It would be nice if we wrote SEMA on this, and petitioned our state government for a decibel law.

The original purpose of this law was to keep noise levels down, and the lawmakers in VA just happened to write a law that could be interpreted in the worst way, especially since the advent of the fart can.

Since I have moved back to VA, this stupid law has been at the fore-front of my mind. I know all of the legal loopholes, but I figured, "Why not just make the exhaust a whole lot inconspicous?"

Here are some ideas on what I think it takes to keep the cops off your back:

1) Use a smaller tip than the typical import exhaust.
2) Paint the entire exhaust up to the smaller tip BLACK.
3) Install a turbocharger (muffles the exhaust a LOT)
4) Get a muffler shop to make you a silencer that you can remove when you feel like risking cop attention, or when you run at the track/autox.
5) Remove big wings and crazy graphic schemes
6) Buy a car besides a Honda (this is in jest, but they target Hondas!)

Good luck. I doubt I will have much (luck) with my wastegate vented below the car and a 1200rpm cam lopey idle, even though I have taken all the measures above.

 

Thanks for all the advice guys.... Here's what im planning on doing...

1. Show the judge I bought a silence
2. Tell the judge I didnt know it was illegal
3. Tell the judge that nobody at the exhaust shop decided to tell me it was illegal when they were happily taking my money.

and i'll just play the "I didnt know" route. If he tells me that I have to get a replacement, I'll just say that they dont make my car anymore. If he tells me to get a junkyard muffler i'll tell him i'd rather be comfortable with a new muffler.

Then i'll get something that is *similar* to stock.

Does this sound like a plan?

 

VA is gay, case closed

 

i simply asked the judge what comparable to factory exhaust is becasue it does not specify anymore than that. She could not answer what a factory 95 GSX exhasut should look or sound like so the case was dropped.

 

Take a picture of the same car same color with a stock exhaust. Shouldn't be too hard. Just don't include the plates.

 

or you could ask someone who has the same shit if you can rig your plates on their car just long enough for a pic? i meen taking your exh off gettin a stock one then putting it back on, shit might as well payfor the ticket

 

when i went to court i told the judge that i didnt know it was illegal and if its so illegal in the state of va why can they sell them, just like radar detectors are illegal and they are not sold here. I asked the cop when we were in the court room , that dont you have to have the exact make and modle with factory specs next to mine with a db reader and he said no. He pulled me over becasue he said my car was louder then the ones around me. I said so if i was near a mustang or camero or harley that i would have been ok becasue the would have been louder. The judge nodded and said im letting you off but im not saying its illegal and asked me if i was taking it off, i told him if need be and just got a silencer and when i saw a cop i driffed pst him.

 

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.
If you go by the law like above then they technically need a db reader with a factory make and modle of your car .

 

I feel sorry for you import guys on this issue. It seems that cops pick on you about your fart cans. I never once have had a problem w/ my Cobra w/ 2-chamber flowmasters and my Z06 w/ Borla Stingers. I don't stay quiet around cops either. In fact, I've had some ask me to rev it, give me thumbs up, and one even asked me to jump on it. I obliged only after he promised not to ticked me for display of speed. Maybe if your cars sounded "better" not just louder you'd be ok! =) I kid I kid!

 

i dont see what that would matter