I was driving home tonight at around 11:45, and bore whitness to about 4 seperate instances of cops pulling over kids in modded cars for no reason. In the space of 15 minutes, 4 modded imports were nabbed. I need to cary the camera more often.
Granted the victims were not examples of high taste in modding (riced out integras, civics, jettas, etc. rounded out the usual fare of street impala this evening.), but i suppose one has to consider that it's the thought that counts.
Regardless, the best example of the state of law enforcement in the United States can be seen in the ricy, lone integra sitting in front of the flashing blue and red on Central Expressway tonight (for those of you who live in the bay area). I slowed down (as the instincts of self preservation in the face of authority kicked in) and watched the ordeal from the other lane. The police man, donut filled belly bursting over his patent leather belt circled the car, checking off the usual treats: clear corners, hyper-whites, exhaust, et. al. A cab pulls up behind the duo, it appears that the man in blue isn't even going to let this kid drive home. Ricerboy is now stuck with points, exponential insurance, traffic school, fix it tickets, towing fees, taxi charges - What about the rent? What about his education?
Ricerboy was no threat to you, or to I, he merely spat in the face of absurdity -- and got what the absurd thought he had coming. Even with his altezzas and his big wing, Ricerboy sought to be an individual in a sea of vehicular mulch. Our law enforcement, and indeed our civilization is not big on differences. Homogenity is easy, managable, and it's entirely essetial to our "democratic civilization." The dangerous potential of the individual is compromised for the stability and malleability of the collective.
And that is entirely the reason why I, and most likely you (perhaps subconsiously) modify cars. By the sweat of ones own brow, we find a means to transcend the usual. To realize the full potential of the machinery which has come to personify ourselves.
But is it worth it? Is it worth the pig hanging over your ride, his breaths labored as his syruppy imagination tries to conjure up the reason he pulled you over. Your already wasted bank acount has just been attacked by the state, this leach on the individual. And therefore, ultimately, we all lose at the modding game. Every time we have to sell a part to pay for the ticket, or give up a saturday to for re-education (traffic school), another fraction of the individual is compromised - victims of what has to be done when there is no other choice. And every time we lose a choice, we more violently exploit those choices that remain. That's why Honda gave us vtec.
I'm young, and i'm not incredibly well supplied with federal reserve notes. So I have to start to wonder...is modding really worth the pain?
Or maybe I should just build a sleeper.
obrigado
__________________
ellerton engrish: "twisties are just as danger"
i think we would all agree with what you just had to say. Funny, I'm certain most of the officers in question modded out whatever gas guzzler they drove in the seventies, fuzzy dice and all. And if you drive around in a Charger with open headers, hood scoop, and a headlight out you have nothing to worry about. But if you're car has an H or an A on the hood look out. Sadly most of us will probably be the same way when our children are putting higher voltage batteries in their electric cars.
And sometimes I wonder if it IS worth the hassles, always looking over your shoulder, waiting to see if the cop behind you is going to pull you over. It sucks and it seems to be happening more and more. I can be going 90 in my CL and they don't give me a second look but 60 in the lude and they watch every move I make.
I guess that's why I haven't done anything to the outside of my car yet. Unfortunately that didn't stop them from pulling me over one night because they heard the sound of my exhaust. Of course it's not as bad here as it is in Cali. Sometimes I don't know how they stand it.
Regardless, I love it so I will continue to do it!
__________________ NPM 2006.... That's NOT my pussy!!
Live every day like it's your last, because one day, it will be.
RIP Jape
Originally posted by obrigado
Ricerboy was no threat to you, or to I, he merely spat in the face of absurdity -- and got what the absurd thought he had coming. Even with his altezzas and his big wing, Ricerboy sought to be an individual in a sea of vehicular mulch. Our law enforcement, and indeed our civilization is not big on differences. Homogenity is easy, managable, and it's entirely essetial to our "democratic civilization." The dangerous potential of the individual is compromised for the stability and malleability of the collective.
It's more than just modding cars - ask your parents about the homeowner's association rules. Soon we will all be forced to have the same everything. So much for Ralph Waldo Emerson. I guess Americans can call him a great writer without actually reading what he said (he was very much against conformity). [BTW, it's homogeny, not homogenity ]
Quote:
And that is entirely the reason why I, and most likely you (perhaps subconsiously) modify cars. By the sweat of ones own brow, we find a means to transcend the usual...
But is it worth it?
Is it worth it? Yes (not that I drive a modified car). To quote the only Honda commercial that was ever decent, if you didn't, you'd be 'just another pathetic sheep following the herd.' I'd never put a bumper sticker on my car, but "Question Authority" should be plastered all over the place. They're in charge, but it doesn't mean they're right. Be you, you have a right to be different.
Just in case you think I might be a disgruntled rice boy kid, my car is stock (except for removed resonator and pedals) and I'm an old man - 30 looms large.
yea well said.
You have to bargain between the price you pay for parts, labor and tickets to the feeling you get when you get in your car or when someone looks at your car cause its just so phat.
__________________
1997 Honda Prelude SH
- Injen CAI
- Seat covers
Also i very much agree that Muscle cars dont get pulled over but Imports do. All I have to say is becareful i guess. Is it worth it? Hell yea. It does cost alot of money in more then one way but if you manige ur life and dont get pulled into the hype 2 deeply, you will be fine.
__________________
"PeAcE is a shadow of war,
trying to forget its own painful past"
btw... yes modding a car is worth it. sometimes i can stare at my car and just awe in its beauty. sometimes i wonder " would i be still staring at it the way i am right now if it was stock?" Probably not. obviously the balance between modding a car and cops harrassing us is leaning torward the our way, because the import scene is still growing. one day they'll learn to appreciate the beauty in all this.
Sup man, you should be a writer or something and put that talent to good use... LOL Yeah, I think modding your car is worth it. Well to me it is... I like working on cars and cars in general, so therefore modding my car is an (expensive) hobby for me. Plus working on my car keeps me out of trouble. LOL So everyone out there.... continue modding your car... friends don't let friends drive stock!!!
I'm with thewedge4 on this one. I could care less about how my car looks from the front or sides, as long as I'm giving other drivers a quick look at my stock tail.
Function over form, and the cops will be none the wiser!
Sadly most of us will probably be the same way when our children are putting higher voltage batteries in their electric cars. [/B][/QUOTE]
what you say is soo tru, and sad. most of the old hot rods and classic cars on the road are owned by the generation from which they came.....people who owned a particular model or dreamed about owning a certain car when they were kids. and they are lucky we still use gasoline to fuel our cars. we probably won't have that luxury; ya know, buy an old beat-up 30 yr. old 5th gen. prelude straight out of some farmers barn, and do a ground-up restoration, and cruise around town 5 miles under the speed limit so everyone can stare and tell you how they remember how cool those cars were back in the day....and just pull into the gas station to fuel up......i wish. oh well, i'm just babblin' and those future cars will certainly be modded by somebody too.
Is red bowlgood?? I want some so bad....never triedem
It tastes good at first, then it starts to turn into cough syrup. It certainly is a jolt for someone who is otherwise completely clean (like me) but if you are looking to get hammered i'd suggest a different approach.
obrigado
__________________
ellerton engrish: "twisties are just as danger"
try sobe's adrenaline rush, it tastes better, and i thinks works a little better. take that advise from a third shifter. plus it'll make you cool like Vin Deisel
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