What a difference a couple of numbers make [Archive] - Toyota MR2 Message Board

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View Full Version : What a difference a couple of numbers make

dragraceman2107-03-2011, 08:42 AMAs some of you guys that know me, I track my deuce in NASA hpde but it is also my DD. When I got back from Putnam Park the end of may I was going to remove the number decals from the doors, but then I thought it might be fun to try a little experiment, so I left them on.

Now let me give you just a little back ground on me, Im in my late 40's(but still a kid at heart, lol) and i have gray hair, so i dont look like a kid. I finally got my MR2 rebuilt and back on the road in Jan. of this year and while it does atract some attention from people, mainly because they are becoming pretty rare, I had not had any interest from the police. I usually wouldnt even get a second look from a cop and thats the way its been since putting her on the road.

Now that brings me to what i consider the funny part of the story, after getting back from tracking my car at Putnam Park, I left the 10 in tall numbers on the doors, LOL, and holy crap I think the cops were coming out of the wood work. In just 2 weeks time I was tailed by the police 22 times and stopped twice. Most of them will come flying up on you and you can see them banging away on there lap top computers, running my tag,which in of itself is a very scary thing, because most cops i have met cant drive for S**T anyway, and of course my car is 100% legal and registered. I have passed them sitting on the shoulder and a couple of them have all but caused an accident trying to catch up with me just to find out, its just a car with numbers on the door. 2 of them went through the median and U turned to "chase" me down, the more this happened the funnier it got to me, so I started waving at them. Now of the 2 that stopped me, ill give them both credit, they were cool and kinda made a joke out of it and i havent been ticketed at all. One of them was so cool , he wanted to know what all I had done to the car and ended up chatting with him for about 10 minutes.

After about 3 weeks, I thought i wanted to prove my theroy, so i removed the numbers and wouldnt you just know it, they havent tailed or stopped me since, like i said before, they dont give me a second look, LMAO! Now I ask you guys out there, isnt that the most ridiculous thing you have heard of in a long time. In my book its called "profiling" and thats just wrong! Cops are always complaining they get a bad "RAP" and there just out there to help people, but it would seen otherwise to me, especialy after my little experiment.

So the other day i stopped into a local graphics shop and they are making me up some new numbers, in a kind of custom design, that I will be putting back on the car when they are finished, just to screw with the cops somemore, as i find it very funny that they act like that.

Please feel free to post any stories you have had involving the police as im curious if anybody else has had anything happen to them like this.

PEACE!

http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd454/dragraceman21/025.jpg

or this

http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd454/dragraceman21/003.jpg RePete07-03-2011, 09:04 AMInteresting story. It does sound like profiling to me. But just think of the logic about certain profiling. Random stops are less likely to produce results. But stopping a numbered car or 'herrafrush' car of any sort for instance, is likely to net the officer some type of violation. Trying to 'look different' is a flag for them because it may lead them to other violations (like a doobey in the glove box or that shot you just had at the local bar).

Creating those numbers for attention may amuse you, but being under increased scrutiny may come back to bite you as they look for any type of violation. Police officers log not only violations but their stops as well. Only a matter of time before someone tallies your stops and notices no tickets. He may be determined to make a real effort to fine you for a 'subjective' violation that's hard to prove/disprove (cross the line, wide turn, unnecessary noise, running a yellow, etc.). The judge will always & forever err on the side of the police officer's word against yours unless you have witnesses or hard proof. Smarter to remain stealth.

My deuce is ignored by police despite its in-your-face red in a massive sea of boring gray and silver cars. But I did notice last summer that I garnered increased attention when I spent a month polishing my paint. It now shines bright and looks new-ish, that has triggered the police in doing license plate checks on me. But I've always been legit so it's no sweat. I like cops anyway. :) dragraceman2107-03-2011, 09:33 AMLike I said Pete, I dont have a problem with cops either, other than i wish they had more training on high speed driving. I have been involved in club racing for years and seen a bunch of cops come out and "TRYED" to drive fast on a track and its freaking scary! most of them couldnt drive their way out of a wet paper bag, but give them a day of driving instruction(thats according to several cops i have asked) and turn them loose on the city streets with a 4000 lb killing machine. hardly a month goes by that you dont hear about a cop in a "high speed chase" that looses control of his/her cruiser and injures or kills themselves or worse somebody else, that just happened hear less than a month ago, 2 teenage girls completely uninvolved in the incident were killed because the cop lost control of his car at over 100 miles an hour and smashed into them.

As far as getting a BS ticket, sure they can write you up for what ever they want, no question, but i also have an in-car camera that i use for track days, that i also video tape being stopped. I had a cop ask me why I was taping him, I told him the same thing they tell us its for my protection and yours! and while they may not like it its not illegal at least not in my state. Oh and if i should happen to get a ticket, I have about a dozen very good customers that are high profile attorney's that all owe me favors, LOL, so a BS ticket doesnt scare me.

I do appreciate your imput sir, you have a happy and safe holiday! toyotaspeed9007-03-2011, 10:33 AMmy black car has a significant amount of info on it, more than just numbers, and the only thing we get is a little bit of head turning (or a lot of that).

my wife has even been driving it to/from work about 1-2 times per week..... she said she feels like a bad-ass because everyone is looking. We always obey all street laws (especially in that car) and haven't had a single issue with the police.... at all!

http://milesphotography-wa.com/AutoX/051411/2AutoX2011%20(313).jpg

and on the spoiler is a huge web address as well.....(takes up the entire spoiler). These are all 'permanent' graphics dragraceman2107-03-2011, 10:44 AMthats cool, TS, i guess the cops up there are a little more laid back than they are around here, but its all good, like i said I wave at most of them and give them a huge grin and most of them just give you this "deer in the headlights" look back. I also really like the way you have done your car as far as the graphics go, and prop's to the wife too for having that kind of attitude, mine thinks im just nuts and she's probably right.

Have a great 4th my freind and please dont set yourself on fire, peace out! dragraceman2107-04-2011, 06:28 AMbump dragraceman2107-11-2011, 01:30 AMI gotta say im suprized that more folks out there havent weighed in on this one, thought there would be some good stories out there. ElDominio07-11-2011, 01:47 AMI'll just have a small e-pinion on this one.

I notice how the white MR2 has only "21" on it.

I'd guess that draws a lot of attention because a bunch of ricer boyz put random numbers on their cars to look "fast."

Now, the black one, even though it also has number, by the bare fact that it has a bunch of other info, and a phone number, it also looks like a more professional track car that's ocassionaly road-going than some dumbass ricer putting stickers on their car to give them +60HP dragraceman2107-11-2011, 02:37 AMInteresting thought, I am having new "custom" decals made up this week, as Joe at vinyl images and I have been working together on a design and have just about got it perfected, as soon as we do, I will get them on the car and of course post some pics too.

Thanks for your imput! MSAGRO07-11-2011, 11:07 AMNever put numbers on my cars, but was still fun messing with the cops.

In downtown Portland a few years back, it was fun to "Cruise Broadway" every Friday night.

Bunch of cars would circle Broadway and 6th avenue and circle for a few hours.

Of course the cops were out in full force ticketing people for the most minor of offenses to discourage this behavior.

Just for fun one night, me and a friend brought these along:

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa53/MSAGRO_2007/Mugrootbeer.jpg

We peeled the label off and drank proudly from its contents while driving down the strip.

Not long afterwards got pulled over by motorcycle cop, placed the bottle on top of my roof, and he started writing a citation of drinking beer while driving.

After he filled out the form, I casually and innocently asked him what I got pulled over for. He said 'open container, drinking while driving, etc'.

I then said 'can you inspect and smell the contents of the bottle Sir?"

He did, gave me a disgusted look and told me to get the Hell out of here. toyotaspeed9007-11-2011, 11:33 AMI can't say that the cops are or aren't cool out here.... I've had some good and some bad experiences.

the black car attracts 20x more attention with the graphics on it now than it did before... with nothing else changing.... Oteck07-11-2011, 11:41 AMmay not be obvious but when a cop sees numbers like that on the side they'll be alerted with the "Off road Vehicle" on public roads. thats why they are checking for plates for insurance and records Bigbacon07-11-2011, 02:05 PMeven without the numbers and decals, the 2 turns heads EVERYWHERE I got... I see people looking all the time. I catch people staring sometimes for so long they almost wreak their car.

My other car, Mazda RX8, never turns heads, never gets questions, and if people ask what kind of car you drive they just kinda go 'meh.' you'd think it being the nicer sports car would do so but it doesn't. Agentwho07-11-2011, 02:21 PMEvery once in awhile the cops will focus on a target enforcment area. This is ushally to get everyone use to seeing cops in that area so they will straighten up and fly right. For instance at an intersection down the street from me there are always accidents. For a week of so after that there will always be cop cars running radar/ pulling peeps over trying to get them use to slowing down and making the road a bit safer. Driving around with your numbers on does make your car stand out more and thus would get you more attention but I wonder if you didn't happen on one of these target enforcments. Probally not, after all profiling gets result.

On a fun side note on messing with cops. Way back when I was still in high school we would go and cruise the Circle at Atlantic Beach. Of course the cops were out writing tickets for everything they could, one of the big things to get stopped for was sound polution (to much boom boom) The scort I had back then was hooked up with a pretty loud system. To help show off I wired it so I could turn the stereo on and off with my alarm remote. We would park and then hang out away from the cars, when I would see the cops come around (foot, car, or bike) I would turn the boom boom on, we would watch there ears perk up and start zeroing in towards my car. Before they could get to close I would turn it off and they would just be left there with a disapointed look. lsgheero07-11-2011, 02:55 PMThis is what my car used to look like before I took off the decals... working on new ones.

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk257/lsgheero/military%20event/HPIM0654.jpg

I never really had any issues with cops. Benckj07-11-2011, 03:36 PMNot sure how your laws compare but after our track days if we don't remove any numbers then our insurance is invalid if we get into an accident. Something about no coverage if at a race event and the numbers signify that you are participating in a meeting.

jimb dragraceman2107-11-2011, 06:22 PMdidnt know that, but Im still going to put my new ones on when there done. toyotaspeed9007-12-2011, 10:17 AMNot sure how your laws compare but after our track days if we don't remove any numbers then our insurance is invalid if we get into an accident. Something about no coverage if at a race event and the numbers signify that you are participating in a meeting.

jimb

insurance doesn't cover a car when it's running at the event....

I don't see how any insurance company would be able to deny a claim on public streets because you have decals on your car that indicate it WAS used at a race event but did not take place during the event.

There would be no OPL in this situation..... and the auto insurer would be responsible.

However... I always urge people to find out if their insurance company will allow them to race and/or modify the car.

Many people out there have insurance with companies that won't even cover you if you have something as simple as "modified suspension or exhaust". arber021407-12-2011, 01:42 PMThe cops will tell you to remove the numbers up in this area. Yes they will pull you over for having stickers. Profiling??? Absolutely. toyotaspeed9007-12-2011, 02:09 PMand illegal.... they have no reason to pull you over for numbers on the car.... there's nothing illegal about using the car for advertising purposes.... if you leave your numbers on your car you are basically "advertising" that the car was used for racing purposes.

This is why I decided to have the graphics on our black car... I wanted people to see what the car for what it's used for... and to catch the eye..... and once that happened then they'll see the advertising portion. Even though the car rarely leaves the driveway we've had a bit of interest in both the car and photography since we have done the graphics.

If any officer pulled you over for this reason I would ask them to give you a ticket, include their badge number on the ticket, make them include the specific law # (here in wa it would be an RCW #... which stands for 'revised code of washington') and then tell them you'll see them in court and will be submitting a complaint against them for improper use of police authority Bigbacon07-12-2011, 06:25 PMand illegal.... they have no reason to pull you over for numbers on the car.... there's nothing illegal about using the car for advertising purposes.... if you leave your numbers on your car you are basically "advertising" that the car was used for racing purposes.

This is why I decided to have the graphics on our black car... I wanted people to see what the car for what it's used for... and to catch the eye..... and once that happened then they'll see the advertising portion. Even though the car rarely leaves the driveway we've had a bit of interest in both the car and photography since we have done the graphics.

If any officer pulled you over for this reason I would ask them to give you a ticket, include their badge number on the ticket, make them include the specific law # (here in wa it would be an RCW #... which stands for 'revised code of washington') and then tell them you'll see them in court and will be submitting a complaint against them for improper use of police authority

so you'd rather just waste a crap load of time then just have him let you go on your way when they pull you over and there is no issue? dragraceman2107-12-2011, 09:21 PMLOL, come on now boys, thats not why i started this post. And I will say it again, I havent been harassed by the cops the 2 that did pull me over were pretty cool, as far as cops go. I tend to look at it a different way, they are wasting "their" time, not mine, and the other point i was trying to make was the fact, If I was a teenager Im sure I would have been pulled over 22 out of 22 times no question and probably hassled, but when they see the guy driving the car up close has grey hair , they just dont seen to want to follow up. LMAO! toyotaspeed9007-13-2011, 12:27 PMit's improper use of authority....

if they have NO other reason to pull you over other than the numbers (not speeding, didn't not stop at a light/sign, yielding as necessary, muffler not too loud, windshield not broken, car not too low) then yes, I would....

I respect the officers that do their job well and within the law. I do not respect officers who will pull cars over for no legal reason. My way of showing the non-respect is to prove either in court and/or by making an official complaint regarding them at the local precinct.

Now if you're driving like a jackass or doing something stupid... then I'm guessing the numbers caught their eye in order for them to see you do something stupid.... mr2tim07-13-2011, 07:22 PMI'm willing to bet there is some favorable % in cop pull overs vs tickets.

My funniest pull over was in Davie Florida a horsey town south of Ft Lauderdale. Spotted the lights in my rear view pulled over and waited, license & registration ready and waited.

The mounty shows up at my window waving a ticket, I ask what for, he sayz no seat belt and looks down to see me wearing my competition lap belt. Cop got real mad when my wife wouldn't stop laughing at him.

I ran "stickers" for the 1st 15 years I owned and raced my SC car then got tired of all the nasty pit bull type of cops, even tho many younger guys did just want to talk cars.

Having been a Army cop I never was bothered with pull overs.

This message is hidden because toyotaspeed90 is on your ignore list :rofl: dragraceman2107-13-2011, 07:35 PMthanks to everyone for voicing your opinions, oh and I picked up the new decals this morning, figures that it has been raining all afternoon and evening, maybe tomorrow, Ill post pics as soon as there on. toyotaspeed9007-14-2011, 11:49 AMThe mounty shows up at my window waving a ticket, I ask what for, he sayz no seat belt and looks down to see me wearing my competition lap belt. Cop got real mad when my wife wouldn't stop laughing at him.

This message is hidden because toyotaspeed90 is on your ignore list :rofl:

well, he won't see this because I'm apparently being ignored by him.

In any event.

The cop should have actually ticketed you for wearing a "competition" belt on the street without the stock belt over it.

#1... if you have a cage, fixed back seat, and a harness you should never wear the harness without a helmet.... it's just asking to get killed in the event of an accident

#2... race harnesses must meet race specifications that meet or exceed DOT standards... however, they are not approved DOT belts and as such are illegal to be wearing only those.

I never wear my harness on the street. If I ever felt that I should (which I shouldn't) then I would also add the stock belt over it to be legal. dragraceman2107-14-2011, 09:03 PMOk i got them on and heres what i came up with.
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd454/dragraceman21/newnumbers005.jpg
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd454/dragraceman21/newnumbers002.jpg
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd454/dragraceman21/newnumbers006.jpg

Im sure there will be opinions on this, LOL MSAGRO07-14-2011, 09:10 PM^

The only opinion I have is your Photobucket.
You need to use the IMG-code for posting pictures.
It's the bottom option on the pull-down feature on each photo.

Looking forward to seeing the pix. dragraceman2107-14-2011, 09:13 PMLOL yeah sorry Im freaking tired and used wrong code, already fixed. MSAGRO07-14-2011, 09:17 PMLOL yeah sorry Im freaking tired and used wrong code, already fixed.

I see that. You work fast. By the time I posted, you fixed it. SilverFire07-15-2011, 12:56 AMI don't know the laws in your area, but just having numbers on the side here in Alberta will net you a stunting ticket. They give those things out like candy too. Wing too big? Have a BOV rather than a bypass? Cop in a bad mood? When you fight it, the judge asks if it makes you stand out. If you say yes - guilty. If you say no, the cop says it caught his attention and it's a guilty verdict.

Numbers specifically means street racer to cops here and they will give you every ticket they can come up with. My Azenis once got me pulled over. Talked my way out of that one though. dragraceman2107-15-2011, 05:48 AMfortunately down here there is nothing illegal about what im doing, I know a couple of cops locally and have made sure that im not breaking any laws.

TS, I have 4 point harnesses in my car, but I do not wear my shoulder straps when driving on the street, just the lap belts, I have checked with every local law enforcement group in my area, missouri hyway patrol, st louis county police, franklin county sherrif and jefferson county sherrif and they all told me the exact same thing as long as I am seat belted in at the time of being stopped i shouldnt get a ticket and if i did it wouldnt hold up in court, like i said before of the cops that have stopped me, they thought i wasnt wearing seat belt, until they walked up on the car and they both said I was fine once they saw my lap belts, guess the cops are more laid back around here. toyotaspeed9007-15-2011, 08:55 AMfortunately down here there is nothing illegal about what im doing, I know a couple of cops locally and have made sure that im not breaking any laws.

TS, I have 4 point harnesses in my car, but I do not wear my shoulder straps when driving on the street, just the lap belts, I have checked with every local law enforcement group in my area, missouri hyway patrol, st louis county police, franklin county sherrif and jefferson county sherrif and they all told me the exact same thing as long as I am seat belted in at the time of being stopped i shouldnt get a ticket and if i did it wouldnt hold up in court, like i said before of the cops that have stopped me, they thought i wasnt wearing seat belt, until they walked up on the car and they both said I was fine once they saw my lap belts, guess the cops are more laid back around here.

I just said what I said because I don't want to hear of anyone getting hurt on the street or getting an unnecessary ticket.

If you must wear a harness lap belt then I would recommend you still keep the stock belt in place and still wear it on the street. Believe it or not they're designed better for accidents that occur on the street... and they're also DOT approved.

I know it doesn't necessarily make sense that a race harness that's meant to keep you safe in the event of a 100mph crash isn't approved for street use.... but they just aren't DOT approved.

In my black car we have both.... I use the harness when on the track and the regular belt when not. The factory belt only weighs like 4lbs all together... no real reason to ditch it. dragraceman2107-15-2011, 07:01 PMmy problem is a bad left shoulder, too many years of working on and building cars, any regular seat belt really aggrivates it, so I choose to just wear the lap belt only, I realize its not the safest option, but if i continue to aggrivate it I cant work and I have already had surgery on it once and was out of work 3 months recovering, but anyway im rambling on here. I removed my factory belts, but what your saying makes alot of sense. Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2026 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.