can cops bust me?

[Dreamspeed]

i was wondering if in the event that a cop pops open my hood and realizes i have a jdm b16a what will happen to me? is there anyway he can prove that it is stolen? I got the motor from my friend and he doesn't have any paper work or anything to prove that it is not stolen (and no, it's not stolen) so what will happen to me? will i be charged with theft? i know the car is going to impounded but then what?

[Matt]

man...I don't even think cops are smart enough to point that sort of thing out. If you run into one that has knowledge about it then all you would need to do is show your resistration and that it was passed with that engine. At least that's what I was told. sjpopo prolly has more info on this.

[Chris]

they searched VINs on the blocks during the big bust, those that didnt have any paperwork, i belive were towed. Where it went after that I dont know.

[Matt]

Originally posted by Chris
they searched VINs on the blocks during the big bust, those that didnt have any paperwork, i belive were towed. Where it went after that I dont know.

well then if it's not stolen then he shouldn't have anything to worry about right?

[PKR Integra]

unless his friend was lying and it really is stolen

[Chris]

if theres no proof how can they say it ISNT stolen? If theres no paperwork you cant get it smogged, then it becomes illegal so it gets towed anyway.

[Dreamspeed]

i think basically i'm screwed if i get caught cause i can't prove that it's not stolen i mean i don't think they can check the vin numbers from japan right? so... and well obviously the car is not registered with that motor! so ludelover...i can't really register the car with the motor thats why i have this problem, the car will not pass the ref cause i'm pretty sure it won't meet emissions and none of the parts have a CARB number cause it's jdm so i guess it can never be registered (well actually if i switched some parts with a usdm b16a with a carb number and done do motor work it might pass but the thing is if i fail what the hell happens? won't that screw me over? and chris your right i technically can't get it smogged (but thats not a problem as i can bypass that little obstacle...)anyways if anyone knows anything else please let me know especially all you guys out there that have a jdm b16a motor, and for the guys who already posted replies thanks for your opinions

[Chris]

actually when swapping an engine you need to have the smog done by the state ref. And he wont do it unless you have all the paperwork. So I hope your dads the state ref or something. I hope everything turns out cool for you.

[SgtGrant]

Here is a section from the California Penal Code:

496. (a) Every person who buys or receives any property that has been stolen or that has been obtained in any manner constituting theft or extortion, knowing the property to be so stolen or obtained, or who conceals, sells, withholds, or aids in concealing, selling, or withholding any property from the owner, knowing the property to be so stolen or obtained, shall be punished by imprisonment in a state prison, or in a county jail for not more than one year.

The key is, according to case law, did the person know the property was stolen? Case law has shown that each case is weighed on it's merits. You can be convicted of this section of the evidence clearly shows that any reasonable person would know that that the property was stolen.

I think your headache will come from not being able to register the car. Unless you have the capability to get temporary registrations indefinitely extended, at some point you will be way out of date. Once you pass the magical 12 months expired reg, it's tow time.