Over the last few months, we’ve reported extensively on the government’s tightening of the rules regarding modified vehicles. All of our stories have involved heavily modified cars which many readers have suggested deserved to get towed as they were in clear violation of the SAAQ’s rules on modifying vehicles.
This case is a little different. On Wednesday, June 3, MontrealRacing member O’Neil Castro (Castro) was pulled over for illegal modifications to his car. According to Castro, there are only two modifications done to his 2002 BMW M3: a lowered suspension and wheel spacers. Everything else including the wheels & tires is full OEM (original equipment) and his tires never rub the fenders.
The police officer allegedly didn’t even check the vehicle. He simply listed infractions for
– Roues/pneus
– Suspension baissé
– Dégagements ailes
An owner of a vehicle with original wheels and tires getting an inspection for stretched tires is simply unacceptable. Equally unacceptable are citations for a (legal) suspension and (non-apparent) fender damage.
This has always been the danger of this type of government overreach: legally modified vehicles being targeted due to uninformed police officers. We don’t expect non car enthusiasts to know the stock tire sizes of every make and model by heart but when the government has encouraged officers to really crack down on something technical, mistakes are bound to happen.
The Surête du Quebec officer in question, Louis Silverman, matricule 9257, has a history of treating drivers unfairly according to a deontology report:
If you combine all these factors, the situation is grim not just for people who like to modify their cars but anyone with a sports car of any type.
