Loud/altered exaust Laws

[MoN]

There is a small discussion going on on another site about the Law in ma regarding loud/altered exausts. Cops around here have been slapping people with tickets left and right for loud/altered exausts. Someone brought up a great point about the MA law, it is very vague w/ no actual guidelines...

CHAPTER 90. MOTOR VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT
No person shall use a muffler cut-out or by-pass. No person shall operate a motor vehicle on any way which motor vehicle is equipped (1) with a muffler from which the baffle plates, screens or other original internal parts have been removed and not replaced; or (2) with an exhaust system which has been modified in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the exhaust.

^thats it.

Now some cars are louder than others stock. SRT4's first came out with no mufflers.. making them really loud, cops were handing out tickets to people with "stock exausts" until the issue was brought up to Dodge and the company issued a letter in writing for all owners to carry stating that the loud exausts were stock...bye bye tickets... Another: We all know that many stock motorcycles have super loud exausts, but they are legal, wtf? this doesnt seem to be fair to other car enthusisats modifying their exausts for performance standards.

Now in many other states there are precise guidelines as to how loud an exaust can be. For example: California states that exaust noise cannot exceed 95 decibles. Florida states the same, and at that the cops have to follow certain guidelines as to where and how the loudness is measured.

I have gotten several tickets for loud/altered exausts, and its funny because the car has passed MA inspection, which tests cars for vehicle saftey and legality, so if according to MA inspection laws I am legal, why is it the Mass Highway Dep't sais other wise??

I would like to know what your states laws & regulations are on loud/altered exausts. And what your thoughts are on these laws. :)

[bannerd]

New York State Law

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.


I run a 3INCH straight pipe with a coned baffle. Been pulled over once but never got a ticket. It's a hard thing to fight, a car that is 26 years old can have what ever it wants on it, straight headers. A new car cannot, motorcycles are the worst, harleys and rice rockets make way more noise than my car without a baffle. I can't believe the amount of cars I see that just have their exhaust hanging on by a chicken wire. It could fall off, spin and go through a wind shield. They never get tickets but people that actually take care of their cars do.

[gizzmo]

I get pulled over because the exhaust gets their attention more than for the exhaust if that makes sense. The SCCA is now doing noise limits at their national level eventssomething like 100db which will screw me next year when the wagon's back in action. I'm gonna have to roll in, insert silencer, get my ass kicked, remove silencer, drive home. Can't wait :rolleyes:

[StripesRX]

Whenever I see a cop... its clutch in for me. :)

As to the above, I went to a local AutoX where the limit was something like 80db @ 75 feet, and there was an 06 STi with an external wastegate and that didn't set off the sensor.(But I don't think the sensor was working) I've seen some of the rally cars "muffle" their exhausts by cuving the end to point right was the ground, it might be worth trying in your case. Food for thought.

[xxthat girlxx]

I clutch in as well.

I had a couple run in's with my 3" catless turbo back. I changed the exhaust set up to be a bit quieter and I've been okay so far.

I don't like that american cars/pick up trucks can be pretty loud and seem to get away with more. As for bikes - loud pipes save lives?

[im_so_blue]

My personal theory on this problem and i've talked to people about it for years now. and i pretty much heard it from the horses mouth (my uncles a cop in florida)

anything that looks like its out to go street racing
(meaning newer cars with front mounts. Fancy rims, Hood scoops, big wings, exhaust pipes larger then 2 inches. or a tuner sound to it)

is about to get slammed.

reason for this is cause most cops that i know of really don't like the tuner crowd that much. And love to make our lives miserable in any way possible.

Which is why say my car which i don't drive like a maniac so i don't red line it or anything like that ever. will get pulled over because of its import tuner race sound due to the 3 inch exhaust.
and a 1970 Chevelle with big ass drag radials open headers can go screaming by like a bat out of hell with not even a bat of the eye lash.

Why cause most cops that are car guys dig muscle cars and classics. And can understand that vibe.

Same with harleys. Most cops i know own a chopper of some kind themselves So why pull over what you enjoy most.

I see less and less of this as years go on because they know we are way too smart for that crap and will be more then happy to take to court to get out of said ticket.

except for MA which outsmarted us cause if i remember right i think i heard theres a fee you gotta pay now to fight a ticket regardless of if you win or not.

[Big-E]

Connecticut has a decibel limit and a method for testing whether or not your exhaust system is in compliance with that limit.

The thing with the Massachusetts law is that #1 is easy: you can't modify your OEM exhaust in such a manner to make it louder.

Number 2 however is the tricky one: "[W]ith an exhaust system which has been modified in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the exhaust."

What does "an exhaust system which has been modified" mean? I take it to be similar to #1. But, if you install an aftermarket system ("AMX") that has been designed and installed as-is without modification then by rights you should be safe.

But, of course, that's never going to be the case because in the same sentence you have "or increase the noise emitted by the exhaust", which means your unmodified aftermarket exhaust system cannot be louder than the OEM system.

So, if that's the case, what's the standard for such measurement? Apparently there is none. Thus, if at idle your AMX is no louder than OEM presumptively the "authorities" can say, well, what about at "X-RPM's" or at "X-MPH" and so-on.

This law was written in such a manner that it is not so vague as to cause it to be invalid, but vague enough so that it is open to a matter of 'valid', which translates to 'reasonable' interpretation.

So in short, in Massachusetts, you're effectively screwed.

I think however im_so_blue is basically spot-on and to paraphrase: if it looks loud, it probably is loud (so I'm going to pull you over).

[MoN]

@ Im so Blue: I totally agree. Cops are jus out to bust the "tuner crowds" balls, its totally biased and unfair. I dont go around blasting the hell out of the car, being showy or anything like that....unlike many other people out there with like said muscle cars or motorcycles..


This law was written in such a manner that it is not so vague as to cause it to be invalid, but vague enough so that it is open to a matter of 'valid', which translates to 'reasonable' interpretation.

So in short, in Massachusetts, you're effectively screwed.


And that is my point within this point. Our law has no guidelines and it was made like that because our politicians are sneaky bastards! :lol: If I had the money to throw away to take this argument to the judicial system, and make it to be as fair as most other states, I would but it costs a crapload of $$....

And yes now to appeal a ticket its an automatic $25 up front, win or lose.... Again... those sneaky fucks... lol

[im_so_blue]

but to not be a hater on the cops cause ya know for the most part they are doing their jobs so we can't bust their balls for it. Its kinda also the communitys fault for what it is

Like when F&F came out... every friggin kid thought they could take their beat up civic and think they were was like vin diesel or paul walker blowing crap up with NOS and jump train tracks like there was a big jump there.

And what happen kids played on the streets and soon after people started dying from this trend due to head on collisions. Or wiping out into tree's or hitting pedestrians crossing the street.
When push comes to shove you know the rest

Also. They could also use these laws as a fishing procedure.

Those of you that don't know what fishing is in Law Enforcement terms. Is basically stereo typing people to put it in simplest terms

So say for instance

I see some guy with full tinted windows in a chevy caprice on 26's.
9 times out of 10 hes got drugs on him and a weapon with no license.

So that means wait for the simplest thing to go wrong and bam your ass is mine.

I see a honda civic with fart can and body kit and some work done to it visually.

9 times out of 10 atleast in major areas like cities. He's gonna mess with another kid with a similar car and do street racing. Or go pretend he can drift in a parking lot.
or hes also carrying drugs/weapon with no license

[rick moranis fan]

CT seems to have a pretty good wording for what is allowed/not allowed:

http://www.ct.gov/dmv/lib/dmv/regulations/080a.pdf
Sec. 14-80. Mechanical equipment. (a) Each motor vehicle and the devices on such vehicle shall be operated, equipped, constructed and adjusted to prevent unnecessary or unusual noise.



(b) Each motor vehicle operated by an internal combustion engine shall be equipped, except as hereinafter provided, with a muffler or mufflers designed to prevent excessive, unusual or unnecessary exhaust noise. The muffler or mufflers shall be maintained by the owner in good working order and shall be in use whenever the motor vehicle is operated. No person, including a motor vehicle dealer or repairer or a motorcycle dealer, shall install, and no person shall use, on a motor vehicle, a muffler or mufflers lacking interior baffle plates or other effective muffling devices, a gutted muffler, a muffler cutout or a straight exhaust except when the motor vehicle is operated in a race, contest or demonstration of speed or skill as a public exhibition pursuant to subsection (a) of section 14-164a, or any mechanical device which will amplify the noise emitted by the vehicle. No person, including a motor vehicle dealer or repairer or a motorcycle dealer, shall remove all or part of any muffler on a motor vehicle except to repair or replace the muffler or part for the more effective prevention of noise. No person shall use on the exhaust system or tail pipe of a motor vehicle any extension or device which will cause excessive or unusual noise.



(c) The engine of every motor vehicle shall be equipped and adjusted to prevent excessive fumes or exhaust smoke.



(d) All pipes carrying exhaust gases from the motor shall be constructed of, and maintained with, leak-proof metal. Exhaust pipes shall be directed from the muffler or mufflers toward the rear of the vehicle and shall be approximately parallel with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and approximately parallel to the surface of the roadway, or shall be directed from the muffler upward to a location above the cab or body of the vehicle so that fumes, gases and smoke are directed away from the occupants of the vehicle. Exhaust pipes on a passenger vehicle shall extend to the extreme rear end of the vehicle's body, not including the bumper and its attachments to the body, or shall be attached to the vehicle in such a way that the exhaust pipes direct the exhaust gases to either side of the vehicle ensuring that fresh ambient air is located under the vehicle at all times. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to establish safety standards for passenger vehicles equipped with exhaust pipes located in front of the rear axle.



(e) Every motor vehicle shall, when operated on a highway, be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than two hundred feet, but no horn or other warning device shall emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle.



(f) No vehicle shall be equipped with, nor shall any person use on a vehicle, any siren, whistle or bell as a warning signal device, except as otherwise permitted by this section. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with a theft alarm signal device which is so arranged that it cannot be used by the driver as an ordinary warning signal. Any authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with a siren, whistle or bell, capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than five hundred feet and of a type approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Such signal shall not be used unless the vehicle is operated in response to an emergency call or in the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, in which event the driver of the vehicle shall sound the signal when reasonably necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers of the approach of the vehicle.



(g) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined one hundred fifty dollars for each offense.

In all honesty, as long as you aren't driving like a jackass flatbrim brodawg in CT the cops seem to leave you alone. I have a fart pipe on my car and drive like a normal person, so the cops don't bug me at all.

[hqp921]

We all know that many stock motorcycles have super loud exausts, but they are legal, wtf?

No, it's just that a majority of motorcycles that are bought and sold have modified exhausts, just as many performance oriented cars have modified exhaust. I assure you that motorcycles do not come with super loud exhausts stock.

I have gotten several tickets for loud/altered exausts, and its funny because the car has passed MA inspection, which tests cars for vehicle saftey and legality, so if according to MA inspection laws I am legal, why is it the Mass Highway Dep't sais other wise??

Just because it's passed inspection, doesn't mean you didn't alter the exhaust afterwards... how many threads on NASIOC say, "Just put the stock exhaust on for the inspection and then switch it out afterwards?"

I don't like that american cars/pick up trucks can be pretty loud and seem to get away with more.

Are you saying that import cars get a bad rep?

As for bikes - loud pipes save lives?

Please, no more spreading bad information. Good riding saves lives. Loud pipes annoy. Sound waves travel out behind the vehicle... now, if you could somehow mount so the exhaust points the other way... :lol:

Case in point, I was driving (at a decent clip) and saw a motorcycle approaching behind me quickly... could I hear him? No. It wasn't until he passed (on a double yellow) that it was EXTREMELY LOUD as it PASSED MY WINDOW... so loud pipes don't do anything, unless you are directly behind, or next to the vehicle.

reason for this is cause most cops that i know of really don't like the tuner crowd that much. And love to make our lives miserable in any way possible.


Are there some in the "tuner crowd" that drive irresponsibly?

Do you? If you don't, do you like being pigeon-holed into the "if you drive a hopped up import, you must be some sort of Fast and Furious type"?

I'm sure not all cops want to be pigeon holed into "loving to make the lives of citizens miserable in any way possible."

but to not be a hater on the cops cause ya know for the most part they are doing their jobs so we can't bust their balls for it. Its kinda also the communitys fault for what it is


And for some cops, doing their job requires more than traffic stops... and in some instances, some traffic stops can get hairy. Have I encountered "bad" cops? Yes. Have I encountered good cops? Yes.

Profiling (of any sort) is a real hot button issue, so I don't really want to get into it... but in ways, you need to utilize it to be safe. At what point do you use information that you have on hand to make a call that it could be an unsafe situation? Or whatever situation? And it's to each person's call/comfort level... anyway, I digress... what were we talking about?

- HP

[im_so_blue]

you gotta remember tickets = money in your town/city/states bank account and the police department that issued the ticket's bank account

there is scenarios. which i have seen where a county or city or town will be like

"well we are under our budget what do we do..."

wait a month and you'll see on the news "well July has been a record month for traffic violations according to town officials."

is it wrong? maybe. does it happen? Yes all the time.

thats where the fishing procedure and profiling comes in play.

like i said i am not hating on cops... But i am calling the shots as i see them in real life. Big cities to small middle of no where towns.

[MoN]

Just because it's passed inspection, doesn't mean you didn't alter the exhaust afterwards... how many threads on NASIOC say, "Just put the stock exhaust on for the inspection and then switch it out afterwards?"







what were we talking about?

- HP

^Ok but it hadn't been swapped out and back in just for inspection, it passed they way it is, so u saying it's ok for a cop to assume that? Thats like defamation of character if you ask me, if a cop chose to throw that line in my face I'd be hella pissed off. I dont lie to police I dont need to. If it passed inspection then it passed. And thats the point here, their law goes against what they consider legal in state inspectional screenings. It doesnt make any sense. Of course most of us want our cars to be street legal for reasons of passing inspections and avoiding traffic violations that are f-ing up our record...

But what we are talking about here is not about cops being douche-bags. And not whether or not our cars are loud (according to the lack of guidelines??). We are talking here about the comparison between the extremely vague an undetailed loud/altered exaust laws in MA, compared to those of other states loud/altered exaust laws. :)

Basically we are talking about how much it sucks to drive a modified import in MA... lol

[hqp921]

^Ok but it hadn't been swapped out and back in just for inspection, it passed they way it is, so u saying it's ok for a cop to assume that? Thats like defamation of character if you ask me,

I didn't say it was okay for a cop to assume that. I was saying that the inspection sticker is granted under a specific condition (i.e. what condition the car is in as it sits in the inspection bay at that moment), and lasts a year. If within a year your blinker goes out, technically, that's a violation that wouldn't allow you to pass inspection. But your vehicle HAS passed.

So no, the cop isn't to assume that you passed with a messed up blinker or modified exhaust. He just doesn't know either way.

My exhaust is loud, but not deafening. I've had inspection places say, "That exhaust is a little on the loud side." But I've never had an issue with LEO.

*shrug*

YMMV.


Basically we are talking about how much it sucks to drive a modified import in MA... lol

Ohhhh... But I enjoy driving a modified import in MA. :confused:

If you think it sucks so much, I will trade you a beat up Cavalier for your STI. ;)

XOXO
- HP

[rick moranis fan]

As for bikes - loud pipes save lives?

The only people who believe that line is the weekend mid-life crisis Harley rider who wants to look like a badass as they cruise down Main St. :lol:

They don't save lives at all, all it does is annoy the shit out of everyone when those jackasses go full fucking throttle down side streets at 4am.

Can you tell I live near a bunch of these people? :lol::mad:

[MoN]

The only people who believe that line is the weekend mid-life crisis Harley rider who wants to look like a badass as they cruise down Main St. :lol:

They don't save lives at all, all it does is annoy the shit out of everyone when those jackasses go full fucking throttle down side streets at 4am.

Can you tell I live near a bunch of these people? :lol::mad:

I do too and I HATE it!!!!!!!

And pshhhhh ya right HP:lol::lol:!

[Foz]

I was just pulled over the other day for speeding...oops(haven't been pulled over in 4yrs). Anyways, the cop asked what was up with my exhaust. I told him I don't think I really have a good answer for you. (At least not the one he wanted to hear. Oh its because I have an upgraded turbo and I'm pushing 315whp. Boxer engine...mmmmm!) He asked where I got it. I told him online. He told me that within city limits you are not allowed to have altered exhaust unless it comes straight from subaru. He didn't say anything about a noise odinance but I'm sure thats what he was getting at. He told me he would like to see a silencer on the end. Then he told me that his aunt also has a forester and it doesn't sound nearly as loud as mine. I almost went off because I wanted to tell him that hers is prolly all NA and doesn't have 315whp.

I'm confused now because he doesn't want to hear my exhaust but those cop cruisers are much louder stock then my exhaust is altered. Is it about the altered exhaust (emissions, it get it) or the actual "noise?" Exsesive, unusual, and unsessary noise is all realtive. I have not looked up what the allowed db is in city limits but either way if I exceed that then all motorcycle cops should be writing themselves tickets or silencing their exhaust too.

I understand the law, that its there as a referance and giude blah blah blah, and I get both sides. But I guess its just one of those battles that we will keep fighting because of a "generation gap" if you will.

I love the sound of the boxer engine but I also like the sound of a well built chevy engine too. Like I said, "noise" is all realitive. Just be polite to the officer and tell him yes sir I will get that fixed right away! Tell them what they want to hear. Kill them with kindness because you wont be able to change the law.

[jessickascarling]

I live in the woods pretty much and there are A LOT of deer and other animals running all over the place... one morning it was still dark out and I was driving Dan's car. A deer was on the side of the road and took off as soon as I got on it a little with the exhaust. I'm glad I had Dan's car because it's louder and that deer was off like a shot as soon as he heard me. Usually whenever I see deer in the LGT with my stock exhaust, they don't take off like that AT ALL.