Legal Questions and the LawPost your questions about the law, or speeding tickets or anything legal. Disclaimer: 7thGenCivic.com and it's moderators are not lawyers or police officers (unless otherwise noted) and can in no way be held responsible for any advice or action
so yesterday i was driving going like 48 in a 50 in 5th gear with a cop behind me to the left. never started to speed and never took off and he starts running my plates and then jumps behind me and pulls me over a few minutes later. he comes up and says that my exhaust is to loud when i was in 5th gear and barely tapping the gas. he said you dont see anybody else doing that to there exhausts. everyone does. the cop was being a real ass and gave me a ticket for 60 and to take it off cause its illegal to modify stock exhausts. i have a megan racing axel back with stock mid with no resinator. anybody got some helpfull info on this situation. i live in md by the way.
a) 48 in fifth gear? You have a blatant misconception on how transmissions work, either that or you were driving down a 70 degree slope.
b) You modify your car without checking the legalities and then try to argue them after the fact?
c) Everyone does not do it. I have a pretty heavily modified car with a stock exhaust simply because I do my research on what's legal and what's not and I accept it.
Lets say you were driving a Dodge Viper SRT-10. That car has a Loud V10 engine and lets say you were going 40 mph and the cop stops you because of the exhaust being "too loud".
Basically, I think that cop just Wanted to stop you but he needed a reason Why he did in the first place.
That's how it starts: He stops you for a loud exhaust.
Then let's say you were driving without carrying your license.
So there you go. Two tickets.
1. loud exhaust.
2. driving without a valid license.
He was just picking on you at the time. Then they should Stop all the cars with Loud exhaust/mufflers: 350Z, Mustangs, Muscle cars, Etc.. What's the purpose of Aftermarket parts if they're "illegal"
Lets say you were driving a Dodge Viper SRT-10. That car has a Loud V10 engine and lets say you were going 40 mph and the cop stops you because of the exhaust being "too loud".
He was just picking on you at the time. Then they should Stop all the cars with Loud exhaust/mufflers: 350Z, Mustangs, Muscle cars, Etc.. What's the purpose of Aftermarket parts if they're "illegal"
just my opinion.
The loud exhaust IS LEGAL if and only if it came from the factory that way.
So a Roush mustang is all good. A factory mustang with an after marker Roush muffler is not.
In some states it is even illegal to advertise aftermarket parts without a disclaimer! If you read aftermarket magazine ads carefully, you will see disclaimers like: "Legal only for off-highway use (except in California or states that have adopted California emissions standards)" or "Not legal for sale or use in CA, OR, NJ and MA." On the other hand, the ad may state: "50-state legal," "California Air Resources Board (CARB) exemption," an "EO" number, or another statement that indicates its legality. I know my BORLA muffler said it, so did the HP header.
However, aftermarket parts are legal to use only if they meet certain requirements. In fact, if they do not meet these requirements it is classified as "Emission-Control Tampering." Since the Clean Air Act of 1991, there is a $2500 fine to the owner of the vehicle, and others for tampering with emission sensitive parts. Some examples of emission sensitive parts are ignition systems, engine computers, chips, cams, throttle bodies, air filters, and certain exhaust components.
Be cautious when there is no disclaimer. The part may not be legal to use in your state! The Specialty Equipment Market Association has instituted an emissions-sensitive product identification program. To aid consumers in identifying aftermarket parts SEMA-member manufacturers may use the following numeric/color square diamonds on their parts to indicate its proper use: The number 1 in a green diamond indicates that the product is legal in all 50 states and has been granted a California Air Resources Board exemption, an "EO" number, or is a direct or consolidated replacement part. The number 2 in a blue diamond indicates that the product is legal only in states that have not adopted California standards for emissions. This is the tricky one. As an example: Did you know that Massachusetts has now joined the list of states that have adopted California standards? The number 3 in an orange diamond indicates that the product is legal only for competition, racing, marine use, or off-highway use (except in California or states that have adopted California emissions or standards) where it is still illegal. This is only a brief summary. A booklet explaining the complete identification program can be obtained from SEMA, or requested from Intended Acceleration. SALES@IntendedAcceleration.com
Now about the new vehicle warranty.
Rarely does the use of aftermarket parts violate a new-vehicle warranty. The only case where a vehicle manufacturer can void the warranty is if the aftermarket part is proven to be responsible for the warranty claim. Further, it is also illegal on the part of the dealer to state that the use of an aftermarket part will void the warranty. There are also emissions warranties. Federal law (the Clean Air Act) requires two emissions warranties: A Performance warranty A Defect warranty The "Performance" warranties require the vehicle manufacturer to make repairs, at no cost to the owner, should the vehicle fail to meet certain levels of emission performance during the warranty period. The "Defect" warranties requires the vehicle manufacturer to produce a vehicle which, at time of sale, is free of defects that prevent it from meeting required emissions levels for its useful life. You are actually protected under a parts certification program administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If the aftermarket parts manufacturer certifies its parts under this program, the vehicle manufacturer cannot void the emissions warranty even if the certified parts fail and/or is directly responsible for an emissions warranty claim. In this situation, the vehicle manufacturer must arrange a settlement with the aftermarket parts manufacturer, but the new-vehicle warranty is not voided under the law. The law is clear: Simply because aftermarket equipment has been installed on a vehicle, the vehicle manufacturer cannot automatically void the warranty. What can you do to protect yourself? First, know your rights as a consumer. Second, buy only aftermarket parts that are legal for use in your state. Remember, only parts that are a direct replacement, those with a CARB number or those labeled with the number 1 in a green diamond are legal in all 50 states. Now a few words of caution: Your "warranty does not cover damage or malfunctions which are the result of...use of the vehicle in competitive events." This could include timed runs at quattro club events! Quattro club Safety Seminars themselves without speed and timing equipment are not competition events and should not affect either your warranty or insurance, but let someone drag out a stopwatch and the picture changes.
^ whoa, Good post! Was it copy n pasted? Anyways, I'm suprised to see no picture attachement.
+rep anyways buddy.
So wait, if you modify a stock exhaust by hacking the pipe and changing the muffler.... what if you yank the entire exhaust system out and swap it out- the orig stock exhaust is still in factory condition, but blah... you'd probably loose with that argument too. *snap*
man wtf. god i hate cops. he was just picking on me but i dunno what other exhaust to put on it. i dont want a full stock exhaust. i just got mine done and i love the sound. what should i do
i dont even know where to get a silencer that would fit the exhaust and they usually come with it but i dont have one. and the silencer defeats the purpose of the noise and looks ugly
If your not open to other options, then whats the point of this thread?
Heres your options as I see it:
Keep it the way it is
buy a new exhaust
put the stocker back on
use a silencer
if i keep the way it is and pay it and get pulled over again what would happen? im not really trying to buy another exhaust cause i like mine. i dont have a stock exhaust and dont know where to get a silencer at without buying a muffler with it.
he gave me a 60 dollar ticket. if i just payed it i could still keep it cause he never did give me a repair statement so i think i could get away with that
everyone does. the cop was being a real ass and gave me a ticket for 60 and to take it off cause its illegal to modify stock exhausts. i have a megan racing axel back with stock mid with no resinator. anybody got some helpfull info on this situation. i live in md by the way.
Re: stupid cops 
Re: stupid cops 
