Can you get away with having illegal modifications on your car and also having a fake modification certificate?
by 
Brady Smith
ANSWERS: 6
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It Really depends on what type of modifications you are referring to. For instance, there is actually a 400 Horsepower Street Legal Limit in my County, but I have a Street-Legal 66 Chevelle with Close to 600hp, thanks to a Paxton Supercharger. How is it legal, yet illegal? Well, just don't go trying to stand up the front end of your car at every stoplight. If it is an emissions modification, such as removal of a Catalytic converter, or smog pumps, it would depend on your state emmission and inspection laws. If it's removal of safety equipment, don't even think about it. The only modification to safety equipment that makes any sense is upgrading, whether you race or not. I hope this helps.
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The old addage suggests that something isnt necessarily illegal until you get caught. If you make illegal modifications you might get away with it until something until a bad accident happens or if your vehicle has to be confiscated and impounded because it is being used as evidence in some court case. Both situations can occur by no doing of your own. You could very well be minding your own business one day when someone slams into you head-on causing the investgating officer to make note of the condition of both cars. And if you decided to print a fake certificate, the officer will record the information and probably check the validity of it. Insurance coverage is another factor to consider. If your vehicle contains modifications that are not legal, your insurance company is not obligated to compensate any losses.
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Only if you don't get caught.
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You may be fooling yourself. you may think you are fooling the public. but, when you get caught, your vehicle will be impounded and you will go to jail. this is a federal law violation and carries a severe penalty. Someone, sometime, will expose you and your illegal car modifications. be prepared to pay....BIG!
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Two wrongs don't make a right. I would recommend that you modify your car by getting someone more responsible to drive it. Not getting caught isn't the same as getting away with something. Getting away with something means being caught and that the courts have decided that, for whatever reason, you don't deserve to be punished. Unfortunately, the fake certificate will likely open you up for a felony conviction even if the original modification is only worth a verbal warning.
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It does depend on the modifications and where you live. In Florida, there's no modification certificate and if there were, you can bet law enforcement could probably spot them. There's usually a good reason for prohibiting vehicle modifications and it usually revolves around safety. Why not devote more time to not bearking the law. A car is a car; as long as it gets you from point A to point B, it's all you need.
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