I've only been driving the S now for about a month, but last night I got my first citation in it.

What is it for, you ask? No, I wasn't speeding. No, no DUI. Not wreckless driving.

I got a ticket for "Illegal screeching/squealing of tires". No, there were no burnouts or donuts involved.

I broke the rear OEM S-02's on a quick 1-2 upshift, a momentary chirp as they hook back up. All of a sudden in the rearview I see a cop pull a u-turn (most likely squealing HIS tires in the process).

He proceeds to pull me over and ask for license and insurance. I hand them over, at which point he tells me he is issuing me a citation. I look him in the eye and ask "might I ask what for?". It is now that he reveals that he is issuing a ticket for "screeching my tires." I was dumbfounded.

It's a $75 ticket, I'll try and post a scan later to prove the ridiculous nature.

Anyone else had a similar experience?

(oh, of note, it was a 4-lane road with a 45 limit)

 

I imagine this law was originally enacted to get at street racers in the 60s and 70s. I bet those muscle cars could just light up their rears. Today, however, it's used to issue citations to drivers that in some way annoy an officer. I was pulled over in my old 90 probe once when it chirped on take-off. Of course, the front left (drive) tire was low and I was headed to add air. The low pressure caused the chirp but the officer still pulled me over, luckily without issuing a citation.

 

Drive more casually. Public roads are not race tracks.

 

I've never been cited for this but I've heard of it happening to others. I think it is also called "exhibition of acceleration", whatever the heck that means. Cops can basically give you a ticket for whatever they want when it comes to things they consider unsafe, reckless, or showing off. It sounds like the cop highly overreacted to you, and it probably had a little to do with the nice car you are driving. You have a right to a "fair" trial, of course, but judges always believe the cops. But maybe in your situation he wont show or wont have anything to say in court without sounding ridiculous because it sounds like if he told the court what really happened you could get off. Good luck.

 

The only way I've ever been able to chirp the tires shifting from 1st to 2nd was to gun it all the way to redline, shift as fast as I could, and floor it. I'm guessing this is what you were doing at the time to cause the chirp.

If so, the cop had every right to pull you over. In fact, you're lucky that's all he gave you a ticket for if this is, in fact, what happened.

 

[QUOTE=toosteeley,Jun 29 2005, 12:34 PM]the cop had every right to pull you over.

 

Bummer, pay the ticket and look around before you do it again!!!It's all part of owning the car and having a little fun.

 

Old guy or young guy? Bet I can guess which. Sucks don't it?

 

When I had my 350Z TT and the duel carbon clutch in it i couldnt help but chirp the tires when i started off the line... now shifting 1-2 in an s2k does provoke some excess of speed to chirp them it can still happen with almost bald tires or bad roads which has happened to me in my s2k..

 

i only chirp my tires when i shift 1-2 at around 8K rpm, i love it, i always shift at 8K rather then 9K now