exhaust laws

In south GA where I live they are just now writting tickets in force for loud exhaust, but they only seem to pick on certain vehicles. A friend of mine's car has a sport muffler on it that isn't near as loud as most and he got a ticket yet all these big trucks that rattle the ground are able to get by free. He was able to get it the ticket destroyed because it wasn't loud enough. What do you guys think should they be able to give tickets for something they let slide for so long and also isn't even illegal?

I live in washington and my friend got pulled over last week for his exhaust being to loud. It was the school cop that pulled him over. The cop got under the car to make sure he had exhaust and then gave him a warning. 2 days before that happened the cop told him that he will be following him in his car.

I would try my best to loose the jerk!

I think the law is up to the specific county. It is a hard law to enforce, as very few, if any, cops carry around decibel meters in their squad cars. I've been pulled over for my old car's exhaust, and the cop didn't seem like he could do anything but give me a warning. I feel like it would be a fairly easy ticket to get dismissed in court, as the cop had no grounds to prove that your exhaust was too loud at the time he pulled you over. Also remember many trucks are subject to different laws. Emissions, limited routes of travel, and other things differ when you drive a commercial vehicle, so sound probably does as well. Some trucks need 4inch open headers simply to generate the power they need to move their loads. Obviously the cops will target your friend if he has a sport muffler on his car...technically it's primary function is to give hp gains, but realistically it does better as an attention getter. If you drive with an aftermarket exhaust, getting the cops attention is a given, just don't drive like an idiot when they are tailing you, and if you do get a ticket for the exhaust...go to court.

I don't drive like an idiot. I drive perfect around them maybe thats why I don't have the ticket lol. Of course he was driving normal.

yea, yesterday i got pulled over for going 10 over, but he dropped that right away and gave me a $102 ticket for having an "unlawful exhaust" I even had my silencer in! Im 17 and drive a Chevy Cavalier Z24 thats modded up. I guess WIsconsin is pretty hardcore, this is my 2nd post, so Hello to everyone out there.

I have found that a loud exhaust, legal or not is a cop calling stereo system. One can get away with a bit more speeding and agressive driving if the car is quieter. This does not mean it needs to be as quiet as your grandma's Acclaim, but sensibly quiet.
I would rather be quiet and speeding than loud and hassled by the fuzz.
That being said, I am amazed at how guys with Harleys can get away with more noise than ANY car around!

I live in washington and my friend got pulled over last week for his exhaust being to loud. It was the school cop that pulled him over. The cop got under the car to make sure he had exhaust and then gave him a warning. 2 days before that happened the cop told him that he will be following him in his car.

Same at my scool, a guy was pulled over for "not having an exaust" until he started his car and the cop put his hand in front of the exaust. By the way what school do you go to??

the reason why Harleys have them because they need them people on the road are so blind these days loud pipes on a harley or any Motorcycle for that matter is needed plus harleys have become a part of "American culture" look at all those bike shows on the discovery channel and you will see what I mean....O and one more thing a friend of mine told me if you get cought with "unlawful exhaust" you can make an excuse of " It came with the car when I bought it" and that might just let you of the hook and I have another friend that said if you see a cop while driving you can shift to higher gears and let off the gas and that will lower the exhust tone ( I have zero Idea if it works) anyway just mY 2cents

__________________

the reason why Harleys have them because they need them people on the road are so blind these days loud pipes on a harley or any Motorcycle for that matter is needed plus harleys have become a part of "American culture" look at all those bike shows on the discovery channel and you will see what I mean...

__________________

I have heard this 'loud pipes save lives' crap before, and I don't buy it.
1. The exhaust noise is very directional, that is if you are in a car in front of the bike, its much less noticable than if you are to the side or behind.
Therefore, if safety were the issue, bikes would have the exhaust pipes pointing forward, since most of the time, the traffic hazards come from the front.
2. The bikes should have good horns and use them.
3. most drivers rely on visual cues much more than noise. If bikers were concerned about safety, more of them would wear high visibility clothing, bright orange and yellow reflective safety vests, and not all-black leather.

I do agree with you that loud bikes are part of this idiotic North American cruiser bike culture. Why is it then, that bikes are hugely popular all over Europe and elsewhere, and they are all....quiet.

BTW in case anyone thinks I am anti-motorcycle, I own 5 of them.

well I dont own any....anyway who would point there exhaust pipes forward and wear high visibility clothing, bright orange and yellow reflective safety vests just who in the hell is gong to do that!!!!( well maybe those road repair guys) it just comes to show that american culture is well american culture who cares about a safety vest just give me so super loud exhaust and ill be safe ( I hope)

cops pull people over for loud exhaust because they profile young kids i never see mustangs or bikes get pulled over its always imports but i see mustangs run open headers all the time with out a cop even looking at them and if a honda drives by they get followed or pulled over. yeah i know kids drive american cars and shit but cops are just more distracted by an import. im only 18 i got pulled over in my corolla because my flex pipe broke and it sounded like i had a muffler but i got pulled over for it they let me go because i told him i was gonna fix it but i never got around to it and wrecked the car eventually.

I would agree with that

I'm gonna say it stright......loud cars are anoying. (Exuast and sound systems). I got no beef if your in the legal noise limit.

I've heard of people getting these tickets....but only as 'fix-it' tickets. Maybe thats just how we do things here in California.

yea put profiling is wrong

I have no problem w/ systems . I have one and love it

good for you theres not enough girls that are into sound systems in my opinon

I know! My friends (girls) hate the fact that i talk about systems and cars and shit, but yet when they step in mine they love it. hyprocitical

I like systems to....but more for refined sound (not just more bass..lol). I just don't see how you could have a 500w amp without using at least a 10-band EQ and a decent crossover. But then again, maybe thats just me being a picky sound tech :D.

yea i don't like too much bass either, i mean like it overpowering the words in the songs

yea quality does mater no ...that something both a guy and a girl that into better sound can agree on LOL

I own two bikes:

A 2001 Yamaha R1
A 1979 Kawasaki KZ750

I have a yoshimura exhuast on the R1 but stock on the Kaw. The other week I blew an 'O' ring on the exhuast on the Kaw and within two days was pulled over for it even though it was still quieter than the R1.

As opposed to systems in cars.
I have one in my car and I hate it when you pull up next to someone and all you can hear is their music. I don't bass it hard, even though I could. Not everyone wants to hear your music. Usually a cop will give you a warning if you're just sitting there bassing it. However, you have it cranked up high and are blaring something with a bunch of obscenities, definitely expect to get a ticket. When you have the volume that high it makes it impossible to hear things around you, thus taking away one of your four senses on driving:

Sight-Most important
Hearing-Second important
Smell- Yes, you can 'smell' --such as tire smoke
Taste (Not ever going to be used)
Feel- The forces currently being applied to your car

your bikes are your systems man!!!