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I was pulled over on the interstate last week by a cop who gave me a ticket called "bumper violation"...read on
He tailed me for about 1.5 miles before pulling me over. Upon reaching my passenger window, he informed me that my rear bumper was "built too strong" and looked like it was "completely rigid." He mentioned that my fuel tank is vulnerable if someone were to rear-end me. He said "you need to decide if this vehicle is your on-road vehicle or your off-road toy." He never layed on the ground and look at how said rear bumper is attached to vehicle, nor did he thoroughly inspect its construction. While he was talking to me, I made the smart-assed comment "well, my front bumper is probably too strong too, huh?" He got my license/registration and went back to his car. 10 minutes later, he handed me a ticket for "front and rear bumper violation."
I read the Michigan Vehicle Code, which states that any vehicle shall be equipped with a bumper or other energy absorbing device with an analogous function. The Vehicle Code then proceeds to describe the height requirments (limitations) as measured with unladed vehicle weight on a level surface.
My question is this: Based on the fact that he never once pulled out a tape measure to measure the said bumper's height, and without even walking past the passenger window to even look at the front bumper, who is he to determine whether or not the bumper (s) that I built are impact-absorbing and too strong? Yes, they are very sturdy, but I know for a fact that they would crumple much easier than some of the other fabricated bumpers I have seen on the roads.
Does anyone have any input? I feel like I can take this to court and win, but I suppose it is all in the interpretation of the law.
Thanks.
He tailed me for about 1.5 miles before pulling me over. Upon reaching my passenger window, he informed me that my rear bumper was "built too strong" and looked like it was "completely rigid." He mentioned that my fuel tank is vulnerable if someone were to rear-end me. He said "you need to decide if this vehicle is your on-road vehicle or your off-road toy." He never layed on the ground and look at how said rear bumper is attached to vehicle, nor did he thoroughly inspect its construction. While he was talking to me, I made the smart-assed comment "well, my front bumper is probably too strong too, huh?" He got my license/registration and went back to his car. 10 minutes later, he handed me a ticket for "front and rear bumper violation."
I read the Michigan Vehicle Code, which states that any vehicle shall be equipped with a bumper or other energy absorbing device with an analogous function. The Vehicle Code then proceeds to describe the height requirments (limitations) as measured with unladed vehicle weight on a level surface.
My question is this: Based on the fact that he never once pulled out a tape measure to measure the said bumper's height, and without even walking past the passenger window to even look at the front bumper, who is he to determine whether or not the bumper (s) that I built are impact-absorbing and too strong? Yes, they are very sturdy, but I know for a fact that they would crumple much easier than some of the other fabricated bumpers I have seen on the roads.
Does anyone have any input? I feel like I can take this to court and win, but I suppose it is all in the interpretation of the law.
Thanks.
