exhaust law

[djordan97]

does anyone know what the specific law in washington is for the modified exhaust law is? I tried to do a google search but couldn't find anything about that out

 

[rturner20]

i got pulled over last month in walla walla. full 3 inch turbo back. he told my anything other than stock is illegal and that is why they dont cary DB meters with them anymore. He told me to either change it or make it quiter since it isnt an old v8 which is exempt from the law. I think he just wanted a ride and didnt want ask nicely. I asked him if it was cause of the noise (which at the time i was in neutral rolling up to a light. i saw way before he saw me) he said yea and the big chrome tip. tsudo exhaust and megan DP.

 

[djordan97]

that's kinda what I was thinking cause I got the dejon exhaust with the 2 tip mufler and was just cruising down the road

 

[debow_8787]

i just got poled over for it yesterday and 2 weeks ago here is the law

WAC 173-58-080: Close proximity exhaust system sound level measurement procedure.

 

[Defiant]

All states have the same law: modified exhaust is illegal. Anything that affects the noise level or emissions level.

 

[Rob10_99]

If modified exhausts are not legal then muffler shops wouldn't exist. They would carry only OEM components.
Am I right?
As for motorcycles, most, if not all 'slip ons' are off road only. Same goes for car exhausts so they don't have to get a CARB sticker or any state/fed testing.

 

[slow4g6392tsi]

If modified exhausts are not legal then muffler shops wouldn't exist. They would carry only OEM components.
Am I right?
As for motorcycles, most, if not all 'slip ons' are off road only. Same goes for car exhausts so they don't have to get a CARB sticker or any state/fed testing.

Just because something is illegal does not mean people won't do it. That goes for a lot more than exhaust

It's true though, I went to a dsmtuners meet a while back and we drove to another location in a big group of cars and I stayed at the back (mistake, don't be at the back ). Anyways a cop pulled out and followed us, pulled me over, looked around my car (luckily still stock height) for like 5 mins before even coming to the window. Once he got to the window he told me my exhaust was illegal because anything louder than stock is now, no db level matters anymore.

 

[Rob10_99]

So that 2009 harley that just went by is 5x louder than most of our cars, how does that make sense?

Looked at a bunch of other requirements on that site, like yearly testing of equipment and such, fairly strict testing proceedures too.
I'd print that off and keep it in your glovebox as a bs guide.

 

[debow_8787]

Just because something is illegal does not mean people won't do it. That goes for a lot more than exhaust

It's true though, I went to a dsmtuners meet a while back and we drove to another location in a big group of cars and I stayed at the back (mistake, don't be at the back ). Anyways a cop pulled out and followed us, pulled me over, looked around my car (luckily still stock height) for like 5 mins before even coming to the window. Once he got to the window he told me my exhaust was illegal because anything louder than stock is now, no db level matters anymore.

that cop was BSing you so you would not tell him to go get his DB meeter and prove it

 

[debow_8787]

All states have the same law: modified exhaust is illegal. Anything that affects the noise level or emissions level.

all states do not have the same laws on exhaust and emissions some places in WA dont have emissions like were i live i have never had to do it

 

[rock1t]

Actually most states do have the same statutes. KRS (kentucky) Anything added on to the motor is illegal. Which means anything that is modified including exhaust.

I never have problems here in Kentucky, but every time I travel to Ohio to visit my family and friends, I always get stopped. Guess it's the 3 inch open down pipe.

 

[trevnasty]

one reason i em glad i moved back to montucky aka Montana

 

[laggin3]

All states have the same law: modified exhaust is illegal. Anything that affects the noise level or emissions level.

False. Please read the law as it pertains to our state before you spread misinformation.

 

[Rockbmx1]

I wonder if my 4" exhaust with an Aero Turbine muffler is illegal?? Just cause people can hear me coming from a mile away doesn't mean its not stock. . I think that it sucks when I hear about people getting exhaust tickets all the time when their exhaust isn't that loud. I know that my exhaust is really loud, considering I've never heard a louder dsm that had full exhaust then mine, and I've never been pulled over or looked at twice with it. I guess I have just been lucky.

 

[slow4g6392tsi]

So when the judge told me anything louder than stock is illegal he was lying right???

Also, if DSMs came factory as loud as Harleys then they would let it fly but thats not the case.

 

[ilco187]

come were i live, were there's no law against anything, you could have any car modified in anyway the cops here dont care, i have mine goin right off the turbo coming out the drivers side of the bumper, gotta love the loudness of the turbo, the cops here are so lazy i got stopped and had a warrant they asked me to turn myself in at sometime that day, i was like WTF and they let me go.

 

[->PrOjEcTGS<-]

Take for instance SRT-4's. They're loud as hell straight from the factory.

 

[JNperformance]

Too many people trying to give advice from the other side of the country. Dont tell us what you state is. We need Washington. You can modify your exhaust but not your Cat(unless damage or over a set mileage). Also if you look at the listings for these exhaust they all say for offroad use ONLY!!! That means for racing only. You can buy a BONG(legal) but you cant smoke weed(illegal) out of it. !

 

[Defiant]

If modified exhausts are not legal then muffler shops wouldn't exist. They would carry only OEM components.
Am I right?

No. So far, the Feds don't inspect muffler shops. Do you always slow to 15 miles an hour when passing occupied schoolyards?

So that 2009 harley that just went by is 5x louder than most of our cars, how does that make sense?

It's a cruel, unfair world.

all states do not have the same laws on exhaust and emissions some places in WA dont have emissions like were i live i have never had to do it

To be sold in the United States, all cars have to comply with Federal Safety and Emissions Regulations. There's a sticker on your doorjamb that says it did. That your area may not test nor enforce emissions (and, noise output level) regulations doesn't take away from its being illegal to modify them.

False. Please read the law as it pertains to our state before you spread misinformation.

Post it. And fill out your User Profile so we know where we're dealing with.

 

[->PrOjEcTGS<-]

You can buy a BONG(legal) but you cant smoke weed(illegal) out of it. !

You mean "Glass Art" peice?

 

[fuzzydoodle]

No. So far, the Feds don't inspect muffler shops. Do you always slow to 15 miles an hour when passing occupied schoolyards?

I usually do, but that's because I have a children myself.

It's a cruel, unfair world.

Isn't it though?

I always thought that to be ridiculous, Harley's are SO loud, but no one cares, I mean to the point of being so annoying you want to shoot them as they fly by you when you have your window down.

And diesel trucks, loud, and blowing smoke everywhere, but that's ok too.

God forbid your in a little car with not even that loud of exhaust, but lets pull them over fast.

But yes, anything other than a stock exhaust system is illegal, at least under 25 years.

That's why you get a magnaflow "stock" muffler, and tell em sorry dude, that's stock.

 

[laggin3]

Post it. And fill out your User Profile so we know where we're dealing with.

A member on another forum had the law changed so that it is a 95 dBA as per the SAE standard for exhaust noise. Washington state does not issue dBA meters to it's officers. If an officer pulls you over and is able to ascertain a higher than 95 dBA reading utilizing a dBA meter, the burden of proof would be on the state to prove that the meter used was calibrated to match the sensitivity level by that of an actual testing station. Now, the law also states that the officers ears will also be used as a testing device, so it would BEHOOVE you to have a reserved exhaust that will meet the parameters as set forth in the testing process. The current RCW posted online does not have wording that reflects the actual 95 dBA testing limit. Rest assured though, that is what the current law is.

WAC 173-58-080: Close proximity exhaust system sound level measurement procedure.

WAC 173-58-080 No agency filings affecting this section since 2003
Close proximity exhaust system sound level measurement procedure.

This section establishes specific procedures for the measurement of sound levels from exhaust systems at a distance of 20 inches (0.5 meter) from the exhaust outlet. The procedures of subsections (3), (4) and (5) of this section shall not be used for exhaust systems which utilize the introduction of water to the exhaust gas flow for the purpose of muffling the exhaust noise levels, or systems which exhaust the gas flow directly into water.

(1) For the purposes of this section "vehicle" means any motor driven contrivance used as a means of transportation or recreation off of public highways.

(2) Initial inspection. An initial inspection of the vehicle exhaust system shall be conducted to determine if the following defects or modifications exist:

(a) The absence of a muffler;

(b) The presence of a muffler cut-out, bypass, or similar device which is not standard or normal equipment for the exhaust system being inspected;

(c) Defects in the exhaust system including, but not limited to, pinched outlets, and holes or rusted through areas of the muffler or pipes;

(d) The presence of equipment which will produce excessive or unusual noise from the exhaust system.

If the above defects are observed and are a violation of the muffler integrity standards established for the type of vehicle which is being inspected, then a citation shall be issued in accordance with the enforcement section of the applicable regulation.

An evaluation of the vehicle sound level shall also be made by the enforcement officer, using the human ear as a sensing device.

If the exhaust noise is discernibly louder than the engine noise, or if any of the defects or modifications described above exist but are not violations of applicable regulations, the enforcement officer shall request the vehicle operator to submit the vehicle to any measurement procedures described in this chapter which are applicable to the type of vehicle being inspected. If the operator refuses to submit the vehicle to these measurement procedures, he shall be in violation of this chapter.

(3) Test site and instrumentation set up. The test site and instrumentation shall be set up as follows:

(a) The test site shall be a flat, open area free of large, sound-reflecting surfaces (other than the surface on which the vehicle is resting), such as signboards, buildings, large docks, hillsides, or other vehicles, located within a 16-foot (5-meter) radius of the vehicle being tested and the location of the microphone. The vehicle shall not be on a hoist, rack, or over a pit. Testing shall not occur within a shop or building. Nobody shall stand in the measurement area, except the observer and the vehicle operator.

(b) The microphone shall be at the same height as the center of the exhaust outlet if possible, but no closer to any surface than 8 inches (0.2 meter). The microphone shall be positioned with its longitudinal axis parallel to the ground, 20 ± 1 inches (0.5 meter) from the edge of the exhaust outlet, and 45 ± 10 degrees from the axis of the outlet. For exhaust outlets located inboard from the vehicle body, the microphone shall be located at the above specified angle and at least 8 inches (0.2 meter) from the nearest part of the vehicle.

For vehicles provided with exhaust outlets spaced more than 12 inches (0.3 meter) apart, measurements shall be made for each outlet as if it were the only one, and the highest level shall be recorded. If the exhaust outlets are less than twelve inches (0.3 meter) apart, a single measurement shall be made for any one of the outlets.

For vehicles with a vertical exhaust, the microphone shall be placed at a height of 48 ± 2 inches (1.2 meter). Its axis shall be vertical and oriented upwards. It shall be placed at a distance of 20 ± 1 inches (0.5 meter) from the side of the vehicle nearest the exhaust outlet.

For vehicles with the exhaust system outlet near the engine, the engine hood (if one exists) should be closed as much as possible to reduce engine noise.

If a measuring device is attached to the exhaust outlet and the microphone to maintain proper distance, insure that no vibrations from the vehicle shall be transmitted to the instrument.

(4) Vehicle operation. The vehicle shall be operated as follows:

(a) Controlled ignition vehicles. The engine shall be operated at a normal operating temperature with transmission in park or neutral. Sound level measurements shall be made at three-fourths (75 percent) of the RPM for rated horsepower ± 100 RPM of meter reading.

(b) Vehicles with motorcycle engines. The engine shall be operated at normal operating temperatures with the transmission in neutral. If no neutral is provided, the vehicle shall be operated either with the rear wheel or wheels 2-4 inches (5-10 centimeters) clear of the ground, or with the drive chain or belt removed. The sound level measurement shall be made with the engine speed stabilized at one of the following values:

(i) If the engine data is available, test the vehicle at one-half (50 percent) of the RPM for maximum rated horsepower ± 100 RPM.

(ii) If the engine data is not available, and if the vehicle has a tachometer showing the manufacturer's recommended maximum engine speed ("red line"), test the vehicle at 60 percent of the "red line" RPM ± 100 RPM.

(iii) If the engine data and red line RPM are not available, test the vehicle at:

(A) 3500 ± 100 RPM for engines with total cylinder displacement between 0-950 cc (0-58 in.3).

(B) 2800 RPM ± 100 RPM for engines with total cylinder displacement greater than 950 cc (58 in.3).

(c) Diesel engine vehicles. The engine shall be operated at normal operating temperatures with transmission in park or neutral. Sound level measurements shall be made at the vehicle's maximum governed no-load speed. If the engine is not provided with a governor, the vehicle shall be operated in the same manner as a vehicle with a controlled ignition.

(5) Measurement. The exhaust system sound level shall be measured as follows:

(a) The sound level meter shall be set for slow response and on the "A" weighting scale.

(b) The sound level meter shall be observed during the full cycle of engine acceleration-deceleration. The recorded sound level shall be the highest value obtained at the appropriate, constant engine speed as specified in subsection (4) of this section, and shall exclude peaks due to unrelated ambient noise, engine noise, or extraneous impulsive-type noise.

(c) At least two measurements shall be made, and the reported sound level shall be the average of the two highest readings which are within one dBA of each other.


I am a LEO in Washington state, but I won't fill out my information for what should be obvious reasons.

 

[fuzzydoodle]

Look up the law, not the procedure to measure DB output.

The procedure means nothing to them, it's the law that matters, and unfortunately anything modified from stock is illegal.

Like I said, look at the law, not the measure procedure.

From the Washington State Law

"No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the engine of such vehicle above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle, and it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle not equipped as required by this subsection, or which has been amplified as prohibited by this subsection. A court may dismiss an infraction notice for a violation of this subsection if there is reasonable grounds to believe that the vehicle was not operated in violation of this subsection."

KTHXBAI

 

[JNperformance]

Look up the law, not the procedure to measure DB output.

The procedure means nothing to them, it's the law that matters, and unfortunately anything modified from stock is illegal.

Like I said, look at the law, not the measure procedure.

From the Washington State Law

"No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the engine of such vehicle above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle, and it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle not equipped as required by this subsection, or which has been amplified as prohibited by this subsection. A court may dismiss an infraction notice for a violation of this subsection if there is reasonable grounds to believe that the vehicle was not operated in violation of this subsection."

KTHXBAI

This law states that you can not make an exhaust to amplify or increase. That is a touchy area. It does not say that any modification to exhaust is against the law. Only if it increase or amplify the sounds. This would make me believe it would be Db related and not all modifications.

 

[fuzzydoodle]

You would think, come up to Washington and drive around, you will see. I was born in Portland, and lived all over the area, McMinnville, Sheridan, Dundee, Newburg, and Willamina, and Grand Ronde, Gladstone, ect. as well as still go down often to visit family, and never have a problem, THERE.

This is coming from experience, on a daily basis I get pulled over for it, but it also depends on the officer you get, he can give you a ticket for it, and there is not much you can do.
Its stated in the law, most of the time, they wont give you a ticket for it because yeah, its a hassle, you would have to prove its over, and most don't want to go through with it.
But they tell me everytime, its against the law, and my uncle is a cop in Port Orchard, so he tells me whats up.

Granted I have not gotten a ticket yet, but its still the law, and they can, and (depending on who pulls you over) will give you a ticket, and you will have to pay for a lawyer, or pay the ticket, the latter usually ending cheaper.

But its your choice, like I said, look up the laws, not the testing procedures.