88bird

i know in GA there are Primary Violations and Secondary Violations. at one time Window tint was a secondary violation. that in the law book means that you cannot be stopped for a secondary violation without a primary violation being present. the same with loud music. the sound ordanance in GA (as explained to me by a state trooper) is if they can hear you from 100ft no matter what the sound is is illegal. 98% of the time if you are speeding/romping on it/burnouts (exebition of acceleration) then those primary violations will net you a secondary when you get stopped. i have been stopped for window tint a few times. one time i got out of it as the officer stated he stopped me for window tint only. one time i got it semi thrown out of court cause i removed it (officer stated that i was driving with no headlights, i had my parking lights on at 6PM ya go figure) and the last time i got stopped i was stopped for having a tinted liscense plate cover that is a primary violation but was given a ticket for tint. now since they rewrote the law you can be stopped for window tint....... no ifs ands or buts.....

JyRO

Honestly, I read that, and I can interpret it either way. Where I think you'll hit a dead end with a judge is the "intent" of the statement (about mufflers and turbos). Even though it is NOT clear, I believe the intent to be a multi-chambered device receiving gases from an engine or turbo. And a judge would too.

The thing about those boom box radios (which personally I don't have a problem with unless they're keeping me and others awake, or disturbing a nice quiet place) is that when they see the poe-lease, they can turn them down. You can't really turn down a straight piped Cummins, but just so far. If you're pullin', forget about it.

pronstar

CA has a noise requirement for mufflers.
But there is no law that states you can't replace your muffler.
And I've never heard of a book that has a list of approved list of mufflers, though that's not to say it doesn't exist.
With the exception of my CTD, I've had full custom exhaust systems on all of m vehicles and never ran into trouble.


Thanks to SEMA action, the onus is on the state to prove your muffler is too loud. You definitely CAN get a ticket, but the ticket states that you take it to a station to test for excessive noise before any punishment is levied. In other works, just because the cop says it's too loud, doesn't mean that you automatically get a fine.

CA Vehicle code:
27150. (a) Every motor vehicle subject to registration shall at all times be equipped with an adequate muffler in constant operation and properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise, and no muffler or exhaust system shall be equipped with a cutout, bypass, or similar device.

Vehicles are tested for noise compliance ONLY if the officer deems it as being too loud. The owner must then go to a test station to see if the muffler is indeed too loud or not:

27150.2. (a) Stations providing referee functions pursuant to Section 44036 of the Health and Safety Code shall provide for the testing of vehicular exhaust systems and the issuance of certificates of compliance only for those vehicles that have received a citation for a violation of Section 27150 or 27151.

Limits for Vehicles Exceeding 5,999 Pounds Gross Vehicle Weight
27204. For the purposes of Section 27200, the following noise limits shall apply to any motor vehicle within the specified manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating and date of manufacture:

[Noise limits for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight in excess of 5,999 pounds.] * GVWR-Pounds Date of Manufacture Noise Limit -dbA
Over 6,000 after 1967 and before 1973 88
Over 6,000 after 1972 and before 1975 86
Over 6,000 after 1974 and before 1978 83
Over 8,500 after 1977 and before 1982 83
Over 6,000 but not over 8,500 after 1977 80
Over 8,500 but not over 10,000 after 1981 80
Over 10,000 after 1981 and before 1988 83
Over 10,000 after 1987 80

Doctor Detroit

Sorry, I actually bridged between light and heavy trucks it may have been misleading.

It is currently against Federal Law for a heavy truck operator to tamper with the exhaust system. It has been illegal for decades to tamper with throttle delays or fuel modulators. These were fuel system management devices that related to exhaust ie: smoke & pollutants.

Commercial enforcement (Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance) standardized nationwide against heavy trucks in the mid 90's. An officer in Ohio now enforces exactly the same federal laws as an officer in Oregon vs heavy trucks. When the local highway patrol stops a heavy truck he is enforcing both state and federal laws.

The Commercial Drivers License came out of that standardization. A CDL is now a national license. Officers in any state have access to your record.
With the CDL for example it is impossible to obtain a second license from another state. Further, if you recieve a citation in Calif. it will show up on your home state record and they will collect the fine.

Again, sorry I drifted and did not clearly differentiate.

patdaly

K, Thanks Dr, I learned something also, I never have had to deal with the Commercial side, kinda sounds like they would like to get their feet in the door messing with Truckers, then snare us "normal" users with the same BS.

infidel

Federal noise law:
"The removal or rendering inoperative by any person, other than for purposes of maintenance, repair, or replacement, of any device or element of design incorporated into any new vehicle for the purpose of noise control prior to its sale or delivery to the ultimate purchaser or while it is in use". The EPA regulations also prohibit the use of a vehicle that has had the noise control system rendered inoperative. This is stated clearly on a label required on all vehicles sold in the U.S. and is fully explained in the operator's manual for every new truck. The improperly muffled vehicles, especially those with straight stacks, are not operating in compliance with current federal regulations.

http://www.jakebrake.com/about-us/ve...ne-braking.php

GasganoFJ60

Not that Im trying to start a political argument in here or anything but the Federal Gov should have no say in something like this, in my opinion. Stuff like this should be left up to the state.

Haulin_in_Dixie

Does it matter who agrees or disagrees? Fact is that it is illegal to change a factory system on any vehicle. That being said, if you have the muffler on the truck and have retained the cat, stacks are ok as they are a truck safety feature to keep exhaust from the passenger compartment.

Also to get technical and practical, it is better to have a defective unit than having removed it. That twist can be used in different ways.

wcbcruzer

This thread makes me nervous. Just make sure your tags aren't expired, drive slow, and let off the pedal when you drive by a cop.

Mark Hodowanec

I have Geno's muffler delete pipe & kept my stock muffler. Would I be able to gut teh stock muffler, thread the delete pipe thru it, & weld/braze the muffler to it?

rbrettctd

Yup. Im gonna do it with my old ford gasser muffler so I dont ruin my good muffler, in case I ever stick it back on.

pronstar

What law is that?
I don't think that's true at all.

You can replace it with another, but you can't remove it completely. That's how it's written both federally and on the state level (most states anyways).

wcbcruzer

^ I think that statement generally means that you can't modify any exhaust beyond factory specs.

infidel

In some ways it's good that it's not left up to the states.
Good example is when California wanted more restrictive emissions laws than the feds and the Supreme Court said no.

muddin_mavric

Generally from what i have found in the past if you drive like a dumb -x- then you will get a ticket one way or another!

i do 9 MPH over the speed limit all the time if i hit 10 then they will flash there lights at me. I have 6 inch stack and if that dont say no muffler i dont know what does. i have been pulled over for no plate when i first got it and i only had my down pipe and that was it and i left my truck run the whole time but i was respectful to the officer and showed him the papers he needed to see and he never said a thing about my lack of any sound dampening device.

My friend has a mung car with the fart pipe and he went around his neiborhood laying down rubber and doing at least 50 mph in a 25. sure enough with in 10-15 minutes the police came a knockin! It was this ladie cop that reamed him a new one but counldt do anything really because she had no proof. When you drive like that what do you think there gona do next time when they have proof.