Fix it ticket
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From: Huntington Beach, CA
Car Info: 03 Sonic Yellow WRX Sedan
IF it is a fix-it ticket, then you can change the muffler back to stock and have it written off and pay like $10. Or just pay the fine. Or you can try to fight it.
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From: 626
Car Info: Subaru WRX Impreza 2002
Hmm...I'm not sure what you mean? Is there anyway I can keep my Blitz exhaust and just pay them money? Or do I HAVE TO remove it first....I really don't wanna have to take it off just to get it cleared at court...
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From: your friendly neighborhood hairpin
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it's not illegal to change mufflers in CA to the best of my knowledge, as long as they muffle the sound of your motor to the degree set for by the DMV/Motor Vehicle Code. i don't know exactly what the dBA level is, but the Blitz is pretty loud isn't it?
if you're issued a fix it ticket (unlikely, if you get pulled over for a loud exhaust, you're getting more than a fix it ticket) you have to show up and demonstrate that the problem is solved. if you don't, you'll get fined. there isn't any "here is twenty bucks, ignore my non working turn signal" option. of course, you could always use the old hot rod trick of packing the end of the muffler with steel wool right before they check the noise level, and then pull it out when you leave....
if you're issued a fix it ticket (unlikely, if you get pulled over for a loud exhaust, you're getting more than a fix it ticket) you have to show up and demonstrate that the problem is solved. if you don't, you'll get fined. there isn't any "here is twenty bucks, ignore my non working turn signal" option. of course, you could always use the old hot rod trick of packing the end of the muffler with steel wool right before they check the noise level, and then pull it out when you leave....
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 59
From: 626
Car Info: Subaru WRX Impreza 2002
Alright I'm pretty sure most of you guys have heard of those cheap exhausts on those civics and integras right? Those are LOUD. Maybe 3 times louder when compared to my Blitz exhaust. I don't think I got the ticket cause of being too loud. It says "illegal exhaust modification" on the ticket. I think he saw my HUGE exhaust and just gave me a ticket. My exhaust isn't that loud it's just deep. Do you think I could just go down to the police station and ask em to check if it's too loud or not?
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 159
From: ALHAMBRA, CA
Car Info: 2002 IMPREZA WRX WAGON
Changing muffler is not illegal, but if the sound came out from the muffler is over around 95 dbA, you will be cited. Most officer won't use device to check how loud is your muffler but they will justice by their damn ear.
According to my friend, they said mod exhaust with loud sound in Japanese car is more catching the cop attention than european and domestic car. (They don't care the loud loud mustang, sxxt)
Also, I have a friend which got a ticket because of the greddy muffler. You know, greddy is the most quietest one. So he got his vehicle to the greddy to run the dBA test and get the proof of his car is quiet than the law permitted level. He shows up the court and show the proof but the judge didn't accept the proof.
So, even though the modified muffler is quiet, but in the eye of judge and cops, you are not legal if change the stock muffler to others.
Finally he got a point for modifying exhaust and leave 1 point in DMV.
According to my friend, they said mod exhaust with loud sound in Japanese car is more catching the cop attention than european and domestic car. (They don't care the loud loud mustang, sxxt)
Also, I have a friend which got a ticket because of the greddy muffler. You know, greddy is the most quietest one. So he got his vehicle to the greddy to run the dBA test and get the proof of his car is quiet than the law permitted level. He shows up the court and show the proof but the judge didn't accept the proof.
So, even though the modified muffler is quiet, but in the eye of judge and cops, you are not legal if change the stock muffler to others.
Finally he got a point for modifying exhaust and leave 1 point in DMV.
Thread Starter
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From: 626
Car Info: Subaru WRX Impreza 2002
Wah..? Now I'm lost...you just implied that changing a stock exhaust to another brand is illegal in the eyes of the judges/cops....so doesn't that imply changing exhausts is illegal?
I'm pretty sure it's not cause my exhaust is too loud. It says "modification of exhaust" on the ticket...
I'm pretty sure it's not cause my exhaust is too loud. It says "modification of exhaust" on the ticket...
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From: your friendly neighborhood hairpin
Car Info: '03 PSM Sedan
straight from the california vehicular code, appendix b (numbers on the left are section numbers):
27150(a) Mufflers, vehicle subject to registration not equipped with, or emitting excessive noise.
27151 Exhaust systems, modified to amplify or increase noise.
27152 Exhaust pipes, directed to side between 2 to 11 ft.
27153 Exhaust products, excessive smoke, flame or residue.
they're all infractions, which is most likely what the cop cited you for. i'd bet that he wrote you the ticket for section 27151 thinking that the blitz exhaust was "modified to amplify or increase noise" -- which compared to the stocker, it is.
go to http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/lov/lovd12.htm and see what you can find out about the actual violation that you were written up for, the section number of the violation should be on your ticket. from there, figure out what you can do to fight it. you might have to throw the stocker back on, pack the thing with steel wool, or prove that it really isn't excessively loud (hard, you'll need a decibel level meter).
i have to ask, did you get pulled over for just having a loud exhaust, or were you doing something else? cops arround here generally don't pull people for things like this unless they're going to add it on to a ticket they already intend to write (like speeding).
27150(a) Mufflers, vehicle subject to registration not equipped with, or emitting excessive noise.
27151 Exhaust systems, modified to amplify or increase noise.
27152 Exhaust pipes, directed to side between 2 to 11 ft.
27153 Exhaust products, excessive smoke, flame or residue.
they're all infractions, which is most likely what the cop cited you for. i'd bet that he wrote you the ticket for section 27151 thinking that the blitz exhaust was "modified to amplify or increase noise" -- which compared to the stocker, it is.
go to http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/lov/lovd12.htm and see what you can find out about the actual violation that you were written up for, the section number of the violation should be on your ticket. from there, figure out what you can do to fight it. you might have to throw the stocker back on, pack the thing with steel wool, or prove that it really isn't excessively loud (hard, you'll need a decibel level meter).
i have to ask, did you get pulled over for just having a loud exhaust, or were you doing something else? cops arround here generally don't pull people for things like this unless they're going to add it on to a ticket they already intend to write (like speeding).
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: 626
Car Info: Subaru WRX Impreza 2002
Nope. I wasn't even using the gas pedal. I was going 30mph on a 35mph street. My exhaust was making barely any noise. I drove past him and he saw a big exhaust and just ticketed me. All it says on the ticket is "modified exhaust"
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From: your friendly neighborhood hairpin
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well, it looks like you have two options on this one:
1) show up to the local police department (i think that's where you go, i haven't ever gotten a fix it ticket before) and show them that you fixed the problem. this either means quieting the exhaust down, putting the stocker back on, or leaving it alone and hoping that you wind up dealing with a more understanding officer of the law than the one that ticketed you. if you work on your own car, this is the least expensive route, all it will take is a couple hours of your time depending on how handy you are with the wrenches. if you don't work on your own car, then it gets expensive.
2) fight the ticket. you'll have to show up in court, and file for discovery. basically, you need to know why the cop gave you the ticket, and what section of the vehicle code he though you were in violation of. then you'll probably want to file for a recess to prepare your side (probably a week or two). do everything you can to convince the judge that your exhaust isn't designed to make the car loud. go to radio shack and get a dB meter so that you can do some noise tests (actually, you might want to consider doing this before you elect to fight the ticket). make sure to document the distance from the car to the dB meter, the angle from which the measurement was taken and the engine RPMS. you can kinda fudge this to make the exhaust look quieter to the judge, but be careful. dB levels from 100 feet aren't going to look good. the stock exhaust is claimed to make 87dBa at idle and 86dBa at 3k rpm. the whole idea is to show that the cop really didn't have cause to ticket you. this option requires a lot of your time, and some real effort -- and you might not win, and have to fall back to option 1 with an additional fine, or court fees.
now for the disclaimer. i'm not a lawyer, i'm not a paralegal, i'm not a judge, and i'm not a cop. i'm not even qualified to give legal advice. i'm less qualified to tell you what to do than a chimpanzee taking massive bong hits. if you get in trouble doing anything even remotely related to this, i'll plead insanity. this is just what i'd think about doing if i got a fix it ticket for a loud exhaust (which, incidentally, i don't have).
or i'd go out and find a quieter exhaust, and put that on
for what it's worth, i think the large exhaust tips attract too much attention regardless of their noise level.
1) show up to the local police department (i think that's where you go, i haven't ever gotten a fix it ticket before) and show them that you fixed the problem. this either means quieting the exhaust down, putting the stocker back on, or leaving it alone and hoping that you wind up dealing with a more understanding officer of the law than the one that ticketed you. if you work on your own car, this is the least expensive route, all it will take is a couple hours of your time depending on how handy you are with the wrenches. if you don't work on your own car, then it gets expensive.
2) fight the ticket. you'll have to show up in court, and file for discovery. basically, you need to know why the cop gave you the ticket, and what section of the vehicle code he though you were in violation of. then you'll probably want to file for a recess to prepare your side (probably a week or two). do everything you can to convince the judge that your exhaust isn't designed to make the car loud. go to radio shack and get a dB meter so that you can do some noise tests (actually, you might want to consider doing this before you elect to fight the ticket). make sure to document the distance from the car to the dB meter, the angle from which the measurement was taken and the engine RPMS. you can kinda fudge this to make the exhaust look quieter to the judge, but be careful. dB levels from 100 feet aren't going to look good. the stock exhaust is claimed to make 87dBa at idle and 86dBa at 3k rpm. the whole idea is to show that the cop really didn't have cause to ticket you. this option requires a lot of your time, and some real effort -- and you might not win, and have to fall back to option 1 with an additional fine, or court fees.
now for the disclaimer. i'm not a lawyer, i'm not a paralegal, i'm not a judge, and i'm not a cop. i'm not even qualified to give legal advice. i'm less qualified to tell you what to do than a chimpanzee taking massive bong hits. if you get in trouble doing anything even remotely related to this, i'll plead insanity. this is just what i'd think about doing if i got a fix it ticket for a loud exhaust (which, incidentally, i don't have).
or i'd go out and find a quieter exhaust, and put that on
for what it's worth, i think the large exhaust tips attract too much attention regardless of their noise level.
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 42
From: Burbank, Ca
Car Info: 2003 Black WRX
You might want to check out this link for somewhat recent developments in Cali law.
http://www.greddy.com/CHPnoisepolicies.html
and http://www.sema.org/content/?ID=25295&criteria=exhaust
http://www.greddy.com/CHPnoisepolicies.html
and http://www.sema.org/content/?ID=25295&criteria=exhaust
Last edited by kochj23; May 31, 2003 at 08:50 PM.