Got a ticket "Loud Muffler", in NJ

[jupiterl]

I got a ticket for having a "loud muffler" on my 97 sx. WTF, man are those cop really have nothing to do or what??? My muffler is definity quieter than the apexi N1. So what the #### is loud means ? Does anyone in here know the law of NJ ( Aberdeen , Rt 35) about the exhaust and mufler ?

Thanks.

[gfisch]

I had an exhaust system on old car, a '95 200sx, and never had a problem with the cops in NJ. I got pulled over for speeding and he mentioned it to me, but never a ticket.
I think its pretty much what the cop feels like. If he wants to be a dick, then he can pull you over for it.

[gfisch]

oops, double post.


(Edited by gfisch at 8:22 pm on Jan. 1, 2002)

[ca18guy]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from jupiterl on 4:34 pm on Jan. 1, 2002
I got a ticket for having a &quot;loud muffler&quot; on my 97 sx. WTF, man are those cop really have nothing to do or what??? My muffler is definity quieter than the apexi N1. So what the #### is loud means ? Does anyone in here know the law of NJ ( Aberdeen , Rt 35) about the exhaust and mufler ?

Thanks.

</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

What exhaust do you have? &nbsp;How did he measure it? If he did'nt measure it goto court and contest it, he has no proof.

[jupiterl]

He didn't do any measurement on it. He just said if the muffler is not stock, it is illegal. And if it is louder than stock it is illegal too. WTF ?

So how about the ones from APEXi or Greddy which is DOT approved and street legal ?

[my240likenoother]

jupiterl
is that you car??

[jupiterl]

yea, that's my car. what about it ?

[my240likenoother]

whats htat on you trunk??&quot;

[jupiterl]

that's a spoiler. what about it ?

[hideyoshi]

A lot of my friends in their Hondas and Mazdas have only gotten warnings for &quot;loud exhausts&quot; from NJ cops, seems like he needed to fill his quota or something. From experience, the cops on Rt. 1,9,18, and 35 tend to be real dicks especially towards the end of the month.

[jupiterl]

O ... $hit. I am travelling on those highways all the time.

So, does anyone actually have a ticket and be able to appeal it ? Because when I told my car to state inspection center, they passed me. Also, how about installing some DOT approved cat-back ?

[Nismos14]

i got the same ticket but i got it cuz he was being nice....... i was &quot;tailgaiting and driving recklessly&quot; so he gave me the muffler one instead..... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'> he was't wrong

[gh6o6]

take the papers for your exaust (if you have them) in take them to court with you to protest - make sure the exaust is actualy legal first, and keep the 50 state legal (if it is) papers in your glove compartment and show the cop next time you get pulled over

[misnomer]

For the record, quotas are illegal in most states. . .

[jupiterl]

Is there a noise limit in NJ ? I don't consider my muffler loud, compare to anyother kind of cat-back. Does someone know exactly what is the sound limit is ? 103 dB ? I will go to the police dep. tomorrow and talk to someone who knows about the law.

[drifterx]

i got pulled over for &quot;altered exhaust&quot; here in MA......

however i found out altered only means illegal if it is not smog legal or if it is too loud... a little humming is not illegal.....
go contest it... check with law enforcements around your area.... some cops r just dicks or dont even know the laws themselves

i agree with alotta cops not knowing half of the laws they write up as tickets

i would ask cops what percentage is illegal for window tints on the front windows in il and some would say this some would say you cant have it at all some told me to go to secretary of state to find out they would tell me they dont know cosp are really pretty dumb

sorry my 2 cents and my experiences

[hideyoshi]

I believe the sound limit is 96dB.

New Jersey Noise Control Statute (http://www.nonoise.org/lawlib/states/newjerse/newjerse.htm) - the old one, couldn't find the new one

[HippoSleek]

Most states also have a basic statute on car modifications that include exhausts. &nbsp;Generally, this provision will be something to the effect of &quot;systems not like stock are illegal.&quot; &nbsp;Not meaning that you have to buy OEM, but that it has to be substantially similar - including noise output. &nbsp;Most after market exhausts do not have similar noise outputs and are, in most states, illegal. &nbsp;Your CARB and DOT papers are not going to get you anywhere in NJ b/c the law is a state law (not from CA).

Bottom line in most states is that if you give them an excuse or if they don't like the look of the car, they can pull you over. &nbsp;This is allowed b/c you exhaust IS breaking the law - its just that most will let you slide. &nbsp;Don't like it? &nbsp;Fight it in court or tell your local state representative. &nbsp;Otherwise, it is the law and the LEOs can enforce it.

On another note - is there any thing about your car or driving that might have contributed to your being pulled over? &nbsp;I know people w/ very mild appearing cars running straight pipes w/o resonators that have never been cited in an area where many are.

[uuninja]

I agree with Mark. Driving habits contribute to a large number of exhaust tickets. I have a Apex'i GT spec on my now NA 240 it is very loud at WOT. But I have never received one ticket for noise. I have had 3 traffic encounters with county, city and state law enforcement officials but not once did they even mention my exhaust, or ticket me. Performance muffler + WOT + lack of discretion = ticket.

-Matt

[jupiterl]

All I have is a GT spoiler. However, I never have a problem with it even I got pull over by state police on Parkway one day. The main reason I believed is that it was the 31st of dec. and he cop who pulled me over is new to the area ( I ask the PD ). Maybe he has too make up the quota for the month. But I think most people travel around in this area knows that Aberdeen and new brunswick cops are fucking dickheads.

I think I am going to get the apexi GT too. Is it DOT approved ? or just the n1 is ?

Thanks.

[HaLo]

I only got caught once, in Montreal. &nbsp;Thing is, I floored my car up to 60km/h and then rolled at the speed limit. &nbsp;Result: the cop didn't like it and pulled me over and since I didn't do anything illegal, he stopped me for the exhaust.

[HaLo]

I only got caught once, in Montreal. &nbsp;Thing is, I floored my car up to 60km/h and then rolled at the speed limit. &nbsp;Result: the cop didn't like it and pulled me over and since I didn't do anything illegal, he stopped me for the exhaust.

since then, I installed a glasspack, used common sense, and never got a look from a cop.

[uuninja]

It shouldn't matter, you can get a muffler shop to make an exhaust for you and it will be legal but not DOT approved. The important thing is that the exhaust have all the OEM equipment on it IE muffler, resonator, Cat ect. I just passed inspection with my GT Spec with no trouble. We will see what they say about the turbo next year for emissions.

[NoTuchn]

i have to say that im one of those &quot;mild looking cars&quot; that is straight piped w/o a resonator. my muffler is made by 3A Racing (some no name pep boys brand) and is rather loud. ive never had a problem with the cops personally... but i know plenty of people who have. &nbsp;its all pretty much up to the cop. there are laws about specific dB's in most states, but unless the cop is standing there measuring it... then he has no proof. if you happen to know that yours is within the legal limit, then i would definately fight it if i were you. &nbsp;other than that, id say just to try to drive more conservatively when there are cops around, or if you know youre on a bad road for cops... thats what keeps me outta trouble.

i don't know about NJ but in Cali the noise level if is of legal dB will still be illegal..because any mods to the exhaust system is illegal...and one question why is a lowered car illegal?<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>...i see these #### HUGE BIG ASS CHEVY TRUCK that sits like 3 feet in the air. and they are LEGAL??? ####..there the ones that should be illegal because they are so #### high up there headlights blind us regular passenger cars...

[uuninja]

Dood where did you check your facts. It is not illegal to modify any part of your exhaust in California(I lived in L.A for most of my life). You cannot tamper with emissions equipment unless it is to replace malfunctioning equipment. But a cat back exhaust is totally legal as long as it is with in the legal 95db(IIRC?) level and Carb certified.

I live in Bridgewater, NJ. &nbsp;My friend got pulled over for his HKS dragger (I think it is, but I am not sure) &nbsp;and that thing is LOUD. &nbsp;He got pulled over one day because the ppl in his neighborhood probably complained to the cops that his exhaust was loud as ####, and he always go home past midnight, so one day, he pulled out of his drive way, and the cop pulled him over in less than 20 seconds, and told him his exhaust was too loud, he just said &quot;But I passed inspections...&quot; &nbsp;And the cop just said &quot;Well...&quot; and he didn't know what to say, and my firend didn't even get a ticket. &nbsp;Did you tell the cop you passed inspections?

[jyt747]

I live in CA as well (bay area) and a lot of cops around here are dumbasses and have nothing better to do. As far as I know, as long as it's under 95 db, it's legal. Any more than that and it's supposedly &quot;disturbing the peace.&quot; One of my friends went to court a while back, fought it and won. Another one of my friends got pulled over for having his car too low, recently. The cop showed him the book and it said it was illegal if the the side of the car was lower than the middle of the wheel. Not sure though, but that's what my friend said. I don't know, but I think a lot cops should actually be fighting real crimes.

[wyldchyld7x]

One more reason I am seriously considering keeping my car stock as possible in appearance. Florida has no emissions tests and no snow, so as you can imagine guys go wild modding their rides. Well now they have cracked down on hotrods due to the increase in popularity after FAF. So we have cops and DOT(department of transportation) all over the place stopping rides for loud exhaust, dark tinted windows, etc. But ya know what? All i ever see getting hassled are ricers, funny as #### slow cars with big wings, tons of decals and exhaust tips all pulled over. Sleepers Rule! &nbsp;P.S. Hope i didn't offend anyone with a big wing or decals, to each his own.

(Edited by wyldchyld7x at 5:41 pm on Jan. 3, 2002)

[gh6o6]

its my undersanding that you head lights have to be 22&quot; or higher to avoid a ticket