Hi, I am a newb to this forum (great place btw) and it seems like SgtGrant is the go to person when people have questions of all sorts. Well here is my situation- I go to Stanford University and this morning I was pulled over on campus because one of my brake lights were out. The cop called one of his buddies over who showed up on his motorcycle and the officer on the motorcycle asked me to pop my hood, which I gladly did because everything I have done to my car is 50 state street legal.

He gave me a fix-it ticket for my rear altezza (euro) lights and a fix-it ticket for my CLEAR head light covers. Also, he then told me I had to go to a referee because I tampered with my emissions system. I explained to him that my headers were street legal and showed him the carb # but he said sorry, made me sign, and then left. My questions are as follows-

The manufacturers of the tail lights and the front light covers guarantee they are 50 state legal and are D.O.T and SEA approved. The front covers are clear for heaven's sake. Did CA. just come out with some new law prohibiting this stuff? I called the manufacturers once I got home and they confirmed that what I had was legal. Do you think I'd be able to go to court and fight this?

The headers I have are CARB approved and are a direct bolt on to the original oxygen sensor fittings and cats. I also called the manufacturer and they said the same thing- 100% positive street legal. I'm not afraid of going to the referee because i know everything should check out, its just I felt like I was being harrassed on the side of the road. It's also such a hassle, and I am very frustrated that I have to take the time to go to a referee and pay some fines. Is there any way I can show a judge the paperwork from the manufacturer and provide the CARB #'s and get it taken care of this way? I have a 19mo old son and I'm paying off tuition and I'm on a tight budget right now. I'm also trying to sell the car and this whole situation isn't helping.

The officer wasn't really a nice guy. Actually he was quite rude. Atleast he didn't give me a fix-it for the brake light that was out. Or perhaps he just forgot while he was looking for everything possible to cite me for.