TLtrigirl

iTrader: (1)

to all my fellow VA drivers and more so directed to NOVA drivers...i've read some things about getting tickets just for your exhaust. i've also read that aftermarket exhausts are basically illegal in the commonwealth.

so what kind of harassment/tix have you gotten for your exhaust mod (catback or otherwise), where, and what exhaust setup are/were you running??

after reading about the "laws" on exhausts and issues with the po-po, i may not pull the trigger on a catback for my TL. afterall it is ILLEGAL. nothing in VA legislation passed for actual decibel levels and apprently last year they killed a bill that would have totally banned the sales of aftermarket exhausts.

any of you guys/gals have experience or knowledge of this??

merlinsbeard101

Aren't radar detectors illegal in VA too?

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

j1n

iTrader: (1)

I have never gotten a ticket but i have gotten a warning before... but i did get a ticket for tints that pull over. that was on the fairfax county prky way by herndon.

i wouldnt be worried about it. what kind of catback you looking at?

TLtrigirl

iTrader: (1)

yes one of like 2 or 3 states in the US. its stupid.

JCharged

iTrader: (5)

I've only been ticketed once for it. Other than that the cops never noticed my exhaust.

Only reason I got caught was because I hit black ice and spun my car twice.

State troopers and Fairfax county police usually know what a modded car looks like.

I'm running a 2.5 straight pipe all the way back.

ludachrisvt

iTrader: (2)

Just get ATLP base exhaust. Looks stock, and isn't loud unless you WANT it to be. I've only gotten attention for ride height.

Sandals

iTrader: (2)

I heard looking at a cop in the eyes is also illegal in VA

eenk

i think if really depends if that one certain cop wants to pull u over or not lol but i do hate driving through fairfax with a passion..alot of people in nova is running exhausts regardless though o.O

Shadzilla

My cousin got pulled over and questioned about his STOCK STi exhaust. He literally had to get the owners manual out and show the cop (Loudoun) a picture of the car to prove that it wasn't aftermarket.

TLtrigirl

iTrader: (1)

^^yeah i've read elsewhere about these types of stories with subies...i've seen another thread on here ranting about tix and tint in VA, then the cops add the exhaust to the fines as well.

makes you wonder, gee are these local county cops and troopers, profiling the import tuner crowd??? seems like it. they dont' seem to bother the domestic muscle cars that are modded. unfortunately the laws on exhaust in VA do not have a dB rating for the exhaust (like CA). its based solely on what the stock/OEM exhaust sounds like. most of which on any car are...whisper quiet.

proimport

if it looks stock you will be fine and not to loud

TLtrigirl

iTrader: (1)

most aftermarket exhausts have round tips in our "trapezoidal" exhaust openings. the only one that looks remotely stock is the atlp base, but that's too loud for my tastes and i'm sure for the commonwealth.

eh, i guess i'll just save my money for a rainy day. its not like i'll be able to actually use the extra power gains to be had by driving around here anyway.

Sandals

iTrader: (2)

With all that traffic your not going anywhere fast.

TLtrigirl

iTrader: (1)

exactly. i'll just spend money on other toys.

ChrisJ

Yes

I had longtubes, off-road x-pipe and magnapack catback on my Mustang and never had an issue...I think it depends alot on the attitude you give the LEO and what other offenses you have on your record or at the time of the incident...

wvtriple

if you really want to test your "power" come out to my neck of the woods. About an hour from Fairfax or 25 miles from Leesburg, Summit Point Raceway has Fridays at the Track, which any road going vehicle can use the track. Be for warned if you do come out you'll be in some serious company on those days, last year mid-summer I saw a Bugatti crash the party. The Porsche and Ferrari owners were humbled by the experience.

Dktran31

A couple of my friends have received warnings from VA police regarding loud exhausts (civics) but none of them were ticketed. I would say go for it and be aware not to rev high if cops are around. The fact that radar detectors are illegal in our state is totally stupid.

iamhomersimpson

If your racing and ricing you'll get a ticket and/or warning

When ever I have been pulled over for speeding I get hell about ride height, exhaust, stereo, tint etc

The Va code actually reads so strict yet ambiguous that anything aftermarket could be considered illegal as it could be a distraction to you or another driver and it affects the vehicle which has been approved by a someone with regulations.

This boils down to you can get a ticket for a bumper sticker...and I'm serious I have asked some of my cop buddies about it and technically they could do it.

VA is for haters...

AcUrAge703

I have had tickets....apex ws2 exhaust on a cl-s but thats only in FFX county...just don't do anything stupid in FFX and you will be ok...

OneWickedTypeS

Never had an exhaust ticket...

kineticua7

Have gotten multiple warnings and one ticket in springfield, greddy sp2 on a civic. Screw ffx county!!!!!!! attitude changes after concealed permit is handed over though...

melvin2816

iTrader: (4)

I am just curious how the cop reacts after concealed permit is handed to them? for good or for bad?

kineticua7

They would normally forget all about my exhaust. I always got warnings, the one time I did get a ticket the cop had pulled me over a few days prior.

ceb

The permit shows up when the cop runs your license plate and the question will usually begin with "do you currently have a weapon in the car?" This question will most often be asked with the cop standing behind your window - a bit foolish because those with CCW are far less likely to commit an illegal act than your common street thug with an unlicensed handgun.

But getting back on point - some jurisdictions in VA, FFX, VA Beach, Richmond and (oddly) Roanoke enforce noise violations more than other counties.

diamondblues

Virginia Beach LEO's can be a bit nuts with this.. I was pulled for "reckless" and "improper exhaust" even though the LEO couldn't tell me how fast I was going at the time. (I never hit the speed limit, spun a tire, etc. before he saw me.) He just said that he heard me coming. Yet, by the time we got to court he changed his story and claimed that I was going X miles over and would agree to lower that so it wouldn't be reckless.. Total BS all the way. Keep in mind my pipes at the time were non resonated atlp with race pipe. He also tacked on a ticket for having CLEAR plate covers.

So.. I still ended up with speeding and fines because he didn't like the sound of my car.

Just keep your eyes open.. and remember that you are going to draw attention. Not always good attention.

No matter what.. Its always your word against theirs. And they are generating revenue. Good luck.

s-one

Doesn't matter what they ticket you for. They still have to prove it in court. What happens most of the time is that people don't know what to say in court. If you get a ticket be prepared. Ask the cop in court for proof that your exhaust is illegal. Part numbers, decibel meter readings, etc....

With that being said, of course you will get harassed if you are running coffee can that is as loud as a harley.