Modified emissions ticket, California
 

I have had my miata boosted for 2 years now with no trouble with the law since I live in California after all and about a month ago I got pulled over for my "loud exhaust" even though it is stock. He made me pop my hood and gave me a modified emissions ticket, saying it has to be corrected and inspected by a state ref, and on the ticket it even says that the car is not allowed to be driven anymore until it is corrected. Now I'm not sure what to do because I have a built motor with my turbo kit and a good amount of the mods are irreversible. I found that supposedly there is a bail fee that would make it possible to not get it inspected however if I get pulled over again the fine doubles. I mention this because the other day I got pulled over for no front plate, and the cop didn't mention anything about the previous ticket. Has anyone gone through the modified emissions ticket with heavy mods, what are my options?

You're gonna have a real hard time convincing anyone with IQ higher than 2 that a cop pulled you over and made you pop your hood for NO OTHER REASON than "loud exhaust" AND that you were actually running a stock exhaust, which is downright silent.

As for your options: you have only 1 that I know of. It's making the car legal again for the ref inspection.

What is the code and what does your engine bay look like? Sounds like you're fucked and need a stock motor ect to swap in. Since you are ref'd and it is for emissions, that means a Ref Repair Shop and popping your hood. Good luck finding one to sign you off with any emissions(evap/fuel/ign/intake/exhuast) components not looking oem, or not accounted for.

If it were for exhaust, it would be easier. My buddy was sitting curbside in his car and an Alameda Officer walks up and says "is that modified exhaust?" I wasn't there but he got the ticket. Then we got an East Oakland Officer to sign off on the modified exhaust ticket on a not quite 1JZ Cressida with a welded diff and looking like a scetchy car lol. But it is Oakland and they have more to care about. Around hear straight piped v8's and harleys are the norm.

I need to put a front plate on...

Yea, from what I've read researching to how pass by ref everyone said that that anything visible that is emissions related (intake, turbo, evap, exhaust, etc) will not pass it. Everything else may need to be DOT approved

First off, where in CA are you located? (i.e. where was citation issued)
Never heard of any bail fee that would mitigate emissions inspection/compliance.
That sounds more like a simple fix-it ticket for a "no front plate" situation.
Shit, if it were even remotely possible to pay to play, there'd be people all over that.

If you got sent to a BAR ref (which you did) I can assure you, that car will not be allowed back on the roads unless it is operating and appearing 100% stock. There is no get out of jail (for not) free card. The ref you are going to won't be some moron that doesn't know cars. They know a crapload about cars and many times, know specific things about the most commonly modified cars.

You sir, are basically SOL and your next mission is to figure out how to get your car fine tooth comb inspection ready.

Last time my buddy was ref'd the place actually opened the OE manual and checked every...single...vacuum line, solenoid, and sensor in the entire engine bay.

You have a built motor and a turbo.... and a stock exhaust?

One post wonder. we will never know

buy new identical car. get it tagged. swap drivetrain.

Many VINs on a Miata.

oh yeah, might want to re-consider committing a federal crime when taking car for inspection to one of the strictest inspection facilities who's primary objective is to uncover crimes and illegal parts

Might want to GTFO of California. Sounds like a nightmarish place where none of my cars or motorcycles would be legal.

Of course I'm just talking trash. We all live where we choose and deal with the consequences. Goodluck.

The quickest way out of this hole is to swap in a stock motor, and un mod any wiring, reinstall evap stuff. There is no other way.

Why is the built motor such a concern? Surely they don't check for stock pistons/rods do they? I'd source some stock parts (header, intake, injectors, ecu, etc) and get to swapping things over.

I suspect the built motor part may not even be illegal -- rebuilding a motor is legal, you can overbore to within certain limits, and you can use "OEM equivalent" parts. The state doesn't care if the rods are stronger or not. The biggest factor would be if the cams are different.

But yes, to pass this ticket you need to dot the i's and cross the t's. Stock everything that's emissions-related, and don't leave any aftermarket parts lying around in the engine bay that are bolted in but not connected up (intercooler, say).

--Ian

Maybe this guy is an epa troll

And people say Florida is crazy.

Move and let California burn.

Yes. on every car. And the ref will probably know to check them. That's why the drivetrain goes in the new car after it's passed emissions and is the car you will now own.

The old, failed car gets sold off as a roller to some spec miata doods.

Supposedly you can't sell the car while it has the ref ticket outstanding.

--Ian