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Sep 30, 2009

Two R34's and R32 Seized in California : Kaizo Drama Increases : UPDATE


The Kaizo Story so far. Summary of Blog posts October 3,2009

UPDATE . Two R34's and an R32 were seized today. My information says that they are not done seizing cars. If you have a car, I would be on the look out.
I was just informed that a Kaizo R34, an individual owners vehicle was seized this morning by ICE agents. The agents in full Kevlar served a seizure warrant to an owner in the LA area. I know the owner and the car. Again, they came to the owners residence, and seized the car from there. Details are sketchy right now, but as far as we know this is the first "owner" vehicle seized. Still no charges against Kaizo, but it seems like the government is seizing cars. The car in California was an SB100 car, so this could be one of the focuses.
SB100 is a specialty constructed vehicle exemption in California. It allows for up to 500 cars per year to be registered with no smog checks if the car is accepted as a 1960 or does not resemble any other vehicle.
Per California Vehicle Code §4750.1, the first 500 program applicants in each calendar year may choose whether the inspection is based on the model-year of the engine used in the vehicle or the vehicle model-year. If the engine or the vehicle does not sufficiently resemble one previously manufactured, the referee will assign 1960 as the model-year.
Its a good program for specialty vehicles. Cars that are driven very little, and mostly just used to go to shows.
580. A "specially constructed vehicle" is a vehicle which is built for private use, not for resale, and is not constructed by a licensed manufacturer or remanufacturer. A specially constructed vehicle may be built from (1) a kit; (2) new or used, or a combination of new and used, parts; or (3) a vehicle reported for dismantling, as required by Section 5500 or 11520, which, when reconstructed, does not resemble the original make of the vehicle dismantled. A specially constructed vehicle is not a vehicle which has been repaired or restored to its original design by replacing parts.
#1 SPCV can be a kit
#2 SPCV can be new or used parts (aka does not need to be a "kit")
#3 SPCV can be a vehicle reported for dismantling that does not resemble original car.
A SPCV can be any one of these three things. It does not need to meet all 3 requirements.
The last line is ambiguous and open to legal interpretation.



On another note, we heard that Ivy Wang is no longer the DA in charge of this case. We will be on the lookout for more information on seizures today.

More Kaizo Information :

Kaizo Updates – July 2
Kaizo Updates – August 2
US DOJ Letter – 60 days to surrender or export
Kaizo cars sitting in storage yard
The Kaizo Story so far. Summary of Blog posts October 3,2009

15 comments:

Unknown said...

Keep up the good work my man!

Anonymous said...

damm and i want to get one..i have the cash but i dont want it confiscated....wat about r33's would they trip on those too????

Anonymous said...

This incident has been reported to Santa Claus. There will be no presents for anyone at the DOJ or ICE. Only lumps of coal.

tsk tsk tsk

Anonymous said...

Did the owner of the said car receive one of the "60 days to export or we take the car" letters?

Sean Morris said...

The two R34's that were seized, neither owner got a 60 day export letter.

Anonymous said...

was the 2 gtr34 and gtr32 ,the same cars in the photo?

Sean Morris said...

No, the photo is just a generic photo I took at a Cars and Coffee.

Anonymous said...

so are people going to do something about it, or they just going to let them keep taking cars for no good reason.

Sean Morris said...

A group of Kaizo owners have retained the services of a lawyer.

Chris said...

I think the issue is here.----As "motor vehicles" they are subject to all applicable emission regulations. If an assembled kit car or complete kit car package is offered for importation and the kit is not covered by an EPA certificate of conformity issued to an original equipment manufacturer, an EPA Form No. 3520-1 must be filed at the port of entry and the vehicle must be imported by an Independent Commercial Importer (ICI) eligible to import such vehicles or kits. The ICI then must ensure that the vehicle or kit complies with all applicable emission requirements.---- The original motor did not get the EPA's stamp of approval. And because of that the new "kit car" needs to get approved.

zoomerdaily said...

people should do something about it. LOL

gate valves said...

great ride! i so love that color on an R34

gps tracking said...

Keep it up good work.........

Anonymous said...

They just want to fuck us one way or another just wait afew more years 14 so that the 2000 skyline R34 can be inported as a gray market car fuck those guys they are jelouse cus they just drive minivans all their life

Drop Suspension said...

Why does the government have to seize cars? I don't really get it. The liberty for cars is becoming very little and our choices are diminished this way.