Rear View Mirror Violation IN 9-19-12-1 (for Kammback addition on sedan)
 

Sure, the duct tape Kammback isn't pretty. Always had people stopping, stairing and even taking pics. But pulled over? Yea, knew it would happen sooner or later.

So here's how the story goes. Went to work for a 'Mandatory Nursing Meeting'. Oh fun : / Left work and passed a couple cops sitting in a parking lot. Cruising through town doing my leisurely 28 mph. Looked in my side mirror and noticed I was being pulled over. Shut the car off and coasted to a vacant parking lot. Kept my hands on the steering wheel.
Cop, 'License and registration' ... 'Can I ask what the purpose of this here in the back is for?'
Me, '7% increase in fuel mileage'
Cop, 'Really?' almost seemed stunned...or impressed not sure. He went on to explain the reason for pulling me over. The driver must be able to see out the rear window and the police must be able to see in. Being that it's a passenger vehicle. He only gave me a warning. Gave me props for creativity and even understood why I was doing it. Didn't want to be a jerk or make a scene, so I graciously accepted the warning without a hassle. Went ahead and took the Kammback off. Winter had made it begin to sag and look bad. Next version will be a metal kammback with a small open space to see through on the back. Borderline legal, but should get me by. Here's the violation, Rear view mirror violation, IN 9-19-12-1
VT247

http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/...7/100_3465.jpg

"The driver must be able to see out the rear window and the police must be able to see in. IN 9-19-12-1 VT247"

From the law in question,

IC 9-19-12
Chapter 12. Rear View Mirrors
IC 9-19-12-1
Safety requirements
Sec. 1. A motor vehicle that is constructed or loaded so as to
obstruct the driver's view to the rear from the driver's position must
be equipped with a mirror located so as to reflect to the driver a view
of the highway for a distance of at least two hundred (200) feet to the
rear of the vehicle.

I wonder if having a person sit in the middle of the back seat would gain the same attention. I swear you can't see a thing behind you that way.

Ticket for having a big head?

Might not this design look best with a clear rear infill?

I think it would. A bead of clear sealant would hold the acrylic sheet in, but I would weep and vent it a little to avoid condensation build-up and possible suck out of the rear panel.

Glad you only got a warning, but I don't see where you're in violation of the law:

Using your side mirrors you can see in back of you. So each side mirrors is "a mirror located so as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for a distance of at least two hundred (200) feet to the rear of the vehicle." If you couldn't obsruct the view out the rear window then most pickups hauling anything would be in violation.

I'm not saying you don't want to make Version2 with a window if you can, but you're not in violation of the law you were given a warning for.

I agree with Diesel Dave. No violation there.

I'm sure the cop could have found another (valid) violation if he'd really wanted to, though!

Here the law says that a vehicle must have and internal mirror and one on the driver's side. If the internal is obstructed, then there must be a mirror on the passenger side.

I don't see (pun!) why the cop should be able to look inside through the rear window when he can see through the side windows? If your rear glass was heavily tinted (pimp-style:cool:) then what?

Eh hole cop was wrong. Ooooh, big favor, only a warning!!! :eek: He would have wasted his time in court, losing.

He probably only pulled you over to go WTF is that thing, or to get a recording of it with the on car cam to show his buddies this "joke".

According to the law quoted above, I would say you could put it right back on, drive by the same cop, and if he pulls you over again, request him to read the law in question to you and then point out your two side mirrors, and the fact is says nothing about seeing into a car....

I agree with the others though, making the back part clear might save headaches. Another pointer would be to try to color match the car a little, just sow it don't stand out as bad.

You got pulled over for the same reason I got pulled over on my hovercraft on a lake a few years ago. The cop just wanted a better look and was curious.

LOL they can pull you over on water? :cool:

X2 on no violation, and X2 on painting it body color. I say make the vertical rear panel out of acrylic and paint black "windows" onto the sides so it looks like a wagon. People won't even realize it's a Kammback!

Sevn that is a great point, make it look like a wagon! Maybe that is how i'll attack my kammback some time. Funny thing is, 97 is when they stopped making the corolla wagon for my body style :D.

Yes, in the Sheriff's boat!

I was on land (private property) by the time he caught up to me, but that didn't stop the impromptu inspection.

The term "non-displacement craft" means nothing to them. I had to give him a physics lesson, he was a "C" student at best.

Honestly, it was time for the mock up to come off. Had it on all winter long and it was definetly showing signs of age. The next version will be all thin sheet metal and open in the back to see. Smooth the body rust with bondo and cut sheet metal fixes. My welding abilities are a C- at best. Sand over it and slap the quick rustoleum roller paint job on it. Try and make the kamm back blend it. Obviously the duct tape grey, maroon, tan, chrome and rust drew some unwanted attention.

But, that will have to wait. My current project list, it just keeps getting longer, problems of an OCD type behaviour.

'01 PT Cruiser, just bought, $750. Runs good, bad water pump, tie rod end, rear shock, get matching tire size sets.

'92 Caprice wagon diesel conversion. Oil pan hits the crossmember, take the pan off and have it trimmed for clearance, install engine, wire lockup for tranny, wire in guage set, plumb oil and tranny cooler lines, mount fuel filter, redo entire front suspension and brakes for safety et peace of mind, have exhaust built,

Fix brakes on truck, paint and tune the escort, paint the tempo at the same time, rebuild the 350 engine for the Supra, paint the Supra, replace the drive chain on the Enduro, get a battery for the Pinto, OCD much? And the list never ends, only get's longer, stop the madness..... lol
VT247

That does sound like a lot of projects.

Good luck, and don't forget to enjoy the summer.

The very reason I am planning a plexiglass (or similar see-thru material) kammback. Don't want the hassle from the local cops.

No ticket because you had a valid reason for what you were doing and he believed you. Plus you were probably very courteous which had to count for something.

Never understood why people want to be jerks to cops when they get pulled over. Even if the cop is a total *******, there's really no point in it. Being rude will only get you more of a citation or worse, landed in jail on some trumped up charges with your car towed and a hefty fine to boot. Just take the ticket and fight it in court.
VT247

The point is to let the cop know that not everyone will obediently respond to their b.s. with a smile. I totally ripped a cop a new one once because HE was out of line. Yeah he cried about it in court but I WON. I would do it again too.

You would think he would spend his time on things that are more important, like maybe drug dealers or something more important than ecomodders and boatails.

:turtle:

I'd say print it out and stuff it alongside your car's papers !


It's similar over here.
If you can't look out the back windows using the internal mirror, you need a side mirror on the right (these are mandatory since more than 20 years).
But even when you can't see out the back using the internal mirror, it's illegal to remove it because the car was approved thus equipped.

In a commercial vehicle I go along with this. I don't own it or the load and the whole thing is removed from being personal transportation.

But by your reasoning, then, being pepper-sprayed in the course of exercising First Amendment rights would be acceptable. Plenty of court cases say otherwise, though. The police have boundaries, even in minor matters.

I think all would agree that keeping ones cool is to the point. Some emotional discipline by both this post and Frank Lee's counter to it is of the essence, as definitions are at stake. Language matters -- the black letters -- as the assumptions [unfortunately] have to be tested in these instances.

(So paint the whole car: Red and weirdo silver appendage is waving a flag at a bull).

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