Chances of getting caught by Police for Loud Muffler

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McLaren'sAngel

McLaren'sAngel

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hiya! :D

I got a V8 Camaro Z28 :O and thinking about putting a Flowmaster muffler under it, but I am a bit shaky still after reading the California Highway Patrol site (Google, type "CHP") and saying that you may past the smog check but can still be penalized for the exhuast/muffler being too noisy. I also understand that its also the Cop's decision to wether he/she thinks your car is loud and should be getting into trouble. :eek: :eek: :eek:
I just wanna know from all of you guys/gurls opinion on what are the chances in your own opinions and how "loud" it REALLY have to be to be considered Illegal :lol: :D

I just like the sound of V8s and the musculine sound hehe :D :O
 
The limit for exhaust noise is 95-decibels. If a cop pulls you over and gives you a ticket for a loud exhaust, you can probably appeal it by proving that your exhaust is below 95-decibels. I have glass packs on my car and have never been pulled over for having a loud exhaust. One time I was pulled over, and left my car running, but the cop didn’t say anything about the exhaust being to loud. Also when I see a cop I usually take my foot off the gas, for both the sound and the speed.
 
Originally posted by McLaren'sAngel
hiya! :D

I got a V8 Camaro Z28 :O and thinking about putting a Flowmaster muffler under it, but I am a bit shaky still after reading the California Highway Patrol site (Google, type "CHP") and saying that you may past the smog check but can still be penalized for the exhuast/muffler being too noisy. I also understand that its also the Cop's decision to wether he/she thinks your car is loud and should be getting into trouble. :eek: :eek: :eek:
I just wanna know from all of you guys/gurls opinion on what are the chances in your own opinions and how "loud" it REALLY have to be to be considered Illegal :lol: :D

I just like the sound of V8s and the musculine sound hehe :D :O
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Don't put Flowmasters on your car unless it's all you can afford/want to buy. Get a Borla cat-back, or something else. Hell, I'd go with a cut-out before I'd go with Flow's. Flowmasters sound terrible IMO.

The first time I got pulled over in the Cobra the officer asked if I had "some type of aftermarket pipes" on my car because he could hear me way before he could see me. When he asked I just kind of looked at him like":odd:." I thought he was going to try to give me a ticket for aftermarket exhaust, but he said it was okay, so then I told him about the catless bassani cat-back w/x-pipe I'm running. He actually complimented me on it.:lol:

I wouldn't be worried if I were you. Flowmaster mufflers won't really make it much louder. Definitely not loud enough to attract a cop's attention. I'd say you'd probably be good until you run a cut-out, or open headers.:eek:
 
I think its all just about where you live. The city I live in has an 80 decibel limit. I can tell you that my exaust is a lot louder than that. I have had my 3" turbo back with no cats on my car for 3-4 years now, and have NEVER been pulled over or hassled for it. But even if I were to get pulled over for it, the police do not cary decibel meters on them, so all they can do is issue a fix it ticket. I really think that cops dont are as much anymore because it is so common, unless you live in Anti-Auto state of California.
 
If your looking for a mean sounds a Flowmaster 80 series is the way to go, but if your afraid get a 40 series there not very loud and sound pretty good.

But I would suggest looking at a Gibson exhaust system, thats what I'm getting for my truck.
 
Am I missing something here? How can you get a loud muffler? Surely if it muffles, it's not loud? So what you need is an Un-muffler.

Possibly.... :D
 
uhhh.. no.. LOL :D Ive had a 2.5" setup with a 3.5" tip on my Precidia and its pretty loud. I got busted once, they give you 3 days to change it, and after a month the warning is removed from your record so youre all good. Put whatever you want on your car, but I too would not go flowmaster.
 
I've read a few people get pulled over here in Colorado for loud exhausts. Luckily I wasn't one of 'em. I had a reasonable sounding cat-back system on my RS.

I know Borla is offering a new "Hush" system, where its only a couple decibles louder than stock. I'm not sure if it's offered for a Camaro, but it's something to look at.

And daan! How dare you bring any sort of logic into this! :D
 
Originally posted by McLaren'sAngel
hiya! :D

I got a V8 Camaro Z28 :O and thinking about putting a Flowmaster muffler under it, but I am a bit shaky still after reading the California Highway Patrol site (Google, type "CHP") and saying that you may past the smog check but can still be penalized for the exhuast/muffler being too noisy. I also understand that its also the Cop's decision to wether he/she thinks your car is loud and should be getting into trouble. :eek: :eek: :eek:
I just wanna know from all of you guys/gurls opinion on what are the chances in your own opinions and how "loud" it REALLY have to be to be considered Illegal :lol: :D

I just like the sound of V8s and the musculine sound hehe :D :O
Click to expand...

you can get away with a exhaust when it's time to smog check you just gotta go to the right places ;)
 
Originally posted by nivek-ca
If you think there might be an issue, there probably is one.
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Man all I can say is
 

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Why Harleys sounds sweet. I wish they'd enforce the damn cars that sound like blenders....ie Cherry Bombs. Annoys the hell outta me.

Loud rumbley I can tolorate, high and whiney I can not.
 
It's me again.Fist check and see what the laws state in you area on sound levels. You can then deside on a system for your car. I recomened that you stay away from the glass pak only because they do blow out the glass and become louder.Flowtec, Dynamax, Thrush, the list goes on, all make good systems. Best bet is to get a complete system, that will give you more perfomance and it helps on the db side to.Your local muffler shop can help you out on finding the right system.
 
We have simular laws here in New Zealand that lately have being enforced. The law states 83db! Performance Car Magazine and the LVVTA (Low Volumne Vehicle Transport Authority) did a story on this and 30+ cars were invited to have their exhaust db checked. Local reps from the LTSA (Land Transport Safety Authority), Police, a government person and News Paper. Cars were first rev'ved as perscribed by the rules and guidelines the police use and the reps either tic'ed too loud or ok.
Of all the cars tested 9 failed by the "ear".

Oddly enough, yea right only one car out all the performance car's passed and it was marginally at best with an 82.9 db which was an R33 GTS25t with factory exhaust system. This included three BRAND NEW cars being sold currently here in NZ.

At the end of the day this "by the ear" stuff is so full of crap. It is nothing more than a way for a police officer to "exercise" his/her powers. I would suspect if you draw attention to yourself they may use it, but if you don't odds are you won't get a second look.
 
My dad drove his Suburban around for about two months without a muffler at all, it was loud enough that my little sister would say "Daddy's coming home!" about a minute before the car would pull up in front of the house. Didn't get any tickets.

Might have something to do with the type of car it is too though, I'd bet if I had run no muffler on my Civic I would have been pulled over within a week.
 

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