What I have never understood is a Harley can go buy and blow out everyone's windows and yet an import car goes buy and is mildly raspy and cops go apeshit?

 

Exactly, just ask him how he determined how your exhaust was over the legal limit and what he measured it at ^^ Infront of the judge ofcourse, never speak to cops in the field as it will never play in your favor.

 

You either need to do some serious research on the laws and your specific situations, or call a lawyer.

I've never had a lawyer for traffic tickets, and have gotten every one of them reduced or thrown out. Unless I didn't show up for court.

 

I have received two exhaust tickets in NY, with my HKS dual, which if you ask anyone, is one of the quietest exhausts you can get for the s2000. Both times, they were thrown out of court. Your state should have VERY SPECIFIC guidelines to exhaust noise, so that alone is enough to get you off the hook.

To the guys commenting about testpipes...little known fact for ya...

Only the EPA can hand out a test pipe ticket, not police. Furthermore, the ticket is...$10,000.

 

One more thing...if you want a quick way out without making the cop look like an a$$hat, if you have a receipt with the date of purchase for your exhaust, and your vehicle passed the state inspection, the cop can go suck a fat one.

Another thing, federal law trumps state law. Federal law ALLOWS you to replace your car parts, including exhaust systems with OEM-LIKE parts. If state laws required OEM parts only, then Honda would charge $500000 for a lug nut, because you HAVE you buy OEM. You have the RIGHT to buy another brand, provided it complies with OEM specifications, and the only way to check compliance for states is during state inspections.

 

^ This all varies by state. Some states like caligaynia have external boards that handle non oem parts. Furthermore, I'm not sure about the other 49 states, but an officer can write you a ticket that sends you to what we call BAR (Bureau of Automotive Repair) and have your car checked out for whatever violation they are citing. Maybe these 'EPA only' rules apply in NY; but don't talk about the law being a one size fits all glove.

 

Like stated above, testpipes (removing the OEM cat) is a federal offense. Federal offense means federal agency territory, in this case, the EPA. However, I will concede that what I state above is for the 49 normal states. In California I would rather have a mild cancer than own a car.

 

I think that's an urban legend. This guy got a ticket. From a cop. In New York...

http://forums.evolutionm.net/2808511-post13.html

 

With the exception of the cat, exhaust is not part of the inspection in NY State.

New York Inspection Requirements

However, the police can write a ticket any time for the following:

NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law, Section 375. Equipment.

Subsection 31. Mufflers and exhaust systems. Prevention of noise.

Every motor vehicle, operated or driven upon the highways of the state, shall at all times be equipped with an adequate muffler and exhaust system in constant operation and properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise and no such muffler or exhaust system shall be equipped with a cut-out, bypass, or similar device.

No person shall modify the muffler or exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor or exhaust system of such vehicle above that emitted by the muffler or exhaust system originally installed on the vehicle and such original muffler and exhaust system shall comply with all the requirements of this section.

A muffler is a device consisting of a series of chambers or baffle plates, or other mechanical design for the purpose of receiving exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine, and effective in reducing noise.

An exhaust system is a series of mechanical devices for the purpose of receiving exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine and expelling it into the atmosphere.

 

New York ticket-able violations and fines:

375-28A REMOVED CATALYTIC CONVERTER $115

28-a. Except as permitted or authorized by law, no person shall
remove, dismantle or otherwise cause to be inoperative any equipment or
feature constituting an operational element of a motor vehicle's air
pollution control system or mechanism required by federal or state law
or by any rules or regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.

375-28FF NO APPROVED EMISSION CONTROL DEVICE $815

28FF No registered owner shall permit a motor vehicle, required to have
an exhaust emission control device in proper working condition pursuant
to the provisions of this subdivision, to be operated in the portion of
the state to which this subdivision is applicable, unless such vehicle
is equipped with an approved exhaust emission control device in proper
working condition.

I'm sure the Feds have additional laws and fines.