optimusprime
Junior Member
Hello, This occured in Southern California, in Anaheim to be specific last night.
My friend was leaving an IHOP last night around 8pm, when he was stopped in the parking lot by a police officer who noticed that he did not have a front liscence plate. Usually this is only a fix it ticket or a $50.00 ticket; however the officer wanted to see underneath is hood for illegal modifications.
He opened up his hood and the officer then told him that he was going to call for back up... "requesting another officer who knew more about cars," as the officer told my friend.
During all of this my friend was calling me scarred, and I tried to advise him. It sounded wierd to me that a "no-front liscence plate violation" was turning into a full car inspection.
I instructed my friend to ask for their badge numbers; however, when my friend called back he said that they were going to impound his car overnight as they were citing him for his air filter modification that had a CARB legal, government approved modication number telling him that "they could not let him drive his car in this condition."
They towed his car away and left him on the corner having to call for a Taxi and rent a room overnight in the city where the next morning he has to bail out his vehicle for $400.00
My questions are:
1. Can a Police officer order you to open up your vehicle hood without a warrant?
2. If the police esscalated their activity because you asked for their badge number, is there a claim that can be filed on that?
3. Can the police impound your car for a modification that has a government approved CARB legal sticker on it, or did they leave themselves open to a suit because the part is considered legal in CA?
Thank you for any assistance given.
My friend was leaving an IHOP last night around 8pm, when he was stopped in the parking lot by a police officer who noticed that he did not have a front liscence plate. Usually this is only a fix it ticket or a $50.00 ticket; however the officer wanted to see underneath is hood for illegal modifications.
He opened up his hood and the officer then told him that he was going to call for back up... "requesting another officer who knew more about cars," as the officer told my friend.
During all of this my friend was calling me scarred, and I tried to advise him. It sounded wierd to me that a "no-front liscence plate violation" was turning into a full car inspection.
I instructed my friend to ask for their badge numbers; however, when my friend called back he said that they were going to impound his car overnight as they were citing him for his air filter modification that had a CARB legal, government approved modication number telling him that "they could not let him drive his car in this condition."
They towed his car away and left him on the corner having to call for a Taxi and rent a room overnight in the city where the next morning he has to bail out his vehicle for $400.00
My questions are:
1. Can a Police officer order you to open up your vehicle hood without a warrant?
2. If the police esscalated their activity because you asked for their badge number, is there a claim that can be filed on that?
3. Can the police impound your car for a modification that has a government approved CARB legal sticker on it, or did they leave themselves open to a suit because the part is considered legal in CA?
Thank you for any assistance given.