no, your right. but the cops do, that is their job. it might not be legal in florida for a vehicle that came with hard doors bolted on and not removable to be removed. it might be illegal anywhere but no one ever noticed or said anything.

sorry, i just put my thoughts straight from my head to the keyboard, didn't mean to sound like a jerk and i didn't notice it till after i came back to read the next comment

 

Need a new bumper sticker...

"It's a Jeep thing, cops wouldn't understand"


Something I want to confirm...Is this the same cop pulling you over? Is there a way to change your route to avoid his patrol?

Part of the whole "what the law says" vs "what the law is interpreted as" depends on the individual understanding. It is possible you are in the right and the cop is misunderstanding the law. A good way to confirm is just to ask the chief of police. Write a letter. If you get confirmation that there is no door law then you have something to show the cop that pulls you over.

 

He'll probably go after you with this statute:

316.610 Safety of vehicle; inspection.--It is a violation of this chapter for any person to drive or move, or for the owner or his or her duly authorized representative to cause or knowingly permit to be driven or moved, on any highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles which is in such unsafe condition as to endanger any person or property, or which does not contain those parts or is not at all times equipped with such lamps and other equipment in proper condition and adjustment as required in this chapter, or which is equipped in any manner in violation of this chapter, or for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required under this chapter.

(1) Any police officer may at any time, upon reasonable cause to believe that a vehicle is unsafe or not equipped as required by law, or that its equipment is not in proper adjustment or repair, require the driver of the vehicle to stop and submit the vehicle to an inspection and such test with reference thereto as may be appropriate.

(2) In the event the vehicle is found to be in unsafe condition or any required part or equipment is not present or is not in proper repair and adjustment, and the continued operation would probably present an unduly hazardous operating condition, the officer may require the vehicle to be immediately repaired or removed from use. However, if continuous operation would not present unduly hazardous operating conditions, that is, in the case of equipment defects such as tailpipes, mufflers, windshield wipers, marginally worn tires, the officer shall give written notice to require proper repair and adjustment of same within 48 hours, excluding Sunday.

I didn't see anything specifically stating doors were required, but if it won't pass inspection without them I'd say you'll lose.

Also, if that's your rig in your avatar, here's another section to think about:

316.251 Maximum bumper heights.--

(1) Every motor vehicle of net shipping weight of not more than 5,000 pounds shall be equipped with a front and a rear bumper such that when measured from the ground to the bottom of the bumper the maximum height shall be as follows:


NET WEIGHT

FRONT REAR




Automobiles for private use:
Net weight of less than 2,500 pounds

22" 22"

Net weight of 2,500 pounds or more,
but less than 3,500 pounds

24" 26"

Net weight of 3,500 pounds or more

27" 29"



Trucks:
Net weight of less than 2,000 pounds

24" 26"

Net weight of 2,000 or more,
but not more than 3,000 pounds

27" 29"

Net weight of 3,000 pounds,
but not more than 5,000 pounds

28" 30"

 

x2 he is asking what the law on doors are not your point of view

 

thanks for your input, being late as it is

we already covered that. we knows its about fact and i already pointed out i was sorry for sounding like a jerk.

 

lol dont worry its me sounding like a jerk now somone has too

 

ha ha ha, ok

 

Surprisingly Massachusetts the state of worthless laws only requires a 3" lip on the floor in order to go doorless. Theres a few yotas and xj's cruising around doorless in my town.

 

What is a stock XJ lip? 3" sounds pretty high. Might be able to argue a trip hazard and get the law repealed.

 

Take a look at it, its a pretty tall lip on the floor. Pretty sure 3" is the law could be more or less.

 

Thanks for the MA law. I've been running doorless on the cape and haven't had any trouble. I asked one of my buddies thats a cop and he didn't know if there was a law but said I'd be fine. Where in 413 are ya? I go to UMASS

 

law is a funny thing.
" It is a violation of this chapter for any person to drive or move, or for the owner or his or her duly authorized representative to cause or knowingly permit to be driven or moved, on any highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles which is in such unsafe condition as to endanger any person or property, or which does not contain those parts"

Doors, your jeep does not contain those parts. All the cop has to do is stroke you a summons for violation of that law stating that the doors on the vehicle are not made to be removable and do infact cause a risk to safety incase of an accident. you can fight it all you want but the ultimate decision lies with the judge. Jeep wranglers doors are designed to be removed and are also designed with a lip upon entry. I have had enough experience with law to realize that there is almost ALWAYS a ticketable offense if one was to look hard enough. Im not telling you what to do here, but realize, theres much more to law then you know about.

 

I live next to Pittsfield. If youve ever purchased crack then it most likely came from there. Im only 30 mins from albany.

 

Im just going by hear-say but i have friends that go doorless and never had a problem. In the police parking lot theres atleast 2 doorless wranglers so the cops dont seem to bug others.Unless some idiot go's doorless in a minivan then they would probably pull them over.

 

You are missing the point. I dont mean to call you out nor do I want to seem that way, words have a harsh "readibility" to them when there is no emotion behind it. So im just gonna say it......

The doorless jeep wranglers you speak of are just that, Jeep wranglers, which are, undoubtedly known to be driven doors on or off. I mean S**T, anyone can tell ya the most popular thing bout wranglers are the fact that the doors "COME OFF".

As for other cherokees going "doorless" ....this is where i say you miss the point. If they arent being "harassed" as the general public likes to call it, but you are, that doesnt make it legal, it just means that all of yall are breaking the law, your just the one getting caught. Just cause they dont get caught, or "harassed" as you like to call it, doesnt mean its legal.

The minivan you stated would get pulled for having no doors is infact, no different then your jeep "cherokee" getting pulled for not having doors.

Like i stated earlier, You are obviously in violation of the law, this cop who is "HARASSING" you by bringing you up to speed on the law and not writing you a citation has done you a favor by warning you, and if he stops you a 3rd time and writes you, the fault falls on you.

Basicly the facts are just that, wranglers are designed to be doorless at their drivers discretion. Your cherokee is not. Wranglers are designed to be doorless with that large entry lip for "SAFETY" purposes, your cherokee is not. Can the officer articulate that in the court of law and win, chances are very high he will.

Face it brother, laws are made to be enforced for a reason, maybe a reason you will never fully understand but they are. There is a simple solution to your situation on hand...1)put your doors on and drive like the SUV was designed, 2) buy a jeep wrangler and go doorless, 3) drive doorless in the cherokee, risk the ticket pretty much saying "F-U" to the officer who gave you 2 warnings previously and risk a citation and possible impoundment, leading to points on your record, court costs and a hefty impound fee.