Overhaulin'

Traveling out of state with a modified vehicle (tint, body kit, etc)?

So I'm from Florida where we are allowed to have such things as tinted windows, removed catalytic converters, etc and my car is titled and registered here. I have my license and insurance also from the state of Florida. I recently traveled out of state and was pulled over and harassed by a town police officer in PA. He ended up not citing me for anything involving the car but for disorderly conduct because I refused to speak with him past a certain point. He used my windows as the windows as a reason to pull me over and I drove away but does any one know legally where it says that if you are traveling somewhere what your protection is for this type of thing? I have spoken with the state police of Florida who have said that its where the vehicle is registered not driven that is the law to go by. I was wondering if anybody knew where to look for it on paper since the officer I spoke to didn't have any reference to a specific law. All help is greatly appreciated. Thanks. sorry for the confusing sentence above, i ment he used the windows as they are tinted as a reason to pull me over. Also the reason I was in the state was to speak with representatives of a college I will be attending. I will continue to have my current legal residence in Florida while I attend school in the area. I really need to find out a legitimate answer, cited from a legal document, not best guesses on the situation, although they do help. I don't want to be continually harassed and not be able to defend myself out of ignorance. I'd like to clear it up once and for all so no more questions can be asked or people harassed on the subject. also removing the cat is not a crime, and neither is removing most of the EGR system. that i've already had cleared up and can cite you specific evidence if you like. That however is based upon law from state to state, not federally mandated. thanks.

Public Comments

1. Seeing as how your visiting and not a resident of the other state your in the right for everything except 1 thing you said. As far as being right well, If your driving in New York State and you have Florida Plates that are registered and current then the Police SHOULD observe the tinted window's. Now the wrong? Well seeing as how the Emission controls are a federal mandate and NOT the State, your removing of the Catalytic converter is a crime. But, seeing as how your just driving through and not permanent then there would be no reason for a State Inspection. Therefore the state of PA? has no reason to inspect your vehicle. The tinted windows, though are OK except as previously stated your driving through. The Police could conceivably watch you and when your still around for 30 days or more then ticket you. Or they could ticket you right away and say to hell with It and just bust your B***S until you either leave there district or get the car legally registered in PA ( I mention PA because you did) PS: He has the right to pull you over for Tinted windows in the PA City limits
2. I believe the Florida police are correct in this case; state law there permits such modifications to automobiles. However, tinted windows are generally illegal here in the Northeast (in New Jersey, as I understand it, the front windows cannot be tinted, but the rear ones can), and given that this is an area where many gun runners bring illegal firearms to the region from the South, especially Florida, which is a known source. Thus, law enforcement here tends to focus on cars coming from there. It's not a slap against you personally. When my girlfriend moved up here from Florida, her car, which she'd bought secondhand, also had tinted windows. Not a bad car, but unfortunately, it fit the "profile" of cars found on I-95 that were known to carry illegal firearms, in terms of the Florida tags and tinted windows. There were many memorable times we were stopped by police because her car caught their eye. But since I was often the one behind the wheel, and I also have a New Jersey license, we were only cited for some other reason, usually a misdemeanor. I would, however, research the issue, whether it's talking to an attorney, calling the court, looking it up yourself, or contacting a law school professor, to contest the disorderly conduct issue. Good luck, and best wishes.
3. I apologize for the behavior of a fellow officer. He must have been having a bad day. With Florida plates on your car, your windows were not probable cause to be pulled over. Of course you made it worse by refusing to speak to him, but if you appear in court you can probably get the charge dismissed by the judge when you explain the circumstances.