how do the police check if your car is street legal?

Question

like if it looks like a street raceing car. I heard that they take it to the impound and take it apart to look for nitro and stuff like that.

Answer 1

Anything other than factory, can constitute an unsafe vehicle. Then the specifics come in.

Answer 2

No need to take it to impound to figure it out, some items can be noticed even before you are stopped......thus giving reason for the initial stop. Start up the car in question and then step back and just look and listen. I'm sure you can find an indication the car is not stock. I bet you were also unaware that most if not all modifications made to a vehicle outside factory specs "can be" considered illegal, thus grounds for a stop. They can have the vehicle impounded easily if it is found to be a so called "street racer", then that's when the real expensive fun begins.

Answer 3

It varies. Some things that make a car illegal are visible. Others are not. I bet most experienced officers can tell without a formal inspection.

Answer 4

I dont know of too many departments that go through all that. Usually they just check the stuff they can see, and get out the ticket book.