"improper exhaust" says the trooper...

[Afuente]

does anyone in this area know the exact laws for vehicle modifications?

a cop who can't tell me the definition of "improper exhaust" shouldn't be accusing me of it. where is it written what the exact law is? if their only answer is "my boss says so" (just guessing)....how does that hold up in court?

so i thought i'd find a way to educate myself on the exact laws pertaining to all vehicle modifications. i'm not trying to be rude, just want the facts.

,Jeremy

[carchck7]

Jeremy,

VA law states that an exhaust note can not be louder than stock.......but your engine is not stock so the exhaust note will, of course, be different.


I can try and find my ticket with the ordinance # on it so you can get the full version of that law.

[RiceRanger666]

jeremy im sorry to hear about your probs with the popo azzholes. but i dont see why they pulled u over. when i was driving my ranger around VA they never pulled me over, and the ranger exhaust is about the same level as a 5.HOE.... I would most def fight it in court. if u want the name of my lawyer for vehicle involved stuff. lemme know and ill get that too ya as soon as i can. he is excellent. and wont break ur bank either.
oh well.
back off in the wild FL night life(sitting on couch watching TV)

[MercMobile]

Jeremy.. here are some laws, as according to Prince William County.

Sec. 13-102. Exhaust system generally.

(a) No person shall drive and no owner of a motor vehicle shall allow the operation of his vehicle on a highway in the county, unless it is equipped with an exhaust system of a type installed as standard factory equipment, or comparable to that designed for use on the particular vehicle as standard factory equipment, in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise. An exhaust system shall not be deemed to prevent excessive or unusual noise if it permits the escape of noise in excess of that permitted by the standard factory equipment exhaust system of private passenger vehicles or trucks of standard make.

(b) Chambered pipes are not an effective muffling device to prevent excessive or unusual noise, as required in this section

(c) The term "exhaust system," as used in this section, means all the parts of a motor vehicle through which the exhaust passes after leaving the engine block.

Sec. 13-103. Certain mufflers and straight exhausts prohibited.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale a muffler without interior baffle plates or other effective muffling device, or any "gutted muffler," "muffler cutout" or "straight exhaust."

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate on the highways in this county a motor vehicle equipped with a "gutted muffler," "muffler cutout" or "straight exhaust."

--------------------------

No gutted precats.. and no straight pipes..

They have claims of Sound ordinances.. however the county shoots itself in the foot by claiming, "unless it is equipped with an exhaust system of a type installed as standard factory equipment, or comparable to that designed for use on the particular vehicle as standard factory equipment, in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise."

You have an aftermarket exhaust, that is COMPARABLE to that designed for use on the particular vehicle as standard factory equipment.

Although your exhaust does not prevent excessive noise, that fact is unknown, because as Heather stated, with your engine modifications, which are NOT illegal, your aftermarket exhaust may very well be cutting back on the amount of noise you would receive after such engine alterations. Since the state can not prove if your car would be either louder or whether it would be more quiet with a different exhaust, they have zero proof, and are unable to press charges.

[Se7enCentz]

well my good friend lives in VA, manassas to be exact and he said all cops there are complete 100% assholes, hes gotten tickets for a lowered car, exhaust, tint, radar detector and some other stupid things. I believe him too I was around there awhile ago and they ticketed me for having tailight covers w/ slits in them (my moms camaro). I went to court and I got off cuz I was from out of state. There just looking to bust teenagers/younger adults w/ stupid charges cuz they have nothing else better to do. I mean cmon sometimes were just chillen there looking at each others cars and they tell us to go home, at least were not smoking pot/drugs/drinking excessively.

[Afuente]

Steve, thanks for all the info.

on another note: NO TICKETS WERE ISSUED. i got stopped cause the tropper was directing traffic on a strip of road. as i pulled out of the parking lot i was in....basically i stood on the gas pedal. so his 1st question was "something wrong with your accelerator", my repsonse "i have throttle hang", his response "do you expect me to believe that"....am i actually supposed to tell him "YES"!.

,Jeremy

oh, thanks for the advice and help.

[carchck7]

se7en.......what were you and your friend doing to warrant getting all those tickets? Most of the officers in the PD are pretty cool....I know...I'm friends with their kids.

If you're being stupid at the strip or at the BK then they'll hammer down on you.....but if you're just hanging out and not causing a ruckus then they'll leave you alone.

I live in Manassas, and my car is fully lowered (GC's), exhaust, and for a while had expired inspection and tags (still have those) :)

BTW, taillight covers are illegal in most states...if they cover up your any section of your brake light....the cougs tail light covers aren't illegal because they don't cover any lighted portion of the taillights...but the ones you mentioned on teh camaro are considered unsafe and therefore illegal.....

maybe you should cut them some slack since you were the one breaking the law.

[MercMobile]

Originally posted by: Afuente
Steve, thanks for all the info.

on another note: NO TICKETS WERE ISSUED. i got stopped cause the tropper was directing traffic on a strip of road. as i pulled out of the parking lot i was in....basically i stood on the gas pedal. so his 1st question was "something wrong with your accelerator", my repsonse "i have throttle hang", his response "do you expect me to believe that"....am i actually supposed to tell him "YES"!.

,Jeremy

oh, thanks for the advice and help.No prob.. I'm here to help. :biggrin: And yes.. you should have told him.. "I do expect you to believe that.. because Throttle Hang plagues this car. Please visit www.fastcougar.com/forums and do a search for "Throttle Hang" you won't be disappointed. :biggrin:

Se7encentz.. like Heather said.. complete taillight covers are illegal because it covers everything. Radar detectors are illegal in VA.. (if you don't believe me.. take a look at all the signs on the road that say.. quite bluntly.. "Radar Detectors are Illegal in Virginia". Certain tint levels are illegal, so if he is too dark, that's his fault. And to be 100% honest, there are laws in most states about riding height.. in fact PA is trying to pass a law about ride height.. and many of us contacted our senator to have this abolished, because a lowered Cougar is still higher than a stock Corvette.. so the law is favorited in a sense..

One night myself, Heather and Afuente talked to a Manassas officer for about 20 minutes in a Denny's and about 5 more outside the Denny's... might I add.. he was one of the nicest people I have ever met..

[carchck7]

Psssssssssst...........Jeremy...........here's a hint for the future..........don't wail on it when the cops are near ;)





k.......... :)

[Afuente]

thanks for the advice Heather... ;) ;) ;)

,Jer

and YES, the officer we were talking to at Denny's was really cool.

another story: about a year ago we were installing my YoDude exhaust. me and Fordman left to have the 2nd pipe custom mounted. while we were gone DanG and some others got a visit from a few of the Fairfax County Officers. From what they told me, the FCO's were really cool, and asked a bunch of questions about our cars.

Lesson learned - it's how you present yourself in front of others that gets you respect...including those in law enforcement.

[carchck7]

Originally posted by: Afuente

Lesson learned - it's how you present yourself in front of others that gets you respect...including those in law enforcement.


Its a shame that not many people can make that connection

[Afuente]

just to requote what Steve said:

Section 46.2-1049 of the Code of Virginia states:

§ 46.2-1049. Exhaust system in good working order.

No person shall drive and no owner of a motor vehicle shall permit or allow
the operation of any vehicle on a highway unless it is equipped with an
exhaust system of a type installed as standard factory equipment, or
comparable to that designed for use on the particular vehicle as standard
factory equipment, in good working order and in constant operation to
prevent excessive or unusual noise. An exhaust system shall not be deemed to
prevent excessive or unusual noise if it permits the escape of noise in
excess of that permitted by the standard factory equipment exhaust system of
private passenger motor vehicles or trucks of standard make.

The term "exhaust system," as used in this section, means all the parts of a
motor vehicle through which the exhaust passes after leaving the engine
block.

Chambered pipes are not an effective muffling device to prevent excessive or
unusual noise.

(Code 1950, § 46-305; 1952, c. 455; 1956, c. 651; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-301;
1960, c. 120; 1970, c. 266; 1972, c. 66; 1989, c. 727.)

[Se7enCentz]

I dont see why they are illegal, there covers abd those covers you can still see the red lights perfect, this was in the afternoon, so maybe i was just picked on when i was 16 and driving a camaro. Also we werent at the strip or Bk, but at the manassas mall where all the scudballs chill

[carchck7]

scudballs huh? Then why were you there? Hanging out with your own kind?

You must not comprehend very well......if the covers obstruct ANY portion of the lighted section of the brake lights then they ARE illegal. Doesn't matter if 90% of the lighted area is still visible........or 10%.......they're all illegal.

[MercMobile]

Heather is right.. blackout taillights.. OR any obstructive tail light.. is illegal. Taillights are a safety feature.. they don't help you whle you are driving.. they help the people around you..

It's the law.. Police are there to uphold the law.. So.. do they compromise their position as an employee of the state by NOT upholding their law, just to give you a break?? No.

Also.. if you have a problem with Manassas.. don't go there.. Heather, Jeremy and I were at the Manassas Mall just this past weekend.. I suppose that makes us scudballs?

[Se7enCentz]

Of course I dont hate manassas. I used to live there for godssake, I like it more then where I live now. I said the outer part of the mall near Sears is where all the scudballs chill, well I didnt say that but I meant to

[carchck7]

well I guess for the scudballs sake its a good thing Sears moved :tongue:

ok sorry had to get it outta my system :)

[Se7enCentz]

Did Sears move? or was it Value City, not too sure I havent been there in awhile, but I will be moving back to Manassas in June.;)

[carchck7]

Uh dude.........there's no value city in Manassas...........and I don't ever remember there being one.....I've been there for 16 years. :) Musta been sears.........and they took over the Wards spot in the mall........near the new Hechts :)

[Se7enCentz]

yeah thats what Im talking about Wards, I was thinking of a mall around here with Value City, now Im all confused

[carchck7]

You're male.......you're easily confuse :tongue: :cover:

[Afuente]

Hey, I resemble that remark. ;)

[carchck7]

I sound intelligent.........I think I'll keep my mistake in there :)