Just bought a tomei, but live in California and wanted to know if the tomei will actually lead me into a cop citing me for a too loud of an exhaust.... heard of horrid stories about exhaust laws in California. I know it sucks living here cause I feel like it has to be carb legal, cash cow stuff for little ass citations, and etc....

 

So I have a few buddies who have been sate reffed and it's pretty rough if you can't go back to stock.

But for an exhaust it will depend on the cop; if they want to state ref you are not.

If you have a loud exhaust and you get state ref'ed just put your car back to stock go to state ref and pass it's not that hard to do.
The issue people have if they can't do that; ie built motor; turbo ect. Going back to stock is a bit more work/money ect

So you can get a ticket it will really depend on the cop; just don't drive like a dick and be loud and you will be fine.
This is the %100 reason i have the Tanabe medalion exhaust it's legit dead quite in n and very quite normal driving. I drive by cops all the time without issue. I could still get state reff'ed I have all my stock parts if that happens.
The Tomei might be careful and just don't give them a reason to pull you over

As far as crab legal stuff as well as long as your smog guy isn't going by visual; most people do smog put on mods; take out mods to smog
Or pay for a smog hookup but this can be $500 bucks and up depending on your hookup. [DO NOT MESSAGE ME for smog hookup I am not the guy]

 

I used to have the skunk2 mega power with a test pipe, that being said the car was LOUD. One day I was driving to the grocery store and gave it a little gas. I'm talking like 5-10% more throttle than required to keep the car going at a steady MPH. Unfortunately, it sounded like i was flooring it in a 99 civic with a fart canon and it just so happened that a cop was parked on a side street. I knew the inevitable was coming. He trailed me, but didn't light me up. I followed me until i parked in the grocery store parking lot. I shut off the car, rolled down all the windows, put the keys on the dash to where he could see them, put my hands on the steering wheel and waited for him. He walked up and asked about my car and if I knew how loud it was. I played stupid and said I just bought the car and am trying to buy the stock exhaust... Long story short I had to wash some balls and be super nice to get let off with a warning. Cops are brutal. I would say drive like hell on the track, spirited in the canyons and like a grandma everywhere else to get by in CA with a modified exhaust.

 

1. Exhaust won't affect carb and/or smog testing unless it's a header back exhaust that eliminates the cat.
2. Yes the exhaust needs to meet the sound decibel requirement, so just drive carefully/slowly/quietly or risk getting a ticket for it. If you do, then you need to go to a quieter system or stock.
3. I've lived here all my life and only got an exhaust noise violation when i was 16 and pulled over for speeding. Most cops won't care unless you are already doing something worse or if you car is just insanely loud at any speed.

 

I do have that fear, but I believe early this year/late last year the Ref was reduced by Gov Newson to just a fix it ticket. (I would recommend googling it to confirm, as I did not stay current)

 

I thought that law was revoked.

 

Can anyone explain what "state ref" "state ref'd" "state reffed" mean?
I just moved to California and brought my 2000 AP1 - registered fine because it's stock and passed smog check at the local garage with no issue. But I'm curious for links to state laws and such that might describe what's going on here. Is it about pollutants? Is it about high decibels? Both?

 

California has no "safety" inspections but does have biennial smog inspections for older, not very new cars. They vary depending on the model and the year. Your 2000 will need to be checked with measuring equipment up your tailpipe as well as physical inspections. Besides looking for decayed vacuum lines, they are looking for modifications to the exhaust system that will cause a fail for your registration efforts. Even having an O2 sensor extension on the CAT (keeps the sensor from being impacted by the CAT media sliding into it and throwing a code) to keep the check engine light from failing your inspection, is a no no if the inspector sees it and they will.
If you keep your car stock and as it is already passing, you should be fine with regular maintenance. My 2009 does not need the direct measurement test. They simply plug in the OBD and see that things are legit. I still get the physical inspection like all cars but overall the inspection is over in about 5 minutes.

You can go online and check out the state references and regulations to your heart's desires. There is a lot of it as so many people build and mod their cars here.

 

The visual inspection in CA has existed since my days with BMW 2002s. I had to keep the original 2002 intake manifold, carburetor, air filter setup, and air pump. I had to change them in and out of the car every time registration renewal came up. It became too much of a hassle.

My 2002Ti was never approved for CA registration. It was registered as a plain 2002.

 

This usually refers to one being ordered to clean up an illegal car, correct the illegal modification. Alpha-Hotel exhaust ticket is one easy way to get "state reffed." Another way is to fail smog 'cuz you modified the car. You gotta fix it and go to the government to have the fix approved -- or not.

Infractions rarely happen to unmodified cars-- and California does not want you to modify your car!

-- Chuck