The Massachusetts State Police recently posted on their Facebook page they’re enforcing the state law which prohibits vehicle ride height modification. It said that the pictured Miata’s “height had been altered (among other violations), far below what is safe” and it “should be considered “show use” only and are not safe to be driven on the public way, in violation of Massachusetts General Laws”
Now many of us here think that the whole stance thing is kind of dumb, but to each his own. In the end, the guy who owns and drives the car is another enthusiast but with different tastes. The state law, posted after the jump, limits the vehicle ride height alternations to plus or minus two inches from stock. Is this really a problem that the police should be spending time and resources on, never mind bragging about it on Facebook?
General Laws, Chaper 90, Section 7P, Height of motor vehicles; alteration restricted
Section 7P. No person shall alter, modify or change the height of a motor vehicle with an original manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating of up to and including ten thousand pounds, by elevating or lowering the chassis or body by more than two inches above or below the original manufacturer’s specified height by use of so-called ”shackle lift kits” for leaf springs or by use of lift kits for coil springs, tires, or any other means or device.
The registrar shall establish rules and regulations for such changes in the height of motor vehicles beyond said two inches. No motor vehicle that has been so altered, modified or changed beyond the provisions of this section or the rules and regulations established by the registrar shall be operated on any way.
The law is pretty clear, even if originally designed for pickup trucks and Jeeps, and it does give the allowance of two inches. Interestingly, all Land Rovers and Jeeps with air height adjustable suspension can raise themselves more than two inches above the standard ride height.
What annoys me is that I never felt endangered by a car that was too slammed or too jacked up. Sure, some of the people driving them drive like jerks, but that’s a whole different story. Anyone in any car can drive like a jerk, but the cars with altered suspensions themselves don’t really do any harm to anyone. My issue is that our roads are full of drivers and cars that are truly dangerous, hell of a lot more than a kid in a Civic that can’t make it up a driveway without scraping.
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