as the title says I'm moving to NY and was wondering what to expect with my XJ and Yj project. do the cops hassle lifted 4x4s? Is there any Lift Laws? How about emissions? my XJ doesn't have a cat on it right now as NH doesn't smog check older vehicles. any input is appreciated thanks.

what years? and what county are you moveing to? im an inspector.

i think years before 69 dont need a cat. to tell you the truth big cat wont restrict your exhaust to much so theres no reason not to run one.
down state, i think orange county and lower but it might be west chester county needs a stricter emission test.
basicly every well north of NYC just gets a visual inspection if its not OBD2.

both are 89s, the XJ is a 4.0 the yj is getting a 350 SBC. I'll be in rensselaer county somewhere around stevenstown. I have no problem running a cat, it was removed by the previous owner and I just haven't felt the need to put one on. If it needs it I will comply. how about fender flares? the tires stick out about 4" on the XJ, will that be a problem?

expect to head east to mass.

all depends on how strict your inspector is and how strict the cops are.
i dont think you can get the vehicle inspected in a state its not registered in.
i wouldnt worry about it much until you have a problem.

I'm probably on the more extreme (for some) end of street driven vehicles. Full width, no flares, dovetailes, and exo'd. Still street driven, however not everyday. I've been pulled a couple of time, only once in New York, they basically checked my registration, insurance, told me my tow strap was covering my license plate, and to get a set of mud flaps.

I moved the strap and went on my way.

I have a buddy with a basically full width cherokee who takes it over the border to Canada without hassle as well.

there not real strict on mud flaps but the dovetail and full with as well as the general look of the thing may get you pulled over. isugest you find a copy of the laws. i sort of rember there being a modified vehicle clause in there but not sure.

I was really nervous when I went full width with a dove tailed rig, so I actually carried a copy of the "Altered Height Vehicle Laws" for all 50 states in my console, it's a fairly short document.

Here's the New York State portion.

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/4711/altered.png (http://img162.imageshack.us/my.php?image=altered.png)

I also did a little research that involved NYS vehicle laws.

You can check out the following links for details.

http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/equi-vt.htm

http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/equipmen.htm#Top

I'm not saying it's legal, but it's what I would use for defense if I was pulled over.

Being polite also gets you a long way with the officer when you already know your in the wrong.

i think years before 69 dont need a cat.

I beleive 74 they started putting them on cars:flipoff2:

For some reason 78 sticks in my head for trucks, I guess since my scrambler doesn't have one i'm going to hell or something. :mad3:

I was really nervous when I went full width with a dove tailed rig, so I actually carried a copy of the "Altered Height Vehicle Laws" for all 50 states in my console, it's a fairly short document.

Here's the New York State portion.

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/4711/altered.png (http://img162.imageshack.us/my.php?image=altered.png)

I also did a little research that involved NYS vehicle laws.

You can check out the following links for details.

http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/equi-vt.htm

http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/equipmen.htm#Top

I'm not saying it's legal, but it's what I would use for defense if I was pulled over.

Being polite also gets you a long way with the officer when you already know your in the wrong.
did you ever get pulled over and pull this out on him/her? did it work?

I did once, we were headed about 30 miles from home to hit a motorcross event, and got pulled over by a NYS Trooper. He walked up, I was polite, and handed my stapled together regi and insurance card, he checked my inspection (there is no inspection law about tires sticking out), and talked to me about the mud flaps. I also told him that I had done some reasearch about the laws and that I thought according to "said" document that I was ok.

Keep in mind my rig has a pretty low CG, so my bumpers and lights are all under the limit. He agreed, we discussed mud flap solutions, and I went on my way. He did give me a shot about no license plate light though.

I'ver never been pulled by a town cop in NY, now PA is another story. They really like to complain about a foot plus of tire hanging out.