ToxxicGirrl
Active member
I was pulled over today in Emeryville by a CHP moto cop (Officer B). The main reason for the stop was the legality of riding my RGV on the street. He also stated that I didn't come to a complete stop while making a right turn on a red, but he didn't cite me for that. He also pointed out how my rear lights were illegal as well as the absence of reflectors on the bike.
My main concern is that although I provided current CA registration and insurance for the bike, he said I was breaking Federal/CA emission laws and although he wasn't going to give me a ticket for the illegal lights, he was going to report me to the EPA. He said he is friends with someone in the EPA (couldn't provide a name, branch, division or any info regarding EPA person) and that they (the EPA) could impound my bike. He wrote down my name, address, license#, plate#, VIN# on the back of his ticket book.
To drive his point home, he told me that knows of a person who had an RGV500 gamma that was modified to go from track to street, and it went through such an impound.
I was quite shocked at the impound threat since I have done my part to maintain current registration and insurance on the bike since I purchased it in 2005. I'd also like to add that I have a clean driving record and the required M1. He said whoever initially registered the bike in CA committed perjury upon registration, and the fact that I was caught out on the street with the bike just once is justification for impound. He also stated that if I get caught again, it is a $15K fine (he didn't say by whom I would be fined).
Also, he said if I decide to sell it, to disclose to the new owner that they cannot ride it on the street. He said to do this as a precaution so I wouldn't get sued if the new owner was found on the street and fined.
My main questions:
1) Can a gov. agency (EPA, CHP) impound my legally registered moto?
2) Have any LEOs here worked with the EPA to impound other two-strokes?
3) What extra precautions should I take, if any, should I decide to sell this bike?
4) Any other folks go through this with their bike?
5) Is this a sign of things to come for registered two-strokes?
Any info/input is greatly appreciated. edit: it's a 1991 RGV250.
My main concern is that although I provided current CA registration and insurance for the bike, he said I was breaking Federal/CA emission laws and although he wasn't going to give me a ticket for the illegal lights, he was going to report me to the EPA. He said he is friends with someone in the EPA (couldn't provide a name, branch, division or any info regarding EPA person) and that they (the EPA) could impound my bike. He wrote down my name, address, license#, plate#, VIN# on the back of his ticket book.
To drive his point home, he told me that knows of a person who had an RGV500 gamma that was modified to go from track to street, and it went through such an impound.
I was quite shocked at the impound threat since I have done my part to maintain current registration and insurance on the bike since I purchased it in 2005. I'd also like to add that I have a clean driving record and the required M1. He said whoever initially registered the bike in CA committed perjury upon registration, and the fact that I was caught out on the street with the bike just once is justification for impound. He also stated that if I get caught again, it is a $15K fine (he didn't say by whom I would be fined).
Also, he said if I decide to sell it, to disclose to the new owner that they cannot ride it on the street. He said to do this as a precaution so I wouldn't get sued if the new owner was found on the street and fined.
My main questions:
1) Can a gov. agency (EPA, CHP) impound my legally registered moto?
2) Have any LEOs here worked with the EPA to impound other two-strokes?
3) What extra precautions should I take, if any, should I decide to sell this bike?
4) Any other folks go through this with their bike?
5) Is this a sign of things to come for registered two-strokes?
Any info/input is greatly appreciated. edit: it's a 1991 RGV250.
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Oh, Sonny Sonny Sonny (80's sitcom reference). The moto cop had just finished ticketing someone at the gas station when I pulled in for fuel. He lit me up right after I pulled out of the driveway (whereupon I got nervous looking for a place to pull over and rolled thru the right-hand red light). This moto cop seems to have it out for two-strokes.
