From what iver heard, having anything that doesnt remain failthful to the stock exhaust look is illegal. I know there was a page in superstreet where they talked about it in va, it said that there isnt a decibal level. But im sorry to hear about them searching you, cause the same thing happened to me, i got pulled for speeding and instead of speeding they gave me an exhaust ticket which gave them "probable cause" to search me, ran the dogs and everything. It sucks. But all i know is that in the Spotsylvania area and Fredericksburg area. There is a meet that goes on once a week called REVex. and the new sherif thats running now supports it full on, and ive talked to the guy who runs REVex and he said that its a possibility that he would talk to all of cops here, not state troopers. but to allow aftermarket exhausts and suspension and lighting on almost a normal basis but deffinately to and from the meets. its pretty legit