so you were driving a car that was probly unsafe, almost rear ended someone cause it didnt have appropriate braking, swerved off the road to avoid that accident while doing this? wreckless was justified. you could bring in evidence that your brakes dont work well, etc and it MIGHT be reduced to improper equipment, but you were the driver, and you were responsible for the safe operation of your vehicle. if there was a problem in any system, you are responsible to get it repaired and make the vehicle road worthy.

you can pass inspection with no muffler, but it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle on the highways of VA without one.