Question for people with exhausts in VA

[Denji]

It is a zero point violation and DOES appear on your record.

This is true.

I've never been concerned with a "floodgate". If you don't want to fight it pay the ticket, I would. I would not be concerned with future situations where your tag may be ran. I usually fight them because I don't want to pay the ticket and I never try to get all lawyer like and arguing law wording. For one, I think I once looked up the law and it states that any exhaust that is not stock is technically illegal. It doesn't have to be louder or anything. Furthermore, its easier to just make it look like you fixed it.

 

[HighPSI TSi Guy]

This is true.

I've never been concerned with a "floodgate". If you don't want to fight it pay the ticket, I would. I would not be concerned with future situations where your tag may be ran. I usually fight them because I don't want to pay the ticket and I never try to get all lawyer like and arguing law wording. For one, I think I once looked up the law and it states that any exhaust that is not stock is technically illegal. It doesn't have to be louder or anything. Furthermore, its easier to just make it look like you fixed it.

I have been pulled over while driving vehicles with an OEM exhaust and been accused of the exhaust being illegal, and the officer's reasoning for assumption was that when they ran my tags an exhaust ticket had come up on my record so they assumed I must have an illegal exhaust. They of course are too stupid to realize it was a different vehicle. They usually make up some other bullshit excuse for the stop when they realize their mistake, however I did get a ticket for an OEM exhaust from a state trooper once. When I informed him the vehicle was stock he called me a liar and ticketed me anyways. I did win that in court of course, but it's just an example of how your record affects you.

All you have to do is confuse the judge and outsmart the officer in court to the point where they are no longer comfortable assuming you're guilty, since traffic court is guilty by default. It's not too difficult, since usually they are all completely ignorant of mechanics and electronics. Techno babble and big words gets em every time.

 

[Denji]

I have been pulled over while driving vehicles with an OEM exhaust and been accused of the exhaust being illegal, and the officer's reasoning for assumption was that when they ran my tags an exhaust ticket had come up on my record so they assumed I must have an illegal exhaust.

That my friend is crazy...

 

[Fast66691GSX]

Do any of you guys think you get harassed alot because your driving a import compact car? I have a lt1 caprice with no cats, dynomax mufflers,cammed and drive around (atleast in Richmond) perfectly fine. Even drove 2 days with turndowns after headers while waiting for exhaust

 

[HighPSI TSi Guy]

Do any of you guys think you get harassed alot because your driving a import compact car? I have a lt1 caprice with no cats, dynomax mufflers,cammed and drive around (atleast in Richmond) perfectly fine. Even drove 2 days with turndowns after headers while waiting for exhaust

You are correct. I hang out with a lot of muscle car guys. I'm the only one that ever gets pulled over. In fact, one of the times I got pulled over for my exhaust, I was sitting at a light next to a buddy who was running his camaro open header. I couldn't even hear my own car, no way the cop heard it. While riding with them we'v been pulled over before many times just because the cops want to check the car out and compliment how it sounds.

 

[muddfisher85]

I got one once but what I did was turn in the tags and say I took it off the road. I got a receipt for it then came back the next day and got new tags. When I went to court they dismissed it cause I took the car off the road. Ha Ha beat the man that time.

 

[757tsi]

yea that's how it is here in the vb area... but if you know someone that works at a shop that can write you a work ticket like i did, then you can get it tossed out.... I've noticed that the muscle cars get off from that... but some of them fall under a grandfather clause which allows them to tune their cars with out penilty...

 

[Grescht]

i never get messed with. I think i actually get some respect from the police because its NOT a riced out honda. we have plenty of those running around.

 

[ReYnd]

Wow, I never knew Virginia exhaust laws and their enforcement was so harsh. Remind me not to visit you guys as long as my car has the muffler on it that looks like a spacecraft thruster.

 

[WHite97RS]

You can only get a ticket if your a VA resident.

 

[HighPSI TSi Guy]

You can only get a ticket if your a VA resident.

incorrect. MOST officers won't bother out of staters, but some will, and some get off on it.

Any car in the state of Va is required to meet state code, even if you are just thru traffic.

 

[MURF_DIRTY]

I've been pulled over numerous times for my exhaust but since I've painted it all black from the axleback, I haven't been stopped yet. I think its more a visual thing... if the officer notices a big shiny chrome canister muffler he's just more prone to pull you over and mess with you. Just my experience

 

[HighPSI TSi Guy]

I've been pulled over numerous times for my exhaust but since I've painted it all black from the axleback, I haven't been stopped yet. I think its more a visual thing... if the officer notices a big shiny chrome canister muffler he's just more prone to pull you over and mess with you. Just my experience

That does help, but also remember this - NO car comes with a black muffler! A black muffler is suspicious, evidence you're hiding something. The only reason painting it black is helping you is because they aren't catching the shine when they pass by, and realizing the sound is your car. Expect to get pulled if you get one right on your ass who can see you do have a muffler painted black.

That said I've also been pulled over with a stock muffler 3 times. There's really no hope. If you drive a DSM, you're getting pulled for exhaust regularly no matter what.

 

[MURF_DIRTY]

That does help, but also remember this - NO car comes with a black muffler! A black muffler is suspicious, evidence you're hiding something. The only reason painting it black is helping you is because they aren't catching the shine when they pass by, and realizing the sound is your car. Expect to get pulled if you get one right on your ass who can see you do have a muffler painted black.

That said I've also been pulled over with a stock muffler 3 times. There's really no hope. If you drive a DSM, you're getting pulled for exhaust regularly no matter what.

True, true... its very stealth at night when your behind me and your not being glared in the eyes witha shiny a$$ canister, but your right about it during the day time, it does look suspect but black seems to my theme anyways. I dont know why I thought it would help during the day when I have a bright red eclipse...

lets see the list of things that gets the Po Po's attention:

-20% Tint All Around
-Black Out Wheels with Bright Red Lip
-Black out Side Markers
-Black out Tail Lights
-Black out Exhaust Tip
-Catless down pipe
-8k Headlights
-Yellow Fog lights
-4" off of the ground
-264 272 cams w. lumpy idle
-And oh yah the killer of all attention grabbers ---> 02 dump ! ... IM SCREWED Regardless .

But you know what, that's why I love my car!

 

[mik172]

yeah, I run all over town with an atmosphere dump and a 3 to 4'' tsudo full exhaust with no cat ,and hks 272`s,but when i do see a cop i lighten up on my throttle almost to a coast but I guess I`ve just been lucky

 

[laserspeeddemon]

That does help, but also remember this - NO car comes with a black muffler! A black muffler is suspicious, evidence you're hiding something. The only reason painting it black is helping you is because they aren't catching the shine when they pass by, and realizing the sound is your car. Expect to get pulled if you get one right on your ass who can see you do have a muffler painted black.

That said I've also been pulled over with a stock muffler 3 times. There's really no hope. If you drive a DSM, you're getting pulled for exhaust regularly no matter what.

My Civic has a straight through exhaust with a 4" tip. Because I don't really carea bout my car, the exhaust is nearly black from the dirt and grim that sticks to it and then burns. My Talon's OE exhaust was the same way.

 

[Boost4U]

Perception is everything, almost, I ran my Laser around with the stock muffler bolted in and a completely open exhaust, no muffle, no cat, just straight 3 inch pipe. it is loud and nasty sounding. I have out of state plates too. Dave can vouch for how loud it was. I did get pulled over one night because "I spun my tires" in a AWD car. when the officer told me that was why I asked which car he was refering to and he said I was the middle when in fact I was the left car. The middle car was a new mustang GT. So in the end he had nothing on me so he wrote a tint ticket for me. He said since you're military I won't write you a ticket for the spinning tires. He went home feeling good about himself and I had a 90 dollar ticket instead of a reckless driving tickket. Not too bad and this was with my exhaust wide open coming out in about the middle of my door. Sorry about the novel this pisses me off to no end.

 

[Fast66691GSX]

i'm hoping i can have some of the luck you guys when i get the eclipse back together. Any of you guys running no cat,have you ever welded cat shield where you cat is suppose to go? On my old 91 gsx i did this and it looked like i had a cat. I'm thinking about doing it when i pull my downpipe off to get my wideband bung installed

 

[4gfun]

I never get pulled over with a non-stock exhaust because I drive a Galant VR-4.

 

[HighPSI TSi Guy]

I never get pulled over with a non-stock exhaust because I drive a Galant VR-4.

Is this Ben?

 

[97-gst]

I got pulled over for having a loud exhaust for My 3inch and o2 dumptube. I just played it off real cool and was like yeah idk what the people before me did to this car . luckily i got away with it with just a warning. But i mean my car really is loud so i know ill get pulled for it again. The cops were like its illegal to have any kind of exhaust in va (whether it be a car, truck , or motorcycle) thats not stock. I was like WTF . Man it pisses me off that the v8 guys and them cummins turbo diesel trucks can have cars that are twice as loud as mine and not get pulled over

 

[4gfun]

Is this Ben?

No, it's the guy who sold the Black Cherry 91 to Daniel though you. It's the guy who bought Victor's old car. You helped me bleed the slave cylinder on the 91 at one point.

I got pulled over for having a loud exhaust for My 3inch and o2 dumptube. I just played it off real cool and was like yeah idk what the people before me did to this car . luckily i got away with it with just a warning. But i mean my car really is loud so i know ill get pulled for it again. The cops were like its illegal to have any kind of exhaust in va (whether it be a car, truck , or motorcycle) thats not stock. I was like WTF . Man it pisses me off that the v8 guys and them cummins turbo diesel trucks can have cars that are twice as loud as mine and not get pulled over

Unreal! I don't have this bad luck. I get it in almost every part of my life though which more than makes up for it!

 

[HighPSI TSi Guy]

No, it's the guy who sold the Black Cherry 91 to Daniel though you. It's the guy who bought Victor's old car. You helped me bleed the slave cylinder on the 91 at one point.

oh ok, I didn't know you bought Victor's Galant, I wanted that! haha. Small world. I thought maybe you were Ben at first (another local guy with a VR4) but the screen name wouldn't have made any sense. Surprised I never see you around, I know I'd pick a GVR4 out of a crowd of cars instantly in traffic.

 

[4gfun]

oh ok, I didn't know you bought Victor's Galant, I wanted that! haha. Small world. I thought maybe you were Ben at first (another local guy with a VR4) but the screen name wouldn't have made any sense. Surprised I never see you around, I know I'd pick a GVR4 out of a crowd of cars instantly in traffic.

Haha, makes sense. Daniel had to literally pry the car away from me. Wish I didn't sell it especially since he showed me all it needed to get it back in order was a new head and a timing belt....but I really wasn't equipped to keep the car at that time. The screename remains in it's honor (or laziness really). The last time I saw your beater 1g, I was on Lafayette. I generally don't drive the car very much unless my DD Escort GT breaks. I want to see how long I can get this one to last and part of that for me is keeping it off the road as much as possible. If I don't drive it, I am less likely to break it. I just drive it every once in a while so the seals and tires don't dry up on me. I had no idea you wanted it loool. Guess I'd better never blow it up hehe. The car is completely "restored".

Here is how it presently "lives": (Some votes for it would be appreciated)

1991 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 (76 of 2000 made) id 19543 | Motortopia