Legal to run without front bumper?

[Benz02]

I live in California and am wondering if it's legal to not have a front bumper on my 02. The bumper is cacked slightly towards the left due to a bent attatchment arm and a broken bracket off the bumper where it wraps around. It's dangerously close to the tire and it's already scratched the paint. I want to take it off and either replace or fix, but am wondering if it's legal to drive in the interim.

Thanks,

Benzo

'71 Verona

[reuben2002]

Letter of the law in California makes you need a front bumper, however cops will probably not bother you. Plenty of old hot rods and muscle cars run without front bumpers. I think there is a cut-off year, but I'm not sure what it is.

[Benz02]

Thanks for the clarification...I suspected as much (that it wouldn't be technically legal). Hopefully I won't have it off too long, or what the heck maybe just leave it off and go with the shark nose look. I'm stil trying to figure out how this happened. I think someone bumper tapped me and it all shifted, or it's just age and salt air.

[winstontj]

IF you carry around a photo of a turbo car and happen to have a turbo spoiler installed then you can legally get away with it. Other than that you're missing DOT mandated equipment for the year the car was produced. No grandfather rights, no exceptions, no nothin... I've been running no bumpers (both front and rear) and have not been hastled yet. Now that I've written this I'll probably get a ticket tomorrow.

My backup plan is that they are out getting re-chromed. Also as long as you don't look like a deadbeat greaseball you can get away with more with the law.....

[ponyboy]

I was written up for a bumper on my car about 5 years ago...

You have to have one, but its isnt often they hastle us, but they can if they want...

[Benz02]

I assume (hope) it's just a fix-it ticket? I ripped by a CHP today at 100mph (he was on the other side of the highway), and kept my foot in it and then took some evasive action...didn't see him again. I'm not a maniac driver, but I like to run my 02 the way they like to be run and obviously don't want to give them (the police) an excuse if I can help it!

[fahrvergnugen_02]

Weight of vehicle is probably the governing factor; those street-legal manx dune buggy kit cars don't have bumpers. I'm sure the limit is something like 1300lbs, above that and you need bumpers.

I've thought about just fabbing up a discrete 3cm diameter front tube bumper and paint it to match the car, and same for the rear or just leaving the rear bumper off completely.

[SteveJ]

I was cited for no front bumper and for bald tires by a city cop.

I had a Zender air dam installed and I was running Yoko A008s (that's how long ago that was.)

I slapped the front bumper back on and then took it to the CHP office to get the ticket signed off. The CHP officer knew what Yokos were and we talked cars for several minutes after he signed me off.

Don't give the police any "free tickets" to pull you over. Front bumper and front plate, wear your seatbelt, lights and wipers when you should have them running, etc...

I'm sure if you wanted to research the CVC, you could find the specs and see if you could get by with no bumper, etc... Of course, be sure to read all of the CVC to see if there is something else they police could catch you on.

I heard there is no such thing as a fix-it ticket anymore. You get cited, you gotta pay. And you alsohave to get your car fixed.

[Harv]

In some states it's ok as long as you don't have the bumper mounts or any other jagged stuff sticking out.

John

[TJs692002]

Its been two years now with no bumpers and I have not yet been pulled over. (now I will get a ticket, just cause)