Georgia Trail Riders Forum
MEMBERS DISCUSSION AREA => General Discussion => Topic started by: Jimmy on April 20, 2008, 12:01:19 PM
-
.....for driving without doors. The cop didn't give me a ticket or a written warning, so I tried not to argue with him, but I still think its BS. I told him that a read all of Section 40 (GA vehicular code) and it never once mentioned doors and that I had my one required mirror that allowed me to see 200 feet behind me. I told him I never keep anything in the car that could easily turn into a projectile or anything that could fly out and litter the road. He told me that it may not be in GA code but its an equipment violation in Macon. He told me if I put a small ratchet strap across the door frame, he wouldn't have even thought about pulling me over since "a seatbelt will only help so much". If he was writing me a ticket, I would have kindly asked him to explain how a piece of 1" webbing designed to take a constant load of a few hundred pounds would have saved me if a piece of 3" webbing designed to take an instantaneous load of a few thousand pounds couldn't. I also kept my mouth shut about the probably hundreds of cops that have seen me in every county from Milledgeville to Murphy, NC in the past year, not to mention the three others I saw this morning that didn't stop me. So, anybody know where I should go about trying to find a copy of Macon's vehicular code? I'd like to read over it, and if it says nothing about doors, carry a copy in my glovebox with me. If it does say I need doors, any one want to bend up some t00b for me?
-
hmmm that is interesting. I wonder if they pull over every Wrangler as well or did he pull you over just because it isnt normal for anything but a Wrangler to be doorless?
-
.....for driving without doors. The cop didn't give me a ticket or a written warning, so I tried not to argue with him, but I still think its BS. I told him that a read all of Section 40 (GA vehicular code) and it never once mentioned doors and that I had my one required mirror that allowed me to see 200 feet behind me. I told him I never keep anything in the car that could easily turn into a projectile or anything that could fly out and litter the road. He told me that it may not be in GA code but its an equipment violation in Macon. He told me if I put a small ratchet strap across the door frame, he wouldn't have even thought about pulling me over since "a seatbelt will only help so much". If he was writing me a ticket, I would have kindly asked him to explain how a piece of 1" webbing designed to take a constant load of a few hundred pounds would have saved me if a piece of 3" webbing designed to take an instantaneous load of a few thousand pounds couldn't. I also kept my mouth shut about the probably hundreds of cops that have seen me in every county from Milledgeville to Murphy, NC in the past year, not to mention the three others I saw this morning that didn't stop me. So, anybody know where I should go about trying to find a copy of Macon's vehicular code? I'd like to read over it, and if it says nothing about doors, carry a copy in my glovebox with me. If it does say I need doors, any one want to bend up some t00b for me?
That's lame. Maybe the DMV??? I'll becha a dolla they got it there
-
hmmm that is interesting. I wonder if they pull over every Wrangler as well or did he pull you over just because it isnt normal for anything but a Wrangler to be doorless?
Yeah Jimmy, put your doors back on, it's rude >:(
-
That sucks. Like Jeremy said, if a Wrangler can drive without doors, why not a Cherokee. But hey, now its just time for tube doors or half doors.
-
jimmy, you have a cherokee?
-
only one of the coolest...
-
Probably a new cop and he was just wanted to be at home with his doors off. Dont sweat it until he pull you over again.
-
Probably a new cop and he was just wanted to be at home with his doors off. Dont sweat it until he pull you over again.
Well, it was like a half mile from my house on the road I take to school and work every day (Vineville), so if he patrols around that area I don't want him to stop me and be like "I told you not to do this, here's a ticket".
-
only one of the coolest...
Ha, thanks Matt, I wish.
-
i would have to dig... 40-8 is that equipment section. several years ago, i did read that there was a requirement that any vehicle equiped with doors had to have them on the vehicle when driven on the road. i looked recently, but didnt see it. i think it was buried in some obscure code section. was there a code section on the written warning? if not, i would honestly speak to a supervisor on it. not neceaasrily to complain, but if they can't find it either, then that officer is making invalid stops.
let me edit:
if that particular city/county has an ordnance which restricts doors on vehicles... that could be a possible legal stop as well.
I am having th hardest time... and i have scanned ALL of the 40-8 section and i can't find it. either it's a local ordnance, or it isn't a valid stop.
-
Thanks, I was waiting for your input. He didn't give me a written warning, so I don't have a code section to look at. I am going to call the PD when they open and see if they can give me any insight into the local ordanances.
-
I searched Title 40 again, and didn't find anything. I did however, find this little tidbit:
provided that the term "private passenger automobile" shall not include a multipurpose vehicle, which is, for the purposes of this Code section, defined as a motor vehicle, except a trailer, designed to carry ten passengers or less and constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road operation.
Does this mean that we drive multipurpose vehicles and therefore some laws that apply to passenger vehicles don't apply to us?
-
I searched Title 40 again, and didn't find anything. I did however, find this little tidbit:
provided that the term "private passenger automobile" shall not include a multipurpose vehicle, which is, for the purposes of this Code section, defined as a motor vehicle, except a trailer, designed to carry ten passengers or less and constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road operation.
Does this mean that we drive multipurpose vehicles and therefore some laws that apply to passenger vehicles don't apply to us?
That's what it sounds like. I like it :)
-
and in that sense that can be interpreted as ANY 4x4 vehicle with above stock modifications used for off road can go door less. Haha I just though of an F250 door less, lol. Either way, I would be calling DMV, police station, whoever to get clarification and if they can fax, email or point you to where it states it in the codes. That way if its legal to have no doors on your Jeep then you can Keep a copy and if the cops pulls you over again show him the print out you have.
-
and in that sense that can be interpreted as ANY 4x4 vehicle with above stock modifications used for off road can go door less. Haha I just though of an F250 door less, lol. Either way, I would be calling DMV, police station, whoever to get clarification and if they can fax, email or point you to where it states it in the codes. That way if its legal to have no doors on your Jeep then you can Keep a copy and if the cops pulls you over again show him the print out you have.
I really hope that it is legal, and if it is, that guy pulls me over again. I have nothing against cops, I have a few cop friends and thought about doing it myself before college, but it would be down right hilarious if he stopped me for it again and I had proof that it was legal. I am calling the police station when I get out of class at 3....
-
Give us the word :)
-
After calling the Police, the Attorney's office, and the Mayor's office, I was finally directed to the city ordinances. They can be found here if you want to read over them and give me your opinions (I would especially appreciate it if b1pig or anyother law enforcement or attorney's on the site looked over the site): http://municode.com/Resources/gateway.asp?pid=10168&sid=10
I found this:
Sec. 21-28. Vehicle cover required.
No person shall operate or load any vehicle on the public streets and roads of this city unless the vehicle is constructed, loaded and securely covered so as to prevent any of its load from dropping, escaping or shifting in such a manner as to create a safety hazard or in such a manner so as to litter the streets and roads of the city.
(Code 1979, § 14-2003)
I take that as I could be ticketed for driving without doors if and only if I had papers that could/were flying out of the Jeep that were littering the road way or had large objects in the hatch or back seat that could turn into a projectile or fall out and create an obstacle in the road. So...I need to strap down anything in my hatch and not leave trash sitting in my floorboards, correct? I skimmed the state code, found here: http://www.lexis-nexis.com/hottopics/gacode/default.asp again and found nothing, again.
Any thoughts, or ideas? I guess it would be impossible to find out who the officer was unless I wait for him to pull me over again.
Oh, and my horn might be illegal to blow on the street....lol........
-
haha so ummmm dont shoot but I had the website address... I totally forgot about it. I am on there all the time for my job.
-
You piece of crap! Lol, no biggy, I got it one way or another.
-
Oh, and my horn might be illegal to blow on the street....lol........
ehh? why is that?
I'm guessing the PA we all have attatched to our CB's are also illegal then?
-
Oh, and my horn might be illegal to blow on the street....lol........
ehh? why is that?
I'm guessing the PA we all have attatched to our CB's are also illegal then?
I have an Oooga horn that I got from Harbor Freight. According to city ordinance, its illegal to use a horn other than one installed from the dealer or manufacturer on city streets, lol.
-
Oh, and my horn might be illegal to blow on the street....lol........
ehh? why is that?
I'm guessing the PA we all have attatched to our CB's are also illegal then?
I have an Oooga horn that I got from Harbor Freight. According to city ordinance, its illegal to use a horn other than one installed from the dealer or manufacturer on city streets, lol.
Wow, never heard that one before. ONLY manufacturer's horn. That's harsh.
-
Oh, and my horn might be illegal to blow on the street....lol........
ehh? why is that?
I'm guessing the PA we all have attatched to our CB's are also illegal then?
I have an Oooga horn that I got from Harbor Freight. According to city ordinance, its illegal to use a horn other than one installed from the dealer or manufacturer on city streets, lol.
Wow, never heard that one before. ONLY manufacturer's horn. That's harsh.
Well, it says "manufacterers style" i.e. OEM replacement only. Oh well, I just want to cruise doorless!
-
Well, it says "manufacterers style" i.e. OEM replacement only. Oh well, I just want to cruise doorless!
I think we'll win that one ;) Guys have been doing it for decades without too much fuss.
-
Just move. I think you could ride a 3 wheel car round here and the cops would wave at you. :D
-
There are ghetto ass hoopty-mobiles riding around here that should have seen the crusher decades ago riding around. I think the dude just wanted to be a prick. I shot an email to the captain of internal affairs with my whole story as well as a couple quoted codes from the state and city. I doubt they will be able to figure out how the cop was, but atleast I will have confirmation from somebody in the Macon PD.
-
Just keep the handbook of codes in the dash. I would love to see you ramble off a few 23-19's! HA! :D
-
Hey Milsap, what's your opinion?
-
There are ghetto ass hoopty-mobiles riding around here that should have seen the crusher decades ago riding around.
LOL, are you sure they are riding around and not..................riding around? :D
-
There are ghetto ass hoopty-mobiles riding around here that should have seen the crusher decades ago riding around. I think the dude just wanted to be a prick. I shot an email to the captain of internal affairs with my whole story as well as a couple quoted codes from the state and city. I doubt they will be able to figure out how the cop was, but atleast I will have confirmation from somebody in the Macon PD.
aaahhh, Macon. gang central. ::)
about vehicle classification. the only way a vehicle may qualify as Multi Purpose is if it is titled as such. i am fairly certain that most SUVs are in that class, and therefore, certain restrictions such as window tint dont apply... but the vehicle must be registered as MP on the title and registration.
myself and a couple of fellow supervisors poked through the codes and could not locate anything that specifically covers that subject the only "close" thing is ....
40-8-7. Driving unsafe or improperly equipped vehicle; punishment for violations of chapter generally; vehicle inspection by law enforcement officer without warrant
(a) No person shall drive or move on any highway any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer, or any combination thereof, unless the equipment upon any and every such vehicle is in good working order and adjustment as required in this chapter and the vehicle is in such safe mechanical condition as not to endanger the driver or other occupant or any person upon the highway.
... which is far too vague when you are speaking of doors.
-
^That one has gotten me before...
-
There are ghetto ass hoopty-mobiles riding around here that should have seen the crusher decades ago riding around. I think the dude just wanted to be a prick. I shot an email to the captain of internal affairs with my whole story as well as a couple quoted codes from the state and city. I doubt they will be able to figure out how the cop was, but atleast I will have confirmation from somebody in the Macon PD.
aaahhh, Macon. gang central. ::)
about vehicle classification. the only way a vehicle may qualify as Multi Purpose is if it is titled as such. i am fairly certain that most SUVs are in that class, and therefore, certain restrictions such as window tint dont apply... but the vehicle must be registered as MP on the title and registration.
myself and a couple of fellow supervisors poked through the codes and could not locate anything that specifically covers that subject the only "close" thing is ....
40-8-7. Driving unsafe or improperly equipped vehicle; punishment for violations of chapter generally; vehicle inspection by law enforcement officer without warrant
(a) No person shall drive or move on any highway any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer, or any combination thereof, unless the equipment upon any and every such vehicle is in good working order and adjustment as required in this chapter and the vehicle is in such safe mechanical condition as not to endanger the driver or other occupant or any person upon the highway.
... which is far too vague when you are speaking of doors.
Thanks again for the insight, we'll see what the Captain that I emailed says. Oh, and Macon doesn't have gangs, atleast according to the former Mayor. ;)
-
Thanks again for the insight, we'll see what the Captain that I emailed says. Oh, and Macon doesn't have gangs, atleast according to the former Mayor. ;)
I strongly dislike that town. :)
-
Thanks again for the insight, we'll see what the Captain that I emailed says. Oh, and Macon doesn't have gangs, atleast according to the former Mayor. ;)
I strongly dislike that town. :)
Yeah, they have a bad spree of crazy guys slashing ankles!
-
Will you need to come check out my new place, its honestly like I live in a whole different city. Its quite nice, except for the drive through the 'hood every morning to school or work.
-
Jimmy, I feel so bad for you. I live in probaly one of the worst parts of downtown Knoxville and its still not that bad. Just a mugging every know and then.
-
Will you need to come check out my new place, its honestly like I live in a whole different city. Its quite nice, except for the drive through the 'hood every morning to school or work.
I'll believe it when I see it ;D
-
Bringing this back from the dead. Talked to my neighbor today who also works for Macon PD. He said he hasn't worked traffic in a few years, so he doesn't know for sure, but he said that as far as he can remember there is no local law against driving around without doors as long as you are wearing a seatbelt, have a mirror, no litter flying out, etc.