Ariel.Club Forum

My 2006 Lotus Elise does not have bumpers. Lotus got an exemption. There are still no front bumpers after the extension expired. The 2007 does have little bumperets but I doubt they do anything at al.

OK,  merged.

I'll merge them if they are similiar enough.

I don't remember where but I beleive the Constitiution or the Bill of Rights grants ALL US citizens the right to free progress throughout the country. Seizing your car registration for a bogus reason is tantamount to canceling your rights to travel freely throughout the country as they rarely let you ride a bicycle or walk along highways. One more point to argue if it ever went that far. I've heard people that don't register their cars, don't get drivers license and stil fight those tickets in court and win by stating the appropriate 'rights' as citizens. of course that sounds flaky to me but I'm just repeating what I heard. An avenue for someone to explore as well to increase the size of the stick when it comes time to break out some whoop-a$$.

Yes, I did mean my registration not my title. Oops. I also didn't see the thread like halfway down the page that discusses this exact same issue. Man, I am not on the ball today! Thanks for all the info, though. Its been really helpful. For now, I'll just play it cool (not hard to do in the Atom ) and let Johnny Law come to me if he wants to take issue. As the tax payer, I'm the boss, right? Hahahah....

cranius, I agree with all the comments made by the experts above. IF you find any reasons that your Atom may be illegal, it would behoove you to speak with Jason at SEMA  to get more details. IF it is still questionable, I would suggest speaking with a state representative or senator for your state if they are a car enthusiast (read bolus's thread). Don't give him/her too much information until you can determine that they are on your side. Having them write some legislation to help you is a possibility. Of course there are frequently neighboring states that may happily register your Atom.

P.S. I'd be REALLY pissed off if some %$@*& who just so happens to be a  kicked my car. I think I'd be likely to take that to HIS boss! What a J E R K !

i would't really worry about the title (record of ownership).  perhaps you mean registration (permission to use the vehicle on public roads)? 

i bet that they can take away your registration pretty easily if they wanted to.  i would guess its kind of like a driver's license, you break the law and they can take it away. 

Taking the title from you could be compared to seizing property - the state probably can't do that without invoking eminent domain.  In California, at least, the state is fully at liberty to say what can and can't be driven on the road, as well as who can and can't drive on the road.  If you're too dangerous a driver, they revoke your license.  I can only extrapolate that if you're driving a too noncompliant car, that they have the right to revoke its registration as well (e.g. the smog check system).

Read your state statutes carefully. In Arkansas, it is unlawful for an officer to pull you over simply to determine the car's compliance with regard to bumpers, windshield, etc. While I would not want to challenge an officer with this, it could easily get a traffic stop thrown out of court if it ever went that far.

Many times a trooper will think that he/she knows the vehicle registration requirements, but they really don't. Keep cool (sounds like you did just that), know your state's laws and you will be ahead of the game.

Years ago I did my research on a bogus "bumper height" collar in Ohio and successfully defended it, no attorney needed.

Print out the pertinent parts - for example stuff about  bumpers, fenders, windshields, wipers, etc and as long as your car fits or slips through a loop hole it you can use this with the cops.  I'm sure it would only make them more pissed but if they are threatening to tow your car it could save you.  Like an ace card in the sleeve. 

[quote="bolus"]
Do some reading here:

http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title9/ar19/

http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/t ... 19/ch4.pdf

I just googling around so I'm not sure if this is the right information but it only looks like you need bumpers if they  originally came with the car

Passenger cars originally equipped with bumpers; bumper height
Sec. 1. When operated upon a highway, a motor vehicle registered
as a passenger car that was originally equipped with bumpers as
standard equipment must be so equipped. The bumper height may not
vary more than three (3) inches from the original manufactured
bumper height for the vehicle.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.7.
[/quote]

Oh wow, kick ass! Thank you so much. This is awesome information. I had so much trouble navigating indiana's stupid law site that I gave up. I owe you a beer or something!

Do some reading here:

http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title9/ar19/

http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/t ... 19/ch4.pdf

I just googling around so I'm not sure if this is the right information but it only looks like you need bumpers if they  originally came with the car

Passenger cars originally equipped with bumpers; bumper height
Sec. 1. When operated upon a highway, a motor vehicle registered
as a passenger car that was originally equipped with bumpers as
standard equipment must be so equipped. The bumper height may not
vary more than three (3) inches from the original manufactured
bumper height for the vehicle.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.7.

Drive around slowly, let them see you and see that you are no harm and that should help.  look up the vehicle code requirements for passenger vehicles.  You dont want to argue with a cop but having knowledge of the laws can help a lot especially if there are exceptions for kit cars and the like.

Other than that, enjoy the car and dont worry about this guy.  The only one that got their plates revoted was Brammo in Oregon and that is now all fixed with new legislation. 

You have us and other groups like SEMA action network on your side. 

Long story short: I got pulled over for the first time today since owning the Atom for a whole month! I wasn't breaking any laws, fortunately. It was a local cop who wanted to play hardball. He gave the car a real looking-over and even kicked the front plastic radiator cover (thanks asshole) while asking me where my 5mph bumpers were. He was a true jerk in ever possible sense. Anyway, after seeing my license, registration, and insurance, he RELUCTANTLY decided to let me go but warned that if a state trooper or sheriff pulled me over that he probably wouldn't go so easy on me. Hence, my question.

I bought my car used from Gage & Moysley. My purchase included a friendly little title with the words "Ariel Atom" on it from the good state of Mississippi. My registration process here in Indiana was easy and they just made a special classification for "Ariel Atom" in their computers. I simply showed them the title, showed them the VIN-plate on the car, the insurance card, and away we went. I was given an Indiana title with Ariel Atom on it the same day. No inspection, no nothing (no emissions tests in my county). What I'm wondering is if this cop actually was telling the truth. Could a state trooper/sheriff pull me over and say "Oh, look, no 5mph bumpers. Your car is not street legal." ? Basically, the cop said "Just because the DMV registered it, doesn't mean its legal!". This is my first encounter with the classic WE MAKE THE LAWS AROUND HERE, SON style police officer, so maybe I should just not worry about it? Advice please!

[quote="cshama"]
Lets say you register your car in a state and you get your plates and have given all the documents they require etc. Is the DMV entitled to revoke the registration at a later date? What happens to the sales tax paid?
[/quote]

Absolutely.  As they say, "driving is a privilege, not a right".  You are completely entitled to owning your vehicle, but registration is entirely at the discretion of the government.  If they don't like the way you eat an egg sandwich, they can revoke your right to drive.