous federal bureaucrat will institute some law called Obamadrive or something and we are all hosed. I've actually heard of people in SC receiving tickets for replacing their exhaust with conservative axel back units. So perhaps SC will be first.

[Bristecom]

By the way, at the end of that video clip they ask whether or not it deters people from street racing or modding. Well, at least in the case of my friend, he just moved out of the state. LOL

[Gardus@Supersprint]

The problem at least in Italy is not much about the police but more about the insurance, a modded car may result in the refusal to pay damage in case of accident and ruin your life.

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by nashsnazzy

Its only a matter of time before this happens in the US the way things are going. You'll probably see it happen in CA or MA first then some overzealous federal bureaucrat will institute some law called Obamadrive or something and we are all hosed.

[n2oinferno]

Originally Posted by nashsnazzy

I've actually heard of people in SC receiving tickets for replacing their exhaust with conservative axel back units. So perhaps SC will be first.

There are laws in place for excessive noise, but the violation probably depends on the officer. When I worked with SCHP (as IT, not a cop) there were plenty of guys that liked modified cars and didn't have problems with them. I had a Mazdaspeed exhaust on my Protege5 and was never hassled for it. I had a friend who was forced to run open exhaust on his S2000 for a day and wasn't bothered by the police either.

[jesperswe]

Originally Posted by nashsnazzy

I've actually heard of people in SC receiving tickets for replacing their exhaust with conservative axel back units. .

I had a friend whom got ticketed due to his exhaust was to loud. He was ticked for something called "intended disturbing of the surroundings" since there were people who lived nearby who complained about the excessive noise
There was even a rumor going around that if you did a burnout and the police saw it, they would measure how long skid marks you made in the pavement and then ticket you depending on the lenght of the skid mark

[Draco-REX]

Originally Posted by Toyota86Fan

Wait...car crushed? I'm not doubting you but that seems pretty extreme. When did that become a punishment for car modding / street racing in California? It seems like it flies in the face of most US property protection laws - even if the mod isn't legal it could be removed and a citation issued. Is there a trigger for such a nuclear option?

In defense of the law, the cars are only crushed if stolen parts are found on it. (If you're in CA, make sure you know where your parts are coming from) And even then, they are destroyed only after a lengthy judicial process.

But yeah, CA hates cars. I'm amazed enthusiasts still live there..