MGB: sebring valences and the law

After reading the thread on US vs EURO tail light lenses, and the comments about legality and getting busted by the fuzz, I'm wondering if any of you who have non-bumpered cars (preferably with Sebring valences) have ever had issues with being stopped by police?

I'm planning on having front and rear Sebring valences on my 1966 B.

Just curious...

I've never had a problem with it. Most law enforcement officers would have no idea if the vehicle came with them originally or not.

You'll never have an issue...

All depends if you get stopped for doing something stupid.....then the "no bumpers" issue can become a problem. As an example: California Vehicle Code requires bumpers front and rear on a car..........Steve's "hey give me a ticket" MGC GTS replica hasn't been bothered so far because he hasn't done anything stupid (and got caught). If that happens, there won't be enought tickets in the officer's book to cover the code violations. Most cops don't want to get out of their car and make trouble if you don't make trouble first.

No problems with the sebring rear valance installed, and no bumper on the front with the factory valance (soon to have the sebring valance). No problem getting an inspection sticker .

There are two things at play here......state vehicle codes and Federal law covering all cars made after Jan 1, 1968. Most states have a provision in their code to enforce the Federal requirements as well as any goofy state law as well. In California, these violations will result in a 'fix-it' ticket....which is far worse that just a fine. It could mean endless repairs to satisfy the local cop doing the inspection to get it signed off.....or it could be nothing depending on where it happened. In California at least....do not take these fix-it tickets lightly.

My MGB (sebring style) is the ONLY car I've ever owned that I haven't been pulled over in. In MN, its only the State Troopers who enforce that stuff anyway, and its rare to see them anywhere but along boring stretches of Interstate.

California code only requires bumpers for vehicles that originally came with them. While the MGC did come with them originally, good luck to the officer to have any clue about that fact.

I did have a cop pull up next to me once and ask a question about my license plates (which weren't even on the car) and then drive off. They really don't care about cars like these.

If they say anything about my car then I'll question them about the legality of driving this one on the street... :devil:

[quote="Steve S"]
California code only requires bumpers for vehicles that originally came with them. While the MGC did come with them originally, good luck to the officer to have any clue about that fact.
[/quote]

Steve is kinda right, technically, but like I said its up to the cop. Cops I worked with knew that any car built after 1967 needed everything and it was a Federal violation as well to not have it (or to remove it). Most cops love cars and if you don't make trouble..you won't have trouble...but you are not going to win a case like that if you try to beat the system (in California...in New Mexico, well that's a whole 'nother ball game).

Be aware of your local laws, even if they arn't enforced. Then make an educated decision about what to modify on your car.

What is ignored today, may become compulsory tomorrow.

In some states that have had vehicle inspections, the lack of a bumper has been an issue.

It's unusual for a police officer to issue a citation, unless you are doing something stupid. Usually they just smile at the balding guy in the cool looking car.

I have had a friend pulled over in the middle of a raging snowstorm in downtown Denver for not having a licence plate on the front of his 1974 MG Midget.

Calif. doesn't enforce the federal reg's, unless you drive a big rig or aren't in compliance with the smog laws. But you're correct when you say that if you don't cause trouble then they will most likely leave you alone. Most of them go after the fast n' furious types or drag queens.

As a retired police officer, all the comments about not drawing attention to oneself by doing stupid things are right on target. Most of us didn't really care about minor equipment violations---unless the person gave us a "reason to care." Additionally, equipment regulations vary from state to state. In Oregon, there is no regulation requiring bumpers. Check state regs, usually on-line, if you are really curious. And, if your state requires a front number plate, please display one. It will eliminate one reason to stop you. If you have the required plate, the lack of a bumper if required won't likely be an issue. And besides, there is new technology out there that uses equipment in police cars to scan plates coming and going. If your MG is stolen, and has a front plate, the chances of recovering it are greatly improved. There are a lot of really dangerous "fast and furious" out there to deal with, not British sports car nuts. After all, we are essentially harmless, right?

I'm sure things would change for steve if he dressed like a flat biller put a massive stereo in and acted like an 16 year old punk. Most of the time the stuff like bumpers, plates etc tend to be "asshole" tickets.

It also doesn't just depend on what state you're in, but what city. I've never had a vehicle with a front plate and only once (20 years ago) been asked about it. However in a few nearby cities where they use red light cameras as a major source of income, you are unlikely to last a week without being cited. Malibu, no problem. Beverly hills, ticket. Two cities only 40 miles apart yet completely different in attitude. That's why I never drive through the city if I can help it - too many rulebooks being carried around!

Steve. Your GTS replica is just a rolling ticket waiting to happen.









he says jealously.

[quote="Be Coming"]
Steve. Your GTS replica is just a rolling ticket waiting to happen.
he says jealously.[/quote]
I thought so too, but I've driven in front of, behind and beside many police officers (CHP, Sherrif, LAPD) and none of them give more than a glance unless they're admiring the car. It's a massive rolling violation and painted in two-tone "give me a ticket now please" red, but so far no hassles whatsoever. Most of the time I forget to even put the plates on it. Maybe it's the strong So Cal car culture that's saving me? Whatever it is, I'm not complaining!

Had a rear Sebring valance on my 70 roadster, and now have a front Sebring valance on my 73 GT. Never had any problems (except a ticket for a missing front license plate— it wrecks the look of the front valance). There is no law as far as I know that says you can't remove your bumper(s) and drive that way -- e.g., bumpers aren't emission control equipment.

In fact, it's actually legal to remove a factory-installed airbag from a late model car and drive it that way (unlike seat belts, there are no "mandatory airbag laws"). You just can't re-sell the car without the airbag if it had one factory-installed.

Anyway, the valances are no problem as long as you re-mount any required parts such as license plate illumination lights, backup/reversing lights etc. For a backup light, it does not have to be the factory one, just a strong light that is tied into reverse gear (I recommend a Hella 500 halogen work light with a 50 watt H3 bulb, like I have).

[quote="Steve S"]
I thought so too, but I've driven in front of, behind and beside many police officers (CHP, Sherrif, LAPD) and none of them give more than a glance unless they're admiring the car. It's a massive rolling violation and painted in two-tone "give me a ticket now please" red, but so far no hassles whatsoever. Most of the time I forget to even put the plates on it. Maybe it's the strong So Cal car culture that's saving me? Whatever it is, I'm not complaining![/quote]

The thruth is the police just don't pull old farts over much. :D

[quote="The Wiz"]
[quote="Steve S"]
I thought so too, but I've driven in front of, behind and beside many police officers (CHP, Sherrif, LAPD) and none of them give more than a glance unless they're admiring the car. It's a massive rolling violation and painted in two-tone "give me a ticket now please" red, but so far no hassles whatsoever. Most of the time I forget to even put the plates on it. Maybe it's the strong So Cal car culture that's saving me? Whatever it is, I'm not complaining![/quote]

The thruth is the police just don't pull old farts over much. :D[/quote]

LOL!:thumbsup:

I have been tagged for not having a front plate on my TR7. After 2 years of getting away with it a cop in the traffic section got me.
He was apologetic, probably had a quote to fill, and I am sure if he was a general duties guy he would have left me alone.
My 34 year old TR had never had a plate on the front, the bumper was unmolested so the ticket ($80.00!) gave me the incentive to fab up
a no-drill mount for under the bumper.

Rich

[quote="74 Bracken B"]The thruth is the police just don't pull old farts over much. :D[/quote]

Man, it's getting rough in here! :bouncing:

Many thaks for all the contribuitions. I did get stopped and warned, then finally a ticket for my 73 TR6 that had neither bumper nor front plate. I just had to install the plate and have it veriifed, then the ticket was rescinded.

I will run a front plate on the B, as it is required in Ontario law. My Miata had a swinging licence plate on the front, installed in the air intake. Worked well for five years.

im 22, used to get pulled over ALL the time in my modern ford fiesta, once i got pulled 4 times in one night! nothing fancy, just a young lad in a standard (if very well maintained car). driving my heavily modified MGB i have never been pulled, ever... i had a policeman egg me on to over 100 down a dual carrageway before he sped off with blues and two's on once. i think classic cars are just generally better recieved by law enforcement officers, they see see a piece of nostalgia that somebody has poured 100's if not 1000's of man hours and pounds into, it may not be road legal, but with that kind of investment, the chances of thrashing the car without reguard for safety is unlikely even if it is just to protect ones investment.

[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues_and_twos][color=#FF0000]Blues and twos is a colloquial term[/color][/url]

thats what like about the international nature of this forum

$175.00 for no front number plate (I did suggest that most cops come from behind... I am not sure if I hid my smirk well enough or not - and there was no sign of leniency in his eyes).

I now have the plate wired to the grill for easy removal... although i have been told that it is meant to be "properly affixed".

Back in the day, you could get pulled over for no bumpers...

today however, chrome bumpers themselves are such a rarity, I'd venture a guess that most younger folks who see a bumperless MGB pay no attention... dont all modern cars look "bumperless" ???