A couple of cowboy state troopers in the Peoria, Illinois area have started issuing citations to street rodders for no bumpers and other vehicle code violations. They even had the nerve to walk into a benefit car show and start writing tickets (a "Cops for Kids" show on Peoria's riverfront, no less). Can you believe this? This story was printed in the Peoria Journal Star newspaper on Saturday, and it was the first I heard about it. As a resident of Illinois who is building a highboy coupe, I am concerned that there are jerks who are profiling and harrassing street rodders in this state. We have no street rod regulations here because, up until now, police officers generally ignore us because our cars are safe and rodders are not a problem.

I would appreciate any of you who live in states with street rod legislation on the books to fax me these codes so we can begin to deal with this in our state. Or, if you wish respond here and post an address I can access, I would appreciate your assistance. My fax number is 309-298-3066.

I guess you can never take anything for granted anymore. There's always some mean-spirited a**hole ready to jerk you around if he can. It almost makes me ashamed to live in Illinois. Almost.

Lynn
'32 3W
--
Lynn
'32 3W

I seems to me that if our cars pass the State's safety inspection that should be that! In most (all) states if the car is over xx years old all it needs is a safety inspection, i.e.: lights, horn, wipers etc. The court should dismiss all of these tickets if issued. I keep a copy of the NY State regs on the safety inspection in all of our old cars. Alan
--
1937 Chevrolet 2 door master deluxe sedan
1947 Cadillac 4 door series 62 sedan
1941 Chevrolet special deluxe 4 door sedan for sale

That had to be an isolated incedent, I bet 99% of all the lawmen are on the up and up. There is always the rogue pin head with a chip on his or her shoulder. It`s just human nature. I`ve been stopped for excessive noise, but let go. As long as you keep your cool....9 out of 10 times you are on your way. Some even pull you over for a good look at your ride and use a license and registration check for an excuse for a good look. Maybey in Ill. there`s a few pinheads, even in N.Y. But N.Y. so far has netted me for zero tickets. Revenue collection, It`s in the luck of the draw......

Hey Lynn,
I also live in IL, near LaSalle/Peru. Last year we were headed down I-57 near Cairo in my Ranger with Veteran license plates. I happened to be the car in front of a small group doing 75 mph (speed limit was 65), when I got pulled over by a State cop. He must have been a newbie, when he came up to my truck, I could hear him talking with the dispatcher about what state my plate was from...I guess he couldn't read Illinois on it. When he came back from his car with the ticket, I could still hear the dispatcher talking to him that it was an Illinois veteran plate. He then said to me "In ILLINOIS, we DON'T go over the speed limit" ..... I think he still didn't know that I was from IL. Coming back from St. Louis, you HAVE to go 75, or everyone runs you over.

It wasn't worth the 600 mile round trip to fight a $75 ticket. It just wasn't a good way to start vacation.

We don't have any probs here (60 miles north of Peoria), even driving more than we should on antique plates, plus I'm running a set of '58 plates on my chevy. The state cops told us yesterday at a local car show that cars that came without seatbelts from the factory, don't need them installed (they had a roll-over display promoting seat belt use). The ones in Peoria must have been having a bad hair day.

phil
--
One man's treasure is another man's trash.

So far so good here in the Armadillo state......one of the regs is that if its over xx number of years no inspection is even required. Now, what would happen if I just happened to drive my 27 T thru Illinois and got stopped? Would I get towed off? Ticketed for no bumpers, no fenders, no wipers (rain-x under the seat)? Here in Texas, a car with antique plates isnt required to have anything but what it came with for that year! Not even seat belts technically for my car....Guess I'll watch the state legislature a little more closely and also carry a copy of the rules with me. GL rumrumm !
--
Fred P.

SO FAR knock on wood all is good here in Maryland, thats not the case up the road north about 65 miles once you cross the PA line, If your a PA rodder you know what im talkin' about.

For some reason or another about what, 3 or so years ago a law was passed that you HAD TO HAVE a hood fenders and running buards were questionable. You also cant go lower than a certain height (think you have to have 4" suspension clearance 3" body clearance and EVERY SINGLE CAR new old or whatever HAS to be inspected before tags go on and they bring you in periodically for spot checks (dont quote me thats just what was told to me)

I know of a good many tickets that were handed out at the NSRA Nats East to cars that weren't PA licensed. The good ole' PA Police told 'em to get hoods on or something to cover the engine or head home, same with the fender dilemma and ground clearance.

I think its time to hound our state legislature and get things on the ball to prevent this from happening and if it is already happening keep hounding them till they lay off.

Just my .02 worth

Slammin
--
Hold your ears folks...ITS SHOWTIME!!!

I'm from Penn, and the deal is since I can remember that it was a law that fenders are required and allways has been!
A few years ago the reps. for Nsra went to harrisburg and worked out the requirements for the Streetrod tags.
They decided that 6" was enough for the chop.
The fenders is another story.I don't think they talked about that at all. The reps had fat fendered cars so I don't think they were interested in that!
They really don't hassle you unless they see you driving the car around all the time. and hotdoggin it.
I drove 2 cars that I owned for about 18 years without fenders and never was pulled over.
but know a guy that use to take his car out and drive it all the time around the area he was issued tickets all the time . oh well Do what you have to or take the chance. NO GUTS NO GLORY, "WHEELS"
--
I'am interested in the Early 40s style
look !

Was just wondering what would happen if a semi truck was traveling down the hyway without it's trailer. most of cabs don't have rear fenders, just mud flaps.
just thinking out loud.

Rick
--
awsum34

Remember the only dumb question is the one you don't ask.

Trucks fall under federal DOT laws. Tractors bobtail must have mud flaps. I don't remember if rear fenders are law or not, but it's kinda stupid not to run them, as the rear axles kick all the crap onto your mirrors if you don't have them.
You'll notice that trucks that haul box trailers have what they call 1/4 fenders in front of the rear axle. Ones that haul tankers usally have fenders that cover the front & top of the rear tires, with a mud flap in the back.
--
Charlie

Well, you can't defend the occasional wanker cop. I have many friends that are in blue, even they say there are bad cops. The point of all of these posts is that WE ALL NEED TO GET INVOLVED!! Politics leave a sour taste in my gullet but I am an ambassador everywhere I go. Remember the business card clubs handed out in the 50's? I don't I'm 32. But the jist is a goodwill jesture towards everyone. Even if you earn a million a year and drive an Alloway car, IT CAN BE OUTLAWED!! Just one legislater with a chip on his/her shoulder can railroad through legislation against specialty cars. I am fortunate, in my state combines and tractors are the norm on highways so things are a bit more open. Even with the lack of DMV regs here, I am trying to work to perpetuate this great pastime. Trent
--
Something's Gotta Happen

Pennsylvania sucks when it comes to Motor Vehicle Codes. We have annual inspections for all vehicles. Rods must have Hoods
and Hood sides, bumpers (front and rear), windows must be 4"tall , NO BLUEDOTS, No NEON, and fenders that cover a certain
percentage of the radius. THere isn't any limit on scrubline as I'm aware of. I'm lucky to have an inspection mechanic that
passes me with no bumpers, no hood and bluedots. I've been pulled over for speeding twice in it, and the cop never said a
word. So, I guess if they knew what they were looking at, or, wanted to be a jerk, they could've nailed me. I've been fortunate,
but, I'm not gonna change my car. It's fun being the Outlaw once in a while. LOL

P.S. they're about to make emmisions test mandatory here in good o'l PA. Can't wait for that!

These cops went to a "Cops for Kids" carshow, and wrote tickets? Did anyone complain to their C.O? I'll bet if they did, the tickets would be dropped, and they would have been knocked down a peg or 2!
In NY, they couldn't write them if they were not on the public highway.
I drove my 37 all over NY, PA and Mass for years. Slammed on the ground, no bumpers, real loud, blue dots, and no registration sticker, as for some reason it wouldn't stick to the glass. Never got stopped. In fact, I went through a state police roadblock several times with no problem.
Once, a local yocal came after me for one of his favorite cruise night tickets, blue dots. A guy in an SUV going about 20mph over the speed limit saved me from that one.
--
Charlie