CHP Vin Verification Experience

[Andreas]

I just called down to my local chp office where the officer who had had been in charger of vin verifications for the past 15+ years explained to me that the whole purpose of sb100 was to bring older cars in from out of state. He proceeded to tell me that if the car was recently built and has never been registered that it would be brought in as a 2010 and would have to conform to 2010 safety/smog laws. This gets even better. He claimed that he had pulled cobras over before and sent them to the bar. They had to put catalytic converters on the cobras to make them pass. I asked him how they would even get catalytic converters to fit in such a car and he told me not to worry because they make them.

We don't need to start yet another thread on year of the motor, year of the body... I just want to know if anybody has had a good experience at a particular chp office with an officer that is familiar with the system. I know I started this project a few years ago but how much has the process changed? what all do i need to pass this test?

[jhv48]

Once you have your SB100 number, and you have to get it before you actually see the CHP, he will not care one iota whether your car is smog legal or not. He will only verify that the parts on your car are not stolen, it looks relatively compliant and then he will affix a VIN number to your chassis.

The next step is the BAR cert, and that will be merely a formality also, since you will have your SB100 exemption.

However, your car will be registered as the year that the build was completed. In this case, 2010. Doesn't effect anything BUT the amount of $$$$ you will pay to register it!

And yes, there are still unused SB100 numbers available.

[Andreas]

Jim - thanks for the info. will chp check lights or anything like that? i've had my sb100 for a few years now so that's all taken care of. i have an appointment for the chp pacheco office in the beginning of may.

[RodKnock]

Make an appointment to see Officer Rusconi in the San Jose CHP (Junction) Office. He's probably done most of the Cobra guys in the South Bay and Peninsula.

[Randy Rosenberg]

I agree 110% with Rodney. Run, don't walk, to the CHP office in San Jose.

Andreas, you only need to get a brake & lamp inspection IF the DMV tells you. Not every DMV has this requirement.

Last, IMHO, the CHP officer in "Orinda" may find himself either unemployed on in court at the wrong end of a law suit if he continues to implement his incorrect interpretation of the CA Law. Everything he told is 100% wrong.

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Make an appointment to see Officer Rusconi in the San Jose CHP (Junction) Office. He's probably done most of the Cobra guys in the South Bay and Peninsula.

+1 Officer Rasconi at the San Jose CHP office is the guy to see. Sounds like the officer at your local office is confused.

BTW - You don't need to have an SB100 sequence number in your hand to get the CHP inspection completed. It can be done before or after you get a sequence number. BAR can only be done after you have your SB100 number.

[Mike Bartlett]

Wow, sounds like that CHP guy Andreas spoke with has a vendetta against Cobra's? I would sure hate to get pulled over by him and get some phony ticket about catalytic converters, etc that I would then have to fight to have reprieved....Yuk!

Mike

[Rick 427 Cobra]

The guy you talked to is an idiot. I do not remember the guy in Dublin, but I had 2 bad experiences with him. I agree, go to San Jose. Rusconi (sp?) is a Mustang guy and is cool.

[CobraEd]

Originally Posted by Mike Bartlett

Wow, sounds like that CHP guy Andreas spoke with has a vendetta against Cobra's? I would sure hate to get pulled over by him and get some phony ticket about catalytic converters, etc that I would then have to fight to have reprieved....Yuk!

Mike

Just tell the assclown that the converters are inside the 4" sidepipes.


.

[jhv48]

CHP won't check out your lights or wipers or brakes or anything else. That is for the Brake and Light inspection IF DMV ordered you to get one.

[Andreas]

Rasconi it is! I'm going to call and change the appointment tomorrow. I didn't want to mention names or office locations but I officially don't recommend oakland. The guy was a complete "assclown" and I find it scary that this has been his job for the past 15+ years. Thanks guys for the responses!

[rodneym]

Now you've got the right idea. You'll get good advice here. Always start here or an owners group.
A local fellow Cobra owner told me (he's a retired cop, btw) that the 'new' cop is NOT the car buff of yesteryear. He pulled in to his old station and nothing nut Priuses, Tercels and the like.
Find a CHP who is a car guy. It will only help. You can only find that by asking first. So much BS from folks who should know better.
My CHP inspection was done as a house call, 'in facility', before the car hit the street. And yes, he's a car nut. It was his lunch break.

[Randy Rosenberg]

Originally Posted by Andreas

Rasconi it is! I'm going to call and change the appointment tomorrow. I didn't want to mention names or office locations but I officially don't recommend oakland. The guy was a complete "assclown" and I find it scary that this has been his job for the past 15+ years. Thanks guys for the responses!

For the record, there's an "assclown" in Hayward as well - avoid Hayward like the plague (long story, but he told me that if I drove my Cobra to him he would impound it; what an idiot!).

And when I called Redwood City, they told me that they only do VIN verifications for San Mateo County - I guess the "C" in "CHP" stands for "county" - again, more "assclowns" there, too.

Go to San Jose - run, don't walk!

[Dangerous Doug]

Went to San Jose CHP office and had no issues whatsoever. Officer was a Mustang fan and told me about his 347 in his fastback. I think his family is into GT-350's as well. I don't remember his name, but he was a nice guy and knew what he was talking about.

DD

[Whiplash]

I had a totally different experience in Redwood city. The officer (can't remember his name-or won't post it on the net) not only was super cool and inspected my car, but took off his blues and went for a ride with me afterwards.

Nice knowing you can stick it getting on the freeway and the person sitting next to you says "go for it!"

[289fia_cobra]

Originally Posted by Whiplash

I had a totally different experience in Redwood city. The officer (can't remember his name-or won't post it on the net) not only was super cool and inspected my car, but took off his blues and went for a ride with me afterwards.

Nice knowing you can stick it getting on the freeway and the person sitting next to you says "go for it!"

Wow, talk about having a "get out of jail" card! Must of made his day as well.

[PANAVIA]

I tried an experiment , I bumped into an officer in our local Starbucks, and asked him a trivia question - sooo "if you pull up a registration " and you get back the manufacturer SPCNS , what is it >?

-- They dont know. --

I know the officer referenced and he explained that they get just about NO training on stuff like this.

I wonder if they would accept private civilian training -- I could recycle my SB100 PDF

Steve

[Randy Rosenberg]

Originally Posted by PANAVIA

I tried an experiment , I bumped into an officer in our local Starbucks...

Steve, was he a CHP or Local Police officer?

[Bernica]

A friend of mine is a CHP, and I shared this with him. He said it sounds like the guy just went to one of their internal seminars and got alot of the info wrong. Said to just go somewhere else.