pulled over because of exhaust

[silicosys4]

Join the military and change ## residency to Oregon. Some tiny ass town in the back woods would be great. Only Emissions are in Portland and no state inspections

+1 on that, There's no such thing as emission testing here in NW Washington, Nobody gives a damn about loud exhausts.... Open downpipes and unmuffled streetbikes are all good for the most part, but good luck finding someone to do any kind of fab work, .

 

[PieEyedPiper]

So did they actually test your exhaust as provided by California Law or just issue you a ticket because your exhaust is "modified" i.e. not stock. If they ask for a certification or anything you do not have to answer (unless it's your name, address, or other basic identifying information) it's part of your 5th amendment rights. Make them prove everything. The burden of proof is on them not you. So next time you get pulled over and your feeling cheeky excise your rights.

All the information you need to know about the law is located here. It's also partially digested for you. In the end all you really need to know is: you need a muffler with no bypasses, cut outs, etc and it can't be louder than 95db under the criteria stated in the law. What it does not say is: modified exhausts are illegal. They can not issue a ticket because the exhaust is modified or they think it's loud. That stuff just doesn't cut it in a court of law. I've asked for a definition of loud in court before and how they knew it was louder than stock. No one had a reasonable answer.

I advise never pleading guilty to anything unless you're clearly guilty and even then there's some wiggle room. You have to understand if you go to court, clearly know the law and display a willingness to fight for your position they will offer you a deal or dismiss tickets. The court system can not adjudicate all matters that come before them and prey upon people that "just want to plead guilty and pay the fine so the ticket goes away."

I get exhaust tickets dismissed all the time in New York State. The law isn't all that different here except they don't have an allowable limit for exhaust noise. It only states that it can't be louder than stock, which creates ambiguity. No one in they're right mind knows what a stock exhaust sounds like on every car nor do officers ever test anything so exhaust tickets disappear faster than it took the officer to write it.

Police here just look at me and go "you know modifying your exhaust is illegal." I just say ok and if they give me a ticket I don't sweat it. NYS does allow for a shop to examine your exhaust and if it's all there without holes, cut out, bypasses, etc and you clearly have a muffler you're good to go. They fill out a waiver, you send it in and bye bye ticket.

Good info, but be cautious applying this to CA. Here a Police officer's word is plenty enough. "Using my judgment I determined the exhaust to be over the legal decibel limit and since I've seen a loud car and a quiet car side by side when I was at the academy, my training is adequate to make such a determination".


...and it's over.

 

[Kingcof22]

Good info, but be cautious applying this to CA. Here a Police officer's word is plenty enough. "Using my judgment I determined the exhaust to be over the legal decibel limit and since I've seen a loud car and a quiet car side by side when I was at the academy, my training is adequate to make such a determination".


...and it's over.

do you run an exhaust?

 

[TallestHERETIC]

You guys actually get tickets for "loud" exhaust systems? WTF

Here in RI, just owning a tuner car will instantly attract police' attention. Honda, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Nissan....they hate them all.

Yet if a Dodge, Chrysler, Ford or Chevy has a super loud muffler, they actually applaud the owners! They drive right by them even if the bumpers or hood is missing or the actual muffler is scrapping along the road.

I think they just hate our kind, our motors or the fact that a select few are really ruining it for the rest of us.

 

[Xit40]

Good info, but be cautious applying this to CA. Here a Police officer's word is plenty enough. "Using my judgment I determined the exhaust to be over the legal decibel limit and since I've seen a loud car and a quiet car side by side when I was at the academy, my training is adequate to make such a determination".


...and it's over.

In my experience there word isn't enough. The human ear is in no way able to tell the difference between say 93db and 96db. One of those would be legal and one illegal by California law. I've never even made it to a trial. Judges just look at me and dismiss the stupid exhaust tickets. If I did though I would most certainly test their ability to pick an illegal exhaust out of say 6 or 7 choices by sound.

BTW I would never advise giving the police a hard time. All I'm saying is make them do their job and don't do it for them. If, for example, you've been pulled over for speeding and they ask how fast you were going don't admit that you were speeding. Just tell them you're unsure how fast you were going. Once you admit guilt it's all over.

To the OP it's kewl you didn't get a ticket. Obviously the officer realized that your exhaust was at least on the cusp of being illegal and just wanted to intimidate you. The State Police in NY are incredibly bad about that. If you have a modified exhaust they will tell you it's illegal and most likely give you a ticket. It's funny because they are the only one here that give me problems. Local police and Sheriffs have never bothered me about my exhaust.

If you are really interested in having a nice and quiet exhaust check out the Thermal R&D and maybe get another resonator put in it like this. I love my Thermal.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

do you run an exhaust?

NOPE And so long as I'm still churning 25lbs/min with my mostly stock car, I'm happy to be flying UNDER the radar. 12's have been had with a stock exhaust.

In my experience there word isn't enough. The human ear is in no way able to tell the difference between say 93db and 96db. One of those would be legal and one illegal by California law. I've never even made it to a trial. Judges just look at me and dismiss the stupid exhaust tickets. If I did though I would most certainly test their ability to pick an illegal exhaust out of say 6 or 7 choices by sound.

BTW I would never advise giving the police a hard time. All I'm saying is make them do their job and don't do it for them. If, for example, you've been pulled over for speeding and they ask how fast you were going don't admit that you were speeding. Just tell them you're unsure how fast you were going. Once you admit guilt it's all over.

To the OP it's kewl you didn't get a ticket. Obviously the officer realized that your exhaust was at least on the cusp of being illegal and just wanted to intimidate you. The State Police in NY are incredibly bad about that. If you have a modified exhaust they will tell you it's illegal and most likely give you a ticket. It's funny because they are the only one here that give me problems. Local police and Sheriffs have never bothered me about my exhaust.

If you are really interested in having a nice and quiet exhaust check out the Thermal R&D and maybe get another resonator put in it like this. I love my Thermal.

Is your experience concentrated in CA? It's a moot point - I entirely side with you. human ear, proper testing environment, etc. etc. Still won't keep you out of court though.

 

[dsmboost84]

Move out of the fascist state into a state that understands the definition of volumetric efficiency. Your personal liberty shouldn't be violated to satisfy special interest groups that have infected the weak minds of politicians with pseudoscientific drabble about emissions.

Very well put

 

[Kingcof22]

NOPE And so long as I'm still churning 25lbs/min with my mostly stock car, I'm happy to be flying UNDER the radar. 12's have been had with a stock exhaust.

wow.. honestly, thats incredible..