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trikkonceptz · 08-29-2008, 02:11 PM

Well since this thread keeps on going let me add some more fuel to the fire and what happened today.

On my way to work I was at an intersection, (with the engine off), as the light went green I turned the engine on and engaged the car in drive, as I pulled off an officer from 2 lanes over turned on his lights and pulled me over.

He was nice and asked me if I was having car trouble. I replied no and explained that I shut off my vehicle @ red lights to save fuel. (Didn't tell him I was EOCing from a 1/2 mile away). He explained to me that what I did was illegal. I asked why. He said that it was illegal in FLorida to coast down a hill with the engine in neutral or out of gear. I explained that I turned the car off once it came to a complete stop and his interpretation was not applicable. With no credible answer to that he simply restated that it was still illegal. To which I responded, "Then why do Prius' get away with it?" They shut their engines off when not in motion too. He had no answer.

I offered this to him. I explained that I was the exception and not the norm, that what I am doing is related to my studies in order to develop a retrofitted hybrid kit for older vehicles and that what I was doing was collecting data, safely, in order to support a need for an engine off system for non-hybrid cars. I explained that I was working very hard to reverse a lot of embedded mis information on how we were taught to drive vehicles and alot of this new information would conflict with printed law. I also cited as an example a situation where I was going to remove my side view mirrors for cameras which offer better visibility without blind spots but seemed to be in direct violation with a printed statute. So I asked him what was easier, to uphold an older law based on a lack of technology or consider that as time moves on advancements in motor vehciles will move faster than our judiciary system.

After a lengthy conversation, he wished everyone he pulled over was as informed as I was about the why in what we do and told me to be safe and wished me luck.

I swear, some times I think I have Jedi mind powers ... LOL

08-29-2008, 02:11 PM	#79 (permalink)
trikkonceptz Legend in my own mind Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Homestead, Fl. Posts: 927 Evil Pumpkin - '08 Scion xD RS 1.0 #1633 90 day: 35.45 mpg (US) Silent Silver Killer - '10 Honda Insight EX 90 day: 51.5 mpg (US) Thanks: 2 Thanked 14 Times in 13 Posts	Well since this thread keeps on going let me add some more fuel to the fire and what happened today. On my way to work I was at an intersection, (with the engine off), as the light went green I turned the engine on and engaged the car in drive, as I pulled off an officer from 2 lanes over turned on his lights and pulled me over. He was nice and asked me if I was having car trouble. I replied no and explained that I shut off my vehicle @ red lights to save fuel. (Didn't tell him I was EOCing from a 1/2 mile away). He explained to me that what I did was illegal. I asked why. He said that it was illegal in FLorida to coast down a hill with the engine in neutral or out of gear. I explained that I turned the car off once it came to a complete stop and his interpretation was not applicable. With no credible answer to that he simply restated that it was still illegal. To which I responded, "Then why do Prius' get away with it?" They shut their engines off when not in motion too. He had no answer. I offered this to him. I explained that I was the exception and not the norm, that what I am doing is related to my studies in order to develop a retrofitted hybrid kit for older vehicles and that what I was doing was collecting data, safely, in order to support a need for an engine off system for non-hybrid cars. I explained that I was working very hard to reverse a lot of embedded mis information on how we were taught to drive vehicles and alot of this new information would conflict with printed law. I also cited as an example a situation where I was going to remove my side view mirrors for cameras which offer better visibility without blind spots but seemed to be in direct violation with a printed statute. So I asked him what was easier, to uphold an older law based on a lack of technology or consider that as time moves on advancements in motor vehciles will move faster than our judiciary system. After a lengthy conversation, he wished everyone he pulled over was as informed as I was about the why in what we do and told me to be safe and wished me luck. I swear, some times I think I have Jedi mind powers ... LOL __________________ Thx NoCO2; "The biggest FE mod you can make is to adjust the nut behind the wheel" I am a precisional instrument of speed and aeromatics If your knees bent in the opposite direction......what would a chair look like???