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I Got a Ticket Saturday Reason: Exhaust too Loud Bullshit or not you Decide!

1114 Views 28 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  TMRRALLY
Well as some of you might Know already...I got a ticket Saturday on my way to work, It happened between the 101N and the 405S in the SFV area, well anyway I saw the CHP officer from the corner of my eye I was going Approx. 70mph, I down shifted to 4th 'cause traffic was stopped in front of me...as soon as I did that the CHP officer was on my Ass and as I downshifted to 3rd he turned his lights on!!!!:curse: well the reason why he stopped me...Yes you guessed it exhaust too loud!? I must admit my exhaust atracts some attention it is fucking Big! (that's what she said!:D ) anyway...According to his Explanation(Cop) you cannot modify your car or install High performance exhausts rather, cause they are ILLEGAL in California he said there is a reason why the factory makes the cars like they are...as soon as he said that I'm thinking! well that's a croc of shit!! while Other Hondas and Acuras were whizzing past me and the Cop who is giving me a lecture...We all know fuckin' Civic's are Loud as Shit!!!I guess I was the Winner that day, anyway he asked me if I had an Intake on my car...I said yes! like a Dumb Ass! well as you probly guessed it that too is Illegal (which is bullshit!!!) here in California anyway to make the long story short I forgot to ask Him how was he able to test the Decible Range coming out of my exhaust yes I fucked up! I have since Saturday I put on my Silencer this has reduced my exhaust a bit...(My exhaust is not that loud to begin with!) According to XS ENGINEERING Where I got My APEX'I N-1
this exhaust is rated at 92db with Silencer and 94db without the legal limit is 95db if I'm correct...is this so? Well needless to say I have to remove it and install the Old one in it's a fix a ticket...Has anyone experienced the same thing or know of someone that has? I'd like to find out what are my options without having to remove the parts...Dudettes and Dudes I need you help...Don't let a brotha down.....
All your comments will help I thank all y'all in advanced...

Frank, fight for your right!!!!!!!
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Check with Apexi and see if they have any documentation about the noise ouput of the N1 exhaust on a Impreza.

In California, because of budget cuts, the officer does not have to actually test the decibel output of the exhaust but can use "good judgement" (fucking cock-suckers) to tell if it is in fact over the 95 decibel limit.

I'd say the best bet is to see if you can get something in writing from Apex about the noise output of the exhaust.

I believe the california code for exhaust noise pertinant to you would be section 27150.2
27150.2. The commissioner shall adopt regulations setting standards
for vehicular exhaust systems consistent with Article 2.5
(commencing with Section 27200). The regulations shall include, but
need not be limited to, the following:
(a) Provisions for standards for vehicular exhaust systems, based
on manufacturers' data and subject to any inspections and other
verification the commissioner may prescribe. The regulations shall
include provisions specifying that exhaust systems installed on motor
vehicles, other than motorcycles, with a manufacturer's gross
vehicle weight rating of less than 6,000 pounds, that emit no more
than 95 dbA when tested in accordance with Society of Automotive
Engineers Standard J1169 May 1998, comply with Sections 27150 and
27151.
(b) Provisions for the licensing of stations to implement this
section and Section 27150.1, and for the denial, revocation, or
suspension of any license for failure to comply with this section or
any regulation adopted thereunder.
The regulations may provide for the exemption of vehicular exhaust
systems where compliance with the regulations would cause an
unreasonable hardship without resulting in a sufficient corresponding
benefit with respect to noise level control.
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Of course the state of California has no testing centers which could certify your exhaust as being under the noise limit.

This is what I think I would do if I was ever given one of these tickets.

Get a decibel meter, get a recording of the exhaust, take it to court, and then play it back for the officer while slowly raising the volume. Then ask him to note when the playback has reached the 95 decibel limit that his ears are sooooooo qualified to detect and note it on the decibel meter.

If he isn't able to nail it spot on then have the case dismissed on grounds of incompetance.


Does that seem plausible?
YES!!!!!I'll try that!:sunny:
When a auto-x'ed my car in SD they had a DB meter there and I was no where close to 95 db and that was full throtle in 2nd or 3rd. We all know my car is way louder than your!!
So why come I gotz a ticket! and yo' ass hatnt'?! keepin' a brotha' down!:curse:
Maybe it's that huge ricer exaust tip haging out the back of your car!!!
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2
Hey! your not helping me man!!!! I need all your support! (I need a HUG:( )
Sorry, ok your exaust tip is not that ricey. Either way your exaust is not loud enough to get a ticket over. The cops desicion was most likely based on the looks more than the sound. You sould come out to the next auto-x and see if you can get the guy to messure it for you. Get a letter from the manufature that states the db level and fight it. Is there a fine with the ticket?? Or is it just a fix-it with a $10 fine??
It's just a fix a ticket!! Thanks for all the support in this madness...(HAPPY NOW)
O my god, you are whinning over a fix-it, just switch it get it signed then put it back. Or get the manufacture to prove its ok fight it, win, then keep the paper work with you always just in case you gat pulled over again for the same reason.

You may also want to check out the SEMA web site, they have info on this subject and the newest legislation.
[email protected] SUBARU said:
O my god, you are whinning over a fix-it
Yeah, he does do that a lot :burnout:
obsidian said:


Yeah, he does do that a lot :burnout:
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One of my WRX customers with a Hks system just got a ticket. I think it was based on the size of the tip not how loud it was.
[email protected] SUBARU said:
One of my WRX customers with a Hks system just got a ticket. I think it was based on the size of the tip not how loud it was.
Very interesting point...
in california, any non-stock exhaust can get a ticket. in fact, any non-stock item on your car is illegal, for the most part. the exhaust is just the most obvious, since it's sticking out the rear of your car. i will admit that even a loud subaru is 100 times less annoying than a ricer high pitched exhaust, but still, cops don't know the difference. you never see classic chevys getting pulled over, even though their loud rubmle can be heard for a much longer distance than those annoying high pitched exhausts.

anyway, there doesn't need to be a decibel test. if it's not stock, you can get a fix it ticket. sucks, huh?

while you were getting that lecture, probably 25 drunk or high drivers passed you guys. also, 9 people wanted for murder, 12 wifebeaters, 3 child pornographers, 5 animal molesters, and 354 general perverts. oh well.
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Do you have a quote to the law that states this?

Most law I have seen says from the cat-back is quite alright as long as you don't remove any sensors or go over the noise level limit and have a muffler (kinda covered in the noise level). There is no CARB associated with the cat-back AFAIK.

Intake through cats, though, is definately illegal to tamper with in Cali unless it's CARB exempted. If you have CARB approved items, I believe you can replace pretty much anything except the cat. The cat in cali is a downright no-no.

If you have the links to the VC that says otherwise, please paste it!
dude...why do you doubt me? i was basically paraphrasing, but here is what the law actually says (which is different from what i said, but is enough for them to bust the average ricer)

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27151.htm


Vehicle Code



Modification of Exhaust Systems

27151. (a) No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor of ( )1 the vehicle so that the vehicle is not in compliance with the provisions of Section 27150 or exceeds the noise limits established for the type of vehicle in Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 27200). ( )2 No person shall operate a motor vehicle with an exhaust system so modified.

(b) For the purposes of exhaust systems installed on motor vehicles with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of less than 6,000 pounds, other than motorcycles, a sound level of 95 dbA or less, when tested in accordance with Society of Automotive Engineers Standard J1169 May 1998, complies with this section. Motor vehicle exhaust systems or parts thereof include, but are not limited to, nonoriginal exhaust equipment.

Amended Sec. 10, Ch. 92, Stats. 2001. Effective January 1, 2002.
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eric m. said:
dude...why do you doubt me?
Don't take it personally. I want proof when someone says something :) Especially something that goes against what the majority feels. Thanks for the link... reading it now :)
And I see no such thing as "no one shall put on any aftermarket parts. period."

What I see is "no one shall put on any aftermarket parts that do not comply with noise levels"

I am curious how you got to "any non-stock exhaust can get a ticket"
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