WI exhaust laws

[240 2NR]

Well yesterday in the paper, some girl who obviously knows very little about cars wrote and engaging story on the new west coast fad that has hit the midwest.  That's right, for those of you who don't know, custom exhausts are gaining popularity among the import crowd and suddenly it's some new evil (you think maybe those muscle cars guys will follow our lead?).

In any case, they had a quote from some local officer that any exhaust louder than that equipped from the manufacturer is not legal.  I tried to find a link to that article from yesterday but couldn't.  Instead I found this   DOT article (http://www.dot.state.wi.us/dsp/02lawofmon.htm#February2002) that says something simlar.

Anyone know where I can find the actual written law?  Checked the DOT site without much luck.  I'd like to write a letter to the editor, so that quote isn't treated as fact, or if it is not, look like a moron if I start saying it's not true when it is.  

The original article also stated that sway bars and strut tower bars enable our cars to sit flatter on the ground.  Riiiight.  I just hated how off balance mine used to be when I parked it.

[HippoSleek]

local:
Madison (http://www.nonoise.org/lawlib/cities/madison.htm)

Case law pointing to state statute (http://www.law.wisc.edu/rcid/ResourceCenter/Caselaw/2001%20Opinions/01-1763.htm)
- this is really interesting.  All the kids bitching about "profiling" should be on alert that in some states, loud exhaust is probable cause!

code violations generally (http://www.dot.state.wi.us/dmv/pdf/violations.pdf)

Statute (http://www.legis.state.wi.us/statutes/97Stat0347.pdf)

...you'd make a crappy lawyer &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> &nbsp; <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> &nbsp; <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

[240 2NR]

Wow, so if I read the madison law correctly, a sound level in excess of 80db at a minimum distance of 15ft is illegal. That's way lower than the quoted standard of 95db at 50ft that everyone talks about in Cali.

In fact it does state that a system louder than stock is illegal too. That's pretty crazy. For a liberal town they have some non lenient auto laws and some insane traffic task forces.

I was also under the assumption that on a public road you could be pulled over for literally nothing and searched without any probable cause once your vehicle is on a public street. Or does that vary state to state?

I would make a bad lawyer, I hate reading big books with no pictures <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'>

I still don't plan on changing my exhaust, but it does suck knowing it actually is illegal despite not being that loud and having no effect on emmissions.

Edit:: and technically so are my 180sx taillights and half clear front turnsignals. &nbsp;Guess I'm going to have to get an SR and drive on bald tires to finish out the package. &nbsp;I'll be a rolling citation.

[uiuc240]

I would LOOOOOOVE to see the test data on a stock Pontiac Trans Am WS6 at WOT from 50 ft. &nbsp;Guarantee it's more that 80 dB. &nbsp;That law is BS. &nbsp;I'm sure none of the police even care about it. &nbsp;Just don't go doing anything stupid and you should be fine. &nbsp;My car is totally illegal and no one cares...not even in Chicago. &nbsp;I have dark tint, loud exhaust, SR, etc.... (you know)

Eric

[HippoSleek]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (240 2NR @ Aug. 28 2002,1:43)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Wow, so if I read the madison law correctly, a sound level in excess of 80db at a minimum distance of 15ft is illegal. That's way lower than the quoted standard of 95db at 50ft that everyone talks about in Cali.

In fact it does state that a system louder than stock is illegal too. That's pretty crazy. For a liberal town they have some non lenient auto laws and some insane traffic task forces.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Yeah - people forget that CA is the capital of customized cars. &nbsp;While this means they have MORE laws on the book, it doesn't mean that they are more strict - common sence would say the opposite: &nbsp;If it's regulated, CA law is probably less strict.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I was also under the assumption that on a public road you could be pulled over for literally nothing and searched without any probable cause once your vehicle is on a public street. &nbsp;Or does that vary state to state?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

nah - they've got to have a reason to stop and search you. &nbsp;You have a reasonable expectation of privacy in parts of your car not in plain sight. &nbsp;That's federal Constitution, so the state can't have a lower standard.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I still don't plan on changing my exhaust, but it does suck knowing it actually is illegal despite not being that loud and having no effect on emmissions.

Edit:: and technically so are my 180sx taillights and half clear front turnsignals. &nbsp;Guess I'm going to have to get an SR and drive on bald tires to finish out the package. &nbsp;I'll be a rolling citation.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
lol

[HippoSleek]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (uiuc240 @ Aug. 28 2002,2:54)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Just don't go doing anything stupid and you should be fine. My car is totally illegal and no one cares...not even in Chicago. I have dark tint, loud exhaust, SR, etc.... (you know)

Eric</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Agreed - I knew a guy w/ a fully built Civic (ITR swap, etc.) w/ no resonator and a Fireball exhaust. &nbsp;The car was flashy and attracted a lot of attention... but he never got tickets b/c he drove responsibly.

[uiuc240]

Totally. &nbsp;I've even been speeding on the freeway (75-80 in a 65) and they don't seem to care. &nbsp;It's the tools with neon and blue windshield squirters and rainbow headlights driving around at WOT in 1st gear weaving through traffic and pumping 1000 watts of bass through the trunk that get hassled. &nbsp;Stunnas. &nbsp;As far as I'm concerned, I LOVE stunnas...the more they exist, the less I get looked at. &nbsp;I don't even OWN a visor. &nbsp;Hehehe.

Eric