Pulled over again....

[53guy]

Ok you guys in VA....good news and bad news...... got pulled today for my lift height. The cool part is that I just registered my Jeep again and they change the registration to an SUV with a GVW of 6000lbs, so I didn't complain. Worked out real well for me actually. So I was in traffic on I-95 south doing about 45mph when I see a state trooper in the median, pull out and throw his lights on. So I'm like, ok, he's going to an accident or something. Nope, he came, followed behind me, and as I got over in another lane, just followed me, so yeah, I'm thinking...Dude, I was going 45mph! Well, he comes up to me, asks for my licence and registration and goes back to his car. So as I'm sitting there, I'm wondering how in the hell I could have broken the speed limit and he comes back with a tape measure. "I pulled you over because your vehicle is lifted too heigh. You'll need to go to court on this date, bla bla bla....", so I ask him what he measured and what the law states. He said that it was done by his eye sight and then he proceded to tell me the law. I (trying my hardest not to flip the hell out and go apeshit on him about him just using his eyes) politely asked him to show me with a tape measure that I was over the limit. Well, I wasn't, thankfully and it turns out that I was within the law by 1/2". So I got out of that one and thanks for all the waves guys! Don't know who was waving at me, but I'm assuming it must be one of us. Anyhow, I asked him for the web site where I can get the law and pass it on, so here it is. This is what the law states:


"No person shall drive on a public highway any motor vehicle registered as a truck if it has been modified by alteration of its altitude from the ground to the extent that its bumpers, measured to any point on the lower edge of the main horizontal bumper bar, exclusive of any bumper guards, do not fall within the limits specified herein for its gross vehicle weight rating category. The front bumper height of trucks whose gross vehicle weight ratings are 4,500 pounds or less shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 28 inches, and their rear bumper height shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 28 inches. The front bumper height of trucks whose gross vehicle weight ratings are 4,501 pounds to 7,500 pounds shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 29 inches, and their rear bumper height shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 30 inches. The front bumper height of trucks whose gross vehicle weight ratings are 7,501 pounds to 15,000 pounds shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 30 inches, and their rear bumper height shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 31 inches. Bumper height limitations contained in this section shall not apply to trucks with gross vehicle weight ratings in excess of 15,000 pounds. For the purpose of this section, "truck" includes pickup and panel trucks, and "gross vehicle weight ratings" means manufacturer's gross vehicle weight ratings established for that vehicle as indicated by a number, plate, sticker, decal, or other device affixed to the vehicle by its manufacturer.



In the absence of bumpers, and in cases where bumper heights have been lowered, height measurements under the foregoing provisions of this section shall be made to the bottom of the frame rail. However, if bumper heights have been raised, height measurements under the foregoing provisions of this section shall be made to the bottom of the main horizontal bumper bar.



No vehicle shall be operated on a public highway if it has been modified by any means so as to raise its body more than three inches, in addition to any manufacturer's spacers and bushings, above the vehicle's frame rail or manufacturer's attachment points on the frame rail."

Thankfully I was registered at 6000lbs GVW and measured 29" front and 28 3/4" in the rear. Here is the actual web site for everything else including lift laws. Luckily, we don't have to worry about most of them. I haven't found one that states how high if any modifications to the suspension can be done, but it does say that body lifts over 3" are illegal. Fortunately for us, we can't do that. So anyways, here's the laws as they are actually written:

http://leg1.state.va.us/000/reg/TOC19030.HTM#C0070

and for the short version (this includes other states HEADS UP FOR EVERYONE ELSE OUTSIDE OF VA....THIS MEANS YOU!!)

go to this site and download the pdf.

Site-----> http://www.truckaddicts.com/pages/laws.html

PDF----> http://www.semasan.com/images/pdf/33525.pdf

Hope this helps you guys. I don't know how you all feel about it, but I printed up a copy to keep with my licence and registration so that if a cop tries to write me up again, I can pull out the law and show him. I know there's gonna be a cop that won't let my printed copy slide, so I also included the web site so they can look up the online version on their computers in their cars. Good luck you all and drive safe!

[non-stick]

Come on Nick if you were doing 45 mph souhtbound on 95 between 3:00 and 7:00 PM you had to be doing something illegal. I commute that route every day and the only way to do that is to drive OVER the other cars on the road.




:D

Good job on challenging him, politely, on the spot. I love the precision instrument used.... I'll bet he's pi$$ed though. Probably thought he had an easy ticket and....

:doh:

Thanks for the links and info. I think I'll do the same (keep a copy in the Jeep) even though I don't drive mine more then to / from the trailhead.

[53guy]

yeah, he was really pissed. although, he looked like he just got out of police accademy and seemed really young. he was polite enough about being proven wrong to not cite me for something else, so i got lucky there. and hey! i didn't think anyone saw me driving on the shoulder!

[non-stick]

yeah, he was really pissed. although, he looked like he just got out of police accademy and seemed really young. he was polite enough about being proven wrong to not cite me for something else, so i got lucky there. and hey! i didn't think anyone saw me driving on the shoulder!

I had a feeling he was a rookie, you have to love those noob troopers. Most of the seasoned troopers are too busy looking for carpool violators, that's the easy money ($110 first offense).

I hate it when they pull me over, even though it's been about 9 years now, and they spend all their time calling you "Sir" like they're going to choke on the word. It really used to jack me up when I was in my 20's, but since breaking 40 I don't mind any more.

It just seems wierd to have to explain my actions, especially when I'm right, to someone who wasn't even a gleam in his daddy's eye yet when I was serving my country and had already put 100k on cars.

[bigwhitey]

OK but what did you have to do to register it over 6k???? Did you just ask for it????

[53guy]

yeah, they had it registered as a passanger vehicle and i told the lady there was a misprint on my registration and told her it should be an SUV or a Truck, so she changed it to an SUV. i don't know how or why it can be changed, but all that really matters is that it says GVW 6000lbs!! I don't think my jeep could ever weigh that much, loaded down for a trail with 7 people in it I don't think it'd break 5K. i'd give your state DMV a call and ask them what class your jeep falls into. they probably will have a bracket or they might just put it somewhere depending on the teller. heck, try the misprint line, it worked for me!

[53guy]

I had a feeling he was a rookie, you have to love those noob troopers.


yeah, you sure have to give him credit, he tried really hard and he sure had some enthusiasm about it. he even spun his tires coming out of the median trying to get to catch me...lol, like i was going anywhere in traffic anyhow. its my guess that he was bored.

[Ex CCS Racer]

Dude, move to SC. Anything goes since they did away with inspection laws about 10 years ago.

[53guy]

i wish....stuck here for now. well, at least until 2008 that is.

[Ghost]

Dude, move to SC. Anything goes since they did away with inspection laws about 10 years ago.
A-men brother! And Its been more like 20 years ago now..... lol! I'm sorry but I feel like they have more important things they could look out for.

[sp4mike]

Good read Nick, Ill have to go see what mine says! BTW, are you going out to shoe creek this weekend?

[MogifiedXJ]

Dude, move to SC. Anything goes since they did away with inspection laws about 10 years ago.
I don't even know if TN has lift laws, well I'm sure they do but they don't enforce them anyway. No inspections either...seems like pretty much anything goes so long as it has current registration.

[53guy]

Good read Nick, Ill have to go see what mine says! BTW, are you going out to shoe creek this weekend?


who's running that one? DSO? Where's shoe creek?

[Highlander]

Little place called montebello va. About 40 mins south of charlottesville. Looks like we're running all weekend, some are camping some are not.

[53guy]

i'm coming at least one day. pm me your number and i'll give you a call and try to meet up with some of you all.

[FitchVA]

glad to hear you got out of it :D

[goodburbon]

This post prompted me to look up the local laws in Louisiana. Height doesn't matter here as long as headlights are below 54". I did discover that it is illegal to coast to a stop, and that no more than 2 aux lights are legal.

Oh, and that it is illegal to modify the exhaust of any motor vehicle so that it is louder than stock.

[RyanM]

knock on wood 53, they havent botherd me. had a trooper behind me the other day for a while. and some looks from county.

[DeezUU]

Pfft .... Va Beach is prolly one of the worst spots in the mid-atlantic for cops 'eyeballing' . I got pulled in my Jetta a few months back ( yes it's lowered ) because it was too low ( which it was as per the above described law ) . But fortunately for me , the cop didn't know where to measure from as there is no defined lower edge of my cars bumper ( which that limit is 13" ) so he just hassled me about the lack of front plate ( which I refuse to run ) and I told him "yeah sure ... I'll put it on ! " then snickered to myself and said " sha .... right ! " so's he couldn't hear me !! hahahaa .

I've been eyeballed in every truck I've ever owned and have had NUMEROUS lift tickets here . Never had any problems anywhere else I've been ( and I've spent decent time in alot of other spots in VA ) . But I've been cited for too high , too wide , light covers , no mirrors , plate obstruction ( muddy ) , lack of clearance lights , excessive noise ( loud stereo in a Jeep with the doors off > AND pulled by a cop on a Harley with loud pipes ! ) , even got a wreckless for someone falling out of my truck while trying to hop in while I was stuck in traffic ! ?!? WTF was that ??? How can you get a wreckless driving while your stopped ?? ( it was dismissed ) .

[bobb]

Sheesh, look at North Dakota, where i'm stationed.

"Maximum allowable lift for suspension system is 4”.
No modifications to OEM suspension, steering, or braking systems are allowed on vehicles weighing less than 7000 lbs."

Guess I'd be screwed, good thing I'm MN registered, where I'm limited to 25" bumper height. :(

[ren]

One of the things that I loove about Kentucky: if it fits in the lane has lights, papers, and eye protection for all passengers and the driver, have a nice day! Oh, yeah... watch out for some of the bridges, as there are a few that are shorter than 12'! heh

[DeezUU]

Sheesh !

If you have to worry about 12' clearances in your truck .... you might be a redneck !

Hahahaha .

[shortxjdoug]

yup i love tennessee, if it rolls its good

[Moore4X4]

I laughed when I saw this thread, because I am in full time law enforcement, live in TN, and I own several "high" rigs. Fortunately TN doesnt enforce its bumper height law unless your just a prick, and like driving places where your obviously not supposed to be....like instead of using the designated exits of a parking lot...haha

I have talked to several people who own tall rigs and they always ask me what is right and what is wrong. The purpose isnt anything more than keeping other cars from running underneath your truck or from you running clean over the top of someone else.

I cant speak for everyone else in law enforcement positions around the states and elsewhere, but I can tell you that if I happen to stop someone in a tall rig, it definetly wont be for bumper height.

Thats ridiculous.

[GSequoia]

That's one nice thing about California, nobody pays attention to lift heights, fender flares, nor mud flaps. That and the weather.

Oh yeah, and the Hammers :D

[nosigma]

Not so fast there GSequoia....

The Azusa Canyon Trap shows that the Ca HiPo are anal too. I never worried much while in SoCal because I blended in with all the Rock Crawlers and Pre-Runners. Here in Virginia, especially in the DC area, I stick out like a turd in a punch bowl. 4.5" or more with a Hi-Jack was pretty common in SD and LA. They flat dont exist here, especially with rock rash. I didnt see a lifted XJ, TJ, YJ, CJ etc until I went to a local show and shine and even then most jeeps were near stock. Yeah its not as big a deal in SoCal and there are no lift laws (just mud flaps and lights) but big brother is watching you too.

I miss the desert, God how I miss the desert..

John

[RyanM]

haha you stick out? how you think i look.8" 36's PLUS K&N, headers, straigt pipe to a flowmaster 40 isnt exactly stock quiet ;) i get 'wtf' stares all the time. couple lifted xjs around here, about 10 TJ's. couple nices ones on 37's and 35's. but most are weak body lifts with 33's. Good luck to all living where liftlaws exist. I had to play softball tonight against a team called 'law and order'. all cops. that sucked.

[53guy]

haha you stick out? how you think i look.8" 36's PLUS K&N, headers, straigt pipe to a flowmaster 40 isnt exactly stock quiet ;) i get 'wtf' stares all the time. couple lifted xjs around here, about 10 TJ's. couple nices ones on 37's and 35's. but most are weak body lifts with 33's. Good luck to all living where liftlaws exist. I had to play softball tonight against a team called 'law and order'. all cops. that sucked.


Lol, did you park a few blocks away and walk in?

[RyanM]

Well they got me, again.

Headed North bound on 29 South.

34". Couldn't drive away....

"Ill give you two options, either you call a tow truck, or i'll get one here for you"

......county cop....

Looks like im goin the 6" Longarm 35's route... :( :(

[BruceB83]

Well they got me, again.

Headed North bound on 29 South.

34". Couldn't drive away....

"Ill give you two options, either you call a tow truck, or i'll get one here for you"

......county cop....

Looks like im goin the 6" Longarm 35's route... :( :(

That's ridiculous. :soapbox:

[uncc civilengineer]

Well they got me, again.

Headed North bound on 29 South.

34". Couldn't drive away....

"Ill give you two options, either you call a tow truck, or i'll get one here for you"

......county cop....

Looks like im goin the 6" Longarm 35's route... :( :(

Another reason I hate traveling in VA... all you guys have up there is a money making scheme... You would think there would be some decent crime for the 5.0 to spend time on... but I guess not...

Just go the 6" Longarm 37" route... that's what im sitting at... where's the 34" measured to? just curious to see if I would comply

[53guy]

ground to the bottom of the bumper. If they think you've lowered your bumper any, they measure to the bottom of the frame rail. The law is different for each type of vehicle...for us, were passanger vehicles so its not much higher than stock.

[flash2pablo]

I just moved to VA from WA, and I am wondering what happens if you have an out of state vehicle??? Do they still bother you? I am a student so i keep my vehicles registered in Washington State.
I am looking to lift my Cherokee.....So it would be nice to know before hand.

PBen

[Lowrange2]

Well they got me, again.

Headed North bound on 29 South.

34". Couldn't drive away....

"Ill give you two options, either you call a tow truck, or i'll get one here for you"

......county cop....

Looks like im goin the 6" Longarm 35's route... :( :(

I hate stupid people! They don't care around here! In SC all ya have to worry about is your headlight height. 54" to the bottom of the head light. I see huge trucks riding around all the time with the headlights relocated into the front bumper to comply. Most of the cops drive F150s or F250s with 44s so they love to see all the lifted vehicles! Yaa Ha to the redneck cops!

[xjtrailrider]

What part of the state are you in? Over here in the south west part of the state no one really cares. Roanoke city is annal about bumper height only if you are way over or are involved in a rear ender with a car.

State wide it is 24" to the bottom of the bumper or the frame. My 96 XJ sat at 23" stock, its way over the limit at 4" lift. I think it is a ridiculous law and most cops that I know agree.

[256offroad]

geeze i am glad i dont live there....in bama you just have to have working brake lights to register a car...haha how crazy is that?

[RyanM]

Albemarle County. MOST cops here like the whole sport/hobby of offroading and will let you pass (unless your in a F250 on 44's..)

Just makes me mad, because seems like I see the same Taco's driving around on 37's, 38's etc. every freakin day. :flamemad:

UNCC, Did you find out your measurements?

It's really ridiculous when one has a well built safe rig, and is following all road laws, yet I was still pulled over and treated like I was this extreme criminal. (4 cars, about 6 cops ended up being present. WTF. I'm only one little guy in a big truck)

When I explained I had another vehicle to drive, and to let me travel the 10 min. home. He simply would not give in, saying I must TOW it.

PS. If you have a shop that lets you slide easy on INspections, make sure you lie to the cop, as to when the lift went in, to save your shop and chances of getting more state inspections :) :)

[xjwest]

yeah, they had it registered as a passanger vehicle and i told the lady there was a misprint on my registration and told her it should be an SUV or a Truck, so she changed it to an SUV. i don't know how or why it can be changed, but all that really matters is that it says GVW 6000lbs!! I don't think my jeep could ever weigh that much, loaded down for a trail with 7 people in it I don't think it'd break 5K. i'd give your state DMV a call and ask them what class your jeep falls into. they probably will have a bracket or they might just put it somewhere depending on the teller. heck, try the misprint line, it worked for me!

my 96 xj on the door sticker that the weight from the factory was 5200 lbs....

[uncc civilengineer]

I'm at 32" +/- 1" w/ 8psi in my 37's...

[RyanM]

I'm at 32" +/- 1" w/ 8psi in my 37's...
Appreciate that. My weak bumpers definitely did not help me. The front bumper is tucked up. I've made the decision to go 35's, although the kid in me is hating me for it. I can't keep getting pulled over every time I want to take a cruise down the street. What if I was hanging out with some friends and kicked back 5 or 6 beers. Blow a .009. Shit, I got arrested, DUI, Court Dates, Restricted License becasue I was driving down the highway at 55mph in the right lane, with all my lights functioning :gee:

[AznDrgn]

Well they got me, again.

Headed North bound on 29 South.

34". Couldn't drive away....

"Ill give you two options, either you call a tow truck, or i'll get one here for you"

......county cop....

Looks like im goin the 6" Longarm 35's route... :( :(

Ryan where abouts in Va do you live?

[RyanM]

Read post 37. Central.

[AznDrgn]

Ooops must have missed that. I live on the other side of the mountain and we rarely have any trouble with the cops around here. I do travel through your neck of the woods a good bit so I guess I'll just have to be careful and hope cops don't bother me.

[family TJ]

I hope I never get stationed in VA. My XJ is on 38's and I know I would be way over. Glad thy don't care here in eastern NC.

[CJ's98XJ]

I've been stopped once before for a defective brake light. the trooper questioned about my lift and ran my lisence. i didn't have any problems. he was polite about it and warned me about the brke light and sent me on my way.

he explained to me that he makes a lot of arrests out traffic stops for very minor violations. He doesn't have to write the ticket. He's made countless drug arrests, come across dangerous people with active arrest warrants, drunks, suspended lisences and the lot. The only way for him to do this is through face to face contact.

He explained that most people that don't keep their lives in order don't tend to keep their cars in order iether.

I come from a family of cops and I am thankful for the ones who actively do their job. They don't really get to pick and choose what laws they happen to feel like enforcing that day. When they are assigned to work traffic on the interstate they have to work traffic on the interstate. Part of working traffic on the interstate is dealing with the vehicle eqipment laws that govern the vehicles that drive on them.

As far as you catching a ticket from him "eyeballing" the hieght your lift, instead of measuring it.......Yeah.... That would have resulted in a phone call to his supervisor, or better yet, his supervisor's supervisor.

[flash2pablo]

I am still trying to determine whether anyone from out of state has been ticketed because of a lift above the Virginia lift limits?
My jeep is registered in Washington State, so it is a west coast rig, but I am in school in Virginia, so I am wondering if I really have to worry or if my rig doesn't apply because I am out of state.
Any info would be appreciated.

[Georgia Mike]

Dude, move to SC. Anything goes since they did away with inspection laws about 10 years ago.
x2

SC is pretty lax about things like that. Now that I live in Georgia, I've found them to be pretty lax here, too. I used to drive a K-5 Jimmy with a 6" lift on 35's. I pulled up behind a cop one night at a red light, and my headlights HAD to have been blinding the crap out of him. I though to myself "well, you're about to get a ticket for this one...", but he just drove off when the light changed :D

[Ex CCS Racer]

I am still trying to determine whether anyone from out of state has been ticketed because of a lift above the Virginia lift limits?
My jeep is registered in Washington State, so it is a west coast rig, but I am in school in Virginia, so I am wondering if I really have to worry or if my rig doesn't apply because I am out of state.
Any info would be appreciated.



If you're registered out of state there's nothing they can do.

[Ex CCS Racer]

I am still trying to determine whether anyone from out of state has been ticketed because of a lift above the Virginia lift limits?
My jeep is registered in Washington State, so it is a west coast rig, but I am in school in Virginia, so I am wondering if I really have to worry or if my rig doesn't apply because I am out of state.
Any info would be appreciated.



I was in Martinsville last St Pat's Day to see some friends. I got pulled over for not running a front license tag(which isn't required here). I think once he got behind me he realized he was screwed and couldn't do anything about the front tag or my lift. I had 35's then too.

[flash2pablo]

That is kinda what i am hoping that since I am out of state they will leave me alone. I am here for school for another two years and I don't want to rack up tickets to be able to drive the jeep.

[bgwyllys61]

Sheesh !

If you have to worry about 12' clearances in your truck .... you might be a redneck !

Hahahaha .


haha, our lift law is simple, "vehicle height shall not exceed 13' 6" now thats some freedom....i love Ky