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So I had my court date for my "illegal exhaust" today. Thinking I had it in the bag. DC Sports TCS, 50-state legal exhaust. I had documents from the dealership stating it was legal, passed 2 state inspections. Documents from DC sports stating it was below the 95dB limit between 3k - 5k. The judge even wanted to go outside to inspect the car its self. Oh yeah and I had documents from the dmv stating it was legal.

So this is how the story goes. It all started in Feb when I was getting off the turnpike at exit 2. A statie on the side of the road pulls out and follows me down the road a little bit, and he pulls me over for a modified exhaust. I explained to him that it is 50 state legal. He said it isn’t and gave me a warning to fix it. I said f it, threw it away.

2 months later, I am in a 3 lane intersection. The same statie was in the far left lane, turning left, and I was in the far right lane. Noticed my car, pulled out of traffic, followed me and pulled me over. Got out, said and quote "remember me?". I said no until he reminded me he was the ***** who pulled me over a couple months ago. He asked me why I didn’t get it fixed? I responded its legal, it came with the car when I bought it. He said no it isn’t, wrote me a ticket for 100 bucks. Went on his way.

Yesterday while going to work, in a pack of cars I see the same dude in the opposite lane of traffic. He bust's out with a u-turn, and proceeds to follow me AGAIN. I’m like "you got to be kidding me, my court date is tomorrow. Wait I have my paper work with me, screw him" So again he comes up to me "Hi there, its me again, still haven’t gotten it fixed eh?" So i said "Here are my papers, my exhaust is 50 state legal". He takes it goes back to his car to take copies and read it. He comes back, gives it to me, brought his little rule book out, "right here, any car that is louder then stock with the aftermarket exhaust is illegal" Gives me my paperwork back, and tells me to leave.

So today at 9am I had my court date. Got ready, drove to the court house, and got in the court room. They did their whole schmeel and got to the story. I presented my documents and showed them to the judge. The state trooper that was there started to read what the officer said. He actually lied. Said ever time he pulled me over, he was parked on the side of the road and said he heard my exhaust. I was like " wtf?" so I said that was a lie, and explained every time he pulled me over.
The judge said lets go outside and listen to this exhaust. So i started up my car and reved it up. The statie butts in, "that is clearly illegal, I think this case is closed". So I stated getting more pissed, but didn’t show it.

So we went back inside, and the judge finds it my fault and reduces the fine to 50 dollars. He asked me if I wanted to appeal it, I said no, I cant take anymore time off from work......

But before I left, I got my final word in. I asked the judge and the statie, "So your telling me, just cause my exhaust is louder then stock it is illegal right? Even though i have my paperwork from the exhaust company, dealership, inspection and the rmv stating that it is 50 state legal, and some how I am still guilty?, then let me ask you this question. What about all those old muscle cars, or how about camero's, harleys, street bikes, oh and anything that isn’t a import, then why they not here?" There response, "have a good day". So I took my **** and bounced.

So I am going to my dealership in a few minutes, bringing them my bill for the court, and going to take my exhaust off and put the stock back on. At the same time I want my money back from the exhaust that I have paid, 700 dollars tacked on my invoice.

Also, about the statie who kept on pulling me over. Would that be considered harassment? Post your feedback on this.

 
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hmm... see this topic is kinda a double edged debate. According to the law in most states, like the cop told you, any exhaust louder than factory... yada, yada, yada, so from that standpoint they have a beef. On the other hand the exhaust doesnt exceed the dB limit and you had documentation proving it. This is one of those things where you just have to have good luck that a cop wont harass you like that one guy, and good luck that youll get an understanding job. On the flip side, you can have bad luck like you with one cop that just wont quit, and get a judge who could care less and istn gonna go with someone young guy over a state trooper. As far as the CARB exemption stuff, that really has nothing to do with their compaint against you, that just says you arent producing any more smog than you should. Sucks to here what happened to you, and i would say that trooper was definately harassing you, especially since he lied in court. And BTW, dont expect to get refunded for the exhaust, it wont happen.

 
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Yeah that sucks. But it sounds like you got a cop with a "nightstick" up his butt, and just wanted to prove something, to make himself feel bigger. I really don't think that there's much you can do about it. I do think though, that the judge did kinda side in your favor, by reducing your fine. I've been to a few cases where the judge actually raised the fine, because I was "wasting the courts time" GRRRRR! Just another import hatin' cop. It kinda sucks, but I learned about 5 years ago, that ya gotta play by their rules, unless you have a big ol' wallet with a lot of extra cash to throw at fines.

And as wingswest said, don't expect a refund on the exhaust. Just take it home and sell it to some poor, unsuspecting 16-year-old.

 
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i would have appealed it. hired a lawyer and counter-sewed the police department for harassement. the SAME cop pulled you over 3 times. picked you out from the croud and pulled you over.
he also led the judge when he said "clearly this case is closed." hes not a judge, its not his job to judge...so i would appeal that.
also, if its 50 state legal its 50 state legal. get DC or honda to pay for the legal fees and your time off from work if they certified it legal in MA.
also, you said he lied about how he pulled you over. ask if they have cameras on the cars to record traffic stops. if he lied and the camera can prove that, he can go to jail for purjury and your case will be a no-contest or whatever because the plaintiff is unreliable.
i realize this is all a lot of time and possibly hassle and money, but whats the point of the law if youre not gonna try and get a fair trial. so they reduced your fine by $50, if you pay you still accept the fault when there was no fault.

thats just my opinion tho. if you already decided, you know better whats good for you.

 
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did the judge say when that law was passed? as of 2002 as i read on SEMA that it had been killed, but then it said that new legislation was pending in 2003 but never says if it got passed.

but then i found this
http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/ht01722.htm
but it only says "in the year two thousand and three"

sucks

 
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here is a update, my dealership cut me a check for the 50 dollar fine. they ordered a new exhaust for me, might see if they can get a SI exhaust on it, or the FTP exhaust (thats if there is a difference between the FTP and the EX) and at the same time they are going to either take off the amount of the DC exhaust on my invoice or cut me a check for it since I already paid for it.

Ill know more friday when I call the parts manager.

 
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Wow, that sucks. It's weird how these sorts of things happen. The cop was clearly harrassing you. At least you got that $50 back. Still though, it was an unpleasant experience...

 
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Hey Maloney that sucks!!!. I'm sure if you had the resources to fight it you would, but you do have a life....i think...hehe.

The Si exhaust is pretty decent. What i would do is go get a custom 2.25 midpipe and an SI muffler. They are fairly free flowing (not much less than aftermarket). The most restrictive point is the midpipe. And a midpipe will run you maybe $100. The dealer can pay for the muffler.

You got that at Curry right? They know how to treat customers. I'm very surprised the deal they cut with you...kudos to Curry Honda. I've had great service there for my Si.

Oh, and that cop was harrassing you, but it would be damn near impossible to prove it. It would be better to fight his actions in court...lying and leading the judge. The state must have a dB level at which an exhaust is illegal. Saying "louder than stock" is too vague for a law. Also, when you are inspected, they check for that stuff, so if it was illegal...the shop should of noticed. I'll try to dig up the actual law for MA.

 
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I found the law for exhausts. Unfortunately, they are right. Any noise that is unnecessary from OEM is considered illegal.

(5) Muffler and Exhaust System.

Accelerate motor to test for prevention of unnecessary noise and emission of any unreasonable amount of smoke. The exhaust system, exhaust manifold(s), exhaust pipe(s), muffler(s), and tailpipe(s), if designed to be so equipped, shall be tight and free of leaks. System components shall be securely fastened with fasteners in place and undamaged. All motor vehicle exhaust systems shall discharge the exhaust beyond operator, passenger, and/or trunk compartment. Unnecessary noise is herein defined as any noise which is louder than that emitted by the vehicle when equipped with the original manufacturer's equipment. A gas or diesel vehicle will be rejected if, at normal operating temperature, at any constant speed over 15 MPH, (approximately 1,000 to 1,200 RPM's) visible black or blue exhaust emissions are evident.

 
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umm... youll still be louder than stock, and therefor breaking the law by ma standards.

 
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50 state legal means that its CARB legal, and yes it may be under the 95dB limit, but in his state the laws says "louder than stock is illegal" in so many words, so like i said above it could have gone either way depending on the cop and the judge. sorry, but thats the way it is. lease:

 
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yeah a big boo, i have to go back to stock, or well maybe. Curry honda is checking into other options of exhaust that they may be able to put on my car, that is oem. One of them is the 7th gen SI exhaust, which I wouldnt mind.

As for inspection ect, i told them it passed inspection when I got it, and when I went to a different place to get inspection it passed. Thier response was, yeah it may have passed cause it was cool on emissions, but as for louder then stock, that is where it is illegal. The court told me they are going to start a investigation on curry honda, and how it might be illegal with what they are doing. They can do what they want, but all I know is I cant afford going to court every week, and paying tickets cause of a bogus cop.

However, when I get the stock exhaust back on, and the cop pulls me over again. I am going straight to the police barricks and I am pressing charges for harassment. Cause when I get it back to normal, and unless I am speeding, there is no reason to pull me over.

 
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i really doubt it will be louder then stock with a SI exhaust. But who knows. I will know more on friday of what they can do for me.

 
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Definately do that if that happens. I would be pissed as all hell if that happed

 
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The stock Si exhaust is not any louder than a stock EX exhaust, but it is OEM, so there is not much the courts could say. If its stamped with a Honda Logo, its good.

If they look into Curry, than they should be looking at all dealerships across the state. I'd like to see them spend all their time pulling people over for aftermarket exhaust. It would get all those cheap old cars off the street with those buzzing exhausts.

And if they do go after Curry, they probably have a nice legal team that would be able to fight this thing. Curry has many dealerships down the eastern seaboard. I've had nothing but good service their and it would be sad if they got in trouble for this.

What was the stance of the court when an exhaust must be replaced due to damage? They can't make you get another OEM exhaust, or shops like Meineke or midas would go out of business.I'm sure if you had a Mustang GT with a Borla exhaust, none of this would of happened...but its a Euro yellow Civic in the middle of the sticks. Sounds like you were targeted, and harrassed.

 
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Come on G, it's not Euro yellow, it's **** yellow.

 
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Oh I agree, there are MANY dealerships doing the same thing. But I am sure Curry has thought of that anyhow, so I bet they looked into it with great detail before they started to sell the cars like that.

Well they told me in court to get rid of the exhaust and put it back to stock. Its real bogus, but I guess I will have to do it, I dont feel like being targeted all the time. When I used to live in springfield, I never had problems, I guess they are used to it. But for living in the sticks, unless it is domestic, I am going to have a problem.

All I know is, that when i get the money back from the dealership, I will be that much closer to a K swap

 
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lol you had to make a account to get your 2 cents in I hope you get pulled over too rick hehehe.

 
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hehe you know me hommie

 
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although, if it wasn't for you getting that **** yellow civic, who knows what I would have ended up buying myself. FYI...I am also in contact with DC Sports in regards to this, because technicaly they are defrauding customers by saying it's 50 state legal.

 
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The problem is that it is 50 state CARB legal. That is for emission requirements, not sound. Excessive sound differs from state to state and even city to city. Obviously you don't see Springfield cops doing this kind of stuff. Its because he lives in a place where there is nothing for the cops to do.

Rick- I wouldn't worry too much around here. And the thing is- its not that loud. Also, Joe's custom exhaust would be illegal as well...its not factory and more than likely louder than factory.

I would also advise anyone in this forum who lives in MA to take note.

 
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i totally agree w/ you, but i am not sure how I can handle it.

 
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yeah if you live in the boonies, dont have a modded exhaust god i hate it here sometimes lol

 
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Just got off the phone with a Mark Dawson at DC sports (I was told he is the man that handles the emissions and state whatever for them). He basically reinforced what many have already said on this board. The exhaust adheres to the SEMA guildlines, but until all states adapt those, we are SoL in MA. He is going to send me some documentation about the SEMA guildlines and the process DCSports goes thru for the 50 state legal (emissions only). As there is no national sound standard for exhausts at this time.

On a side note, he also said the police could in effect sit outside a Midas shop and ticket everyone buying new exhausts because they are not OEM exhausts.

And from my own personal experiences, I was pulled over last summer in my home town. I was riding high in 2nd gear (prolly doing around 40-50) around a sharp corner and there happened to be a cop sitting there chatting with someone. He proceeds to flag me down and when he came to the car, I asked if I was making too much noise. His reply was, "No son, you were going a little too fast around that corner." and let me off with a warning. Only took him about 20min to decide that one though. So I guess it comes down to the whether or the statie or cop is in a bad mood and wants to stick it to ya.

Hey Erik, remember when the statie pulled you over for the first time, what happened....I think that's why he might have had it out for you.

 
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well the first time he pulled me over, it was in a rain storm, with some snow flurries. I was comming off the ma pike at exit two, didnt think twice about him pulling me over, i didnt think i was doing anything wrong. So when he came to the car he said he pulled over over for my exhaust, and that caught me off guard.

Other then being bright gold in a hick town, I didnt do anything wrong. I was respectful to him, and didnt mouth off, so that could be the only reason. Maybe thought I was one of those city folks, or gang member lol.

 
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Yo do you have the officer's Name? Ive been pulled over twice for my DC TCS also, but have yet to get a ticket only warnings. I wanna see if its the same cop

 
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No erik, remember being on 91 with joe and getting pulled over. isn't that the same cop? I thought you said it was.

 
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unless you have been pulled over in berkshire county, i doubt its him

 
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nadda, different cop, county and car that was with my old honda, and that exhaust WAS illegal

 
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Man I have an aftermarket mid-section, along with a mozart rear section. I haven't had any problems since the original rear section was put on in November. Guess time will tell.