Rep Power: 289

i just emailed the nh rep from sema to see what was up with the exhaust law in nh and he wrote back:

hey whats up?
actually, our law passed! we've changed the exhaust
law for the better. but i need to find out what they
changed the wording of the new law. Sema informed me
of the change but I need to see the actual law in
writing. also I don't know when it takes affect. I'll
let you know the exact law and date it takes affect.
Thanks for the support. If this law is the way we
wanted it... we're going after the altered height law!


just wanted to keep you guys posted on whats going on.

 
Rep Power: 328

huh?

 
Rep Power: 289

it is finally going to be legal to have a modified exhaust in nh

 
Rep Power: 328

It was legal before...I had a Borla Header, Highflow Cat, and Catback exhaust on my Jeep that passed inspection. My friend's dad has an older Jeep with no cats and straight 3" pipes with cherry bombs and it passed inspection too.

 
Rep Power: 289

the law reads you can not modify your exhaust in any way to make it louder. i can find it on the web if you want me to

 
Rep Power: 294

same thing here in maine, until recently. now the law is much more vague and open to modifying the exhaust of the vehicle. I believe NH was pretty open as well. from what i understood their exhaust laws are much more open meaning you could modify it...

 
Rep Power: 289

266:59 Muffler; Prevention of Noise. –
I. Every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with a muffler as defined in RSA 259:66, in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and no person shall use a muffler cutout, bypass or similar device upon a motor vehicle on a way.
II. The engine and power mechanism of every motor vehicle shall be so equipped and adjusted as to prevent the escape of excessive fumes, smoke, flame, gas, oil or fuel residue.
III. No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in any manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted above that emitted by the original muffler installed in the vehicle and such original muffler shall comply with all the requirements of this section.
Source. 1913, 81:5. 1921, 119:11. PL 103:14. RL 119:23. RSA 263:46. 1961, 205:1. 1981, 146:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982.


and here is the link
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/...266/266-59.htm

 
Rep Power: 294

when was it enacted, it seems like that might be an out of date statute

 
Rep Power: 289

i know many people who get tickets for there exhaust. this has always been an issue in nh. maybe some towns more than others but i know in portsmouth they just started posting signs saying they are very strict about the exhaust laws and if you have a modified exhaust they will ticket you

 
Rep Power: 294

hmm, maybe its been changed since this summer. i know we cant issue summons here unless we can record the decibels at the time of the stop. and unless the inspection station can record the decibels, guess what, u get your sticker...

 
Rep Power: 289

well i called the dmv in concord and asked them about all the different modifications in nh... they said the only things they really look for in nh is lowering and exhaust. he said the exhaust is definitly illegal and i will get a ticket for that no matter how loud it is if its louder than stock. and its been like this for year. i guess some people in the bigger cities like manch, salme and concord can get away with more but i know around where i live people get pulled over for it all the time

 
Rep Power: 294

go down to the beach in the summer, you'll get bagged for it then

 
Rep Power: 289

well its been illegal in nh for a long time and if you want to believe me or not is your own decision.
i have no reason to make any of this up

 
Rep Power: 294

oh im not arguing with you or doubting you, i probably got misinformation. no big deal

 
Rep Power: 413

Let me add my $0.02 on this....


This law is pretty consistent in all states. The issue comes in the form of the enforcement of it. Most cops are nice enough guys that they will not bother you, UNLESS you're being an idiot.

Example 1: Speeding. You get pulled over for speeding, cop notices you have a louder exhaust (since your an idiot and left the car running) and either issues a warning or a ticket. Take it from me, I got one in my Mustang (yes, a car that actually warrants an aftermarket exhaust). I fought it and won since the judge couldn't give a **** about the loud exhaust charge.

Example 2: Idiot is driving down the street and decides to (unknowingly) drive by a cop. Not usually a bad thing, but in this case, idiot has just floored it in 2nd at 6K since he wanted to hear the great sound of his new exhaust. Idiot gets pulled over for loud exhaust.

Example 3: Your "convential" import has usually some form of lighting which is illegal: clear fronts, clear tails, neons, dumbass washer LEDs, etc. Also, most modded cars have SOME form of illegal parts / items on it. What about that missing front plate? Oh look, yet another reason to pull someone over.

and so on and so on....... You get my point.

Then there is inspection:
How do you think that ALL of these cars are running around with aftermarket exhaust? This applies to ALL states, NH, MA, RI, etc... You think that every single one of these people have paid off inspection stations? I think not. I've went through MA inspection with 400hp 5.0, off road H pipe, and flowmaster 2 chambers and passed emissions and inspection without a problem. Obviously Mystic has the same "luck" in NH. Reason? The laws aren't enforced.

I just don't think it's as big of a problem you think. This is nothing new either. Laws like this started in the 50's. You think they didn't pull over the guys driving a 69 Hemi Dart or a 69 Boss 429 with open pipes back in the day? Of course. What about the 79 Z28's or the 87 Mustang GT's all with open pipes?

I agree the laws have to go, and it's very nice to see SEMA doing what we all pay them to do: lobby for laws that help the automotive enthusiest. But the issue has been here before we were around and don't expect it to get any better since law enforcement will always find a way to deter unlawfulness....

 
Rep Power: 294

pretty much. go to a hick garage and your all set. dont screw around and draw attention to yourself and you have nothing to worry about.

 
Rep Power: 328

It's not even about a hick garage...my car passed inspection at the largest Jeep/Dodge/Chrysler dealer in New England, with a technically "illegal" exhaust system, according to the law you quoted. My exhaust also came with a notorized document that states it is 50 state legal. I had one for each component, header, cat, and catback. As far as cops, they are not going to pull you over just for your exhaust, thats a waste of time for them. You get the exhaust tickets when you have altezzas, other stupid stuff, and you are doing something illegal such as speeding, rolling through a stop sign, things like that.

There are numerous trucks around here with straight pipes, or flowmasters with 90 degree pipes (increases the echo making it very loud), and even cherry bombs, and they don't get hassled by cops.

 
Rep Power: 0

As of this moment the NH state law for an aftermarket exhaust stands. It is 100% illegal to have an aftermarket exhaust in NH. It doesn't matter if the product states that it is 50 state legal. They are producing false claims and the companies can be sued if you get a ticket with their product stating that it's legal. I don't speed and I don't street race yet I had been pulled over more time then anyone I know when I had my civic. Everytime I got a ticket for it I tried to fight it in court. Well guess what people. Even with all the documentation from my exhaust stating that it was 50 state legal, I lost each and every time. The final time in court before I took the exhaust off, I was shown the actual NH state law book. The law states that you cannot modify your exhaust AT ALL unless it came from the factory when you bought it. Unless the law gets changed you will get a ticket for it depending on the cop. Most cops in my town don't care. There is one guy known to pull people over for your exhaust specifically. He literally goes around looking for cars like this. I won't mention any names though. So if you come to Nashua, your chances for getting pulled over for your exhaust are extremely high.

 
Rep Power: 289

well according to the guy from sema he said the law passed on jan 1st of this year.
this is all i could find on the web about it
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ns/b...llnumber=HB243

 
Rep Power: 326

When you pass your inspection, you are passing because you have a catalytic converter. The exhaust modification is enforced by the police. Sometimes they leave you alone but they have every right to pull you over if they want.

I got one ticket in all of my driving (on the way to school with my cousing) doing 83 in a 65. I didn't even know I was goin that fast, just talking to my cousin. I got a ticket for speeding only, even though he cited me for an illegal license plate frame (cant cover up the hampshire part of the plate) and for my exhaust. Now turbo exhausts as you know aren't that loud, he told me it wasn't that bad but it is still illegal to modify it making it sound different than it would stock. He let it slide cuz I wasn't ****ing around or anything. I was just going straight in the center lane of a fairly low traffic highway.

Modifying the exhaust in NH IS illegal, though it will somtimes pass inspection, and all emissions tests (as long as you have the stock cat).

This new law will make our lives easier for when we get pulled over and get killed on these other small citations. Thanks for the update anfmax.

 
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I would go to vegas if I were you, race track is only 10 mins away!