This is my first post and I JUST found this site looking for our local laws concerning exhaust noise...

Recently a lot of folks have been getting harassed and downright bully'ed by some local LEO's

I am astep-parent and sometimes think that teenage attitude may have something to with them drawing attention to themselves...but when the police actually single you out of a line up JUST because they know your vehicle and where you live is pretty alarming

We even had one officer come to our house when my step-son had friends over (All vehicles are modified with exhaust, headers, etc...Honda's, Acura's etc..) and had a talk with them...

One kid even has 50 state legal documentation for his exhaust..granted they ARE and annoy some people but this is somewhat borderline harassment...

Does the officer have to have a decibal meter/register or something ot determine IF the xhaust is illegal or not? What makes it illegal? Will they waste their time and measure it just for the heck of it??


/Frustrated PArent

 

In VA, anything not factory is illegal. Welcome to the Communistwealth. Enjoy your stay.

 

§ 46.2-1049. Exhaust system in good working order.

No person shall drive and no owner of a vehicle shall permit or allow the operation of any such vehicle on a highway unless it is equipped with an exhaust system in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual levels of noise; provided however, that for motor vehicles, such exhaust system shall be of a type installed as standard factory equipment, or comparable to that designed for use on the particular vehicle as standard factory equipment. An exhaust system shall not be deemed to prevent excessive or unusual noise if it permits the escape of noise in excess of that permitted by the standard factory equipment exhaust system of private passenger motor vehicles or trucks of standard make.

The term "exhaust system," as used in this section, means all the parts of a vehicle through which the exhaust passes after leaving the engine block, including mufflers and other sound dissipative devices.

Chambered pipes are not an effective muffling device to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and any vehicle equipped with chambered pipes shall be deemed in violation of this section.

 

yea that about sums it up. it doesn't matter what regulations it complies withm if it is not the oem part, it is illegal.

 

That means at or below stock muffler sound levels. This is in addition to local noise ordinances.

My car is exempt since there is no "standard factory equipment" muffler.

 

And if you have an SRT4, apparently it doesnt matter that the car did not have any mufflers from the factory, the stock exhaust is illegal. At least in Va Beach

 

That is funny because I got out of an exhaust ticket in Virginia Beach in court knowing damn well mine was illegal.

 

so...what you are saying is the "50 state legal" documentation is a POS lie???

 

Apparently, yes.

 

In VA, it doesnt mean shit. Its not something put on by the governments, its something put on by the company.