27151. Exhaust systems installed on motor vehicles, other than motorcycles, with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of less than 6,000 pounds comply with Sections 27150 and 27151 if they emit no more than 95 dbA when tested in accordance with Society of Automotive Engineers Standard J1169 May

Well, I did some research. First off, instead of fighting this in court, I'll be fighting this by mail (which you can do with any ticket).

I was found in violation of CVC 27151(A) (for the third time). It states that:

QUOTE
27151. (a) No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor of the vehicle so that the vehicle is not in compliance with the provisions of Section 27150 or exceeds the noise limits established for the type of vehicle in Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 27200). No person shall operate a motor vehicle with an exhaust system so modified.


Therefore, by law, I am required to meet the conditions of Section 27150 or the limits set for the car in Article 2.5 Section 27200.

CVC 27150 states:

QUOTE
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.

(B) Except as provided in Division 16.5 (commencing with Section 38000) with respect to off-highway motor vehicles subject to identification, every passenger vehicle operated off the highways shall at all times be equipped with an adequate muffler in constant operation and properly maintained so as to meet the requirements of Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 27200), and no muffler or exhaust system shall be equipped with a cutout, bypass, or similar device.

© The provisions of subdivision (B) shall not be applicable to passenger vehicles being operated off the highways in an organized racing or competitive event conducted under the auspices of a recognized sanctioning body or by permit issued by the local governmental authority having jurisdiction.


I meet the conditions of CVC 27150(a)(B) by having an adequate muffler equipped on my vehicle. It has been properly maintained as there are no leaks nor holes within the pipes and muffler therefore preventing any excessive (i.e. no muffler and/or cats at all) or unusual noise. My exhaust system also is not equipped with a cutout, bypass, or similar device (whatever those things do, I have no clue). CVC 27150© can be dismissed as I was on public roads (Culver City).

Division 12, Chapter 5, Article 2.5, Section 27200 states:

QUOTE
27200. (a) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall not register on a dealer's report of sale a new motor vehicle, except an off-highway motor vehicle subject to identification as provided in Division 16.5 (commencing with Section 38000), which produces a maximum noise exceeding the applicable noise limit at a distance of 50 feet from the centerline of travel under test procedures established by the Department of the California Highway Patrol.

(B) The Department of Motor Vehicles may accept a dealer's certificate as proof of compliance with this article.

© Test procedures for compliance with this article shall be established by the Department of the California Highway Patrol, taking into consideration the test procedures of the Society of Automotive Engineers.

(d) No person shall sell or offer for sale a new motor vehicle, except an off-highway motor vehicle subject to identification as provided in Division 16.5 (commencing with Section 38000), which produces a maximum noise exceeding the applicable noise limit specified in this article, and for which noise emission standards or regulations have not been adopted by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to the Noise Control Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-574).

(e) No person shall sell or offer for sale a new motor vehicle, except an off-highway motor vehicle subject to identification as provided in Division 16.5 (commencing with Section 38000), which produces noise that exceeds or in any way violates the noise emission standards or regulations adopted for such a motor vehicle by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to the Noise Control Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-574).

(f) As used in this section, the term "register" is equivalent to the term "licensing" as used in Section 6(e)(2) of the Noise Control Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-574).


Paragraph © is what is relevant to my case (and most likely, the rest of us who have an aftermarket exhaust system). The CHP must now come up with a testing procedure which ensures that the noise level being emitted by the car is not excessive. They must take into consideration the standard method of testing utilized by the Society of Automotive Engineers as their method is the accepted approach(which happens to be SAE JS1169).

In order to prove you are within legal limit, you would then have to go to a certified CA smog referee (you better have all other engine mods off). Providing you pass, ticket dismissed, you pay a fee to the ref, and you receive a certificate stating you are within legal noise limits. This service is only available to those who have been cited for this violation.

Digging deeper, section 27206 sets the legal limit for passenger cars weighing in under 6,000 lbs (excluding motorcycles) is a whopping 80dbA!!!! :wtf: Am I missing something here? Bone stock, my car was putting out 83dbA according to SAE JS1169.