Can I really get in trouble by having loud exhaust?

[HEMI6point1]

I don't know why but I'm really liking the '07 Dodge Charger Daytona with the Plum Crazy color.

I told my mom if I get it (hopefully some money will come my way!) I am going to put SLP long-tube headers and LoudMouth exhaust it. She goes, "you do that and the cops will be stopping you every minute, not to mention you have have a lot of complaints from the neighbors!"

I think she is wrong as one of my bosses has a '99 Mustang with a loud exhaust and he doesn't get stopped.

This is a video of the SLPs with stock headers: SLP Performance Parts - VIEW P/N: D31000

 

[Toejam]

Can't speak for today's cars, but back in the 70's the first thing we all did is put on Headers uncapped. That would last for about a week or so till the Headaches took over, then we'd put pipes on. I did know a guy about 10 years back who had a street legal Camaro that ran 9.50's. Even with Hush Thrush's he'd have to be careful when he saw the Cops.

 

[megadeth]

Can't speak for today's cars, but back in the 70's the first thing we all did is put on Headers uncapped. That would last for about a week or so till the Headaches took over, then we'd put pipes on. I did know a guy about 10 years back who had a street legal Camaro that ran 9.50's. Even with Hush Thrush's he'd have to be careful when he saw the Cops.

That's not good for the motor unless it was built for it. We just put on a set of glass packs or a cherry bomb.

 

[downtime]

In Maine we have a 95 decibel limit. I have not yet been pulled over for exhaust but it has been commented on...

A couple of years back I had a problem on the turnpike and ended up cutting off the cat back so I could get home. About then a State Trooper pulled up to check me out. He had a big grin when I fired it up.

However I have gray hair so he did not perceive me as a problem to him. I think the younger guys usually have a tougher time convincing officers to go easy on them.

You should check the laws in your state prior to doing any modifications and stay away from areas that are known trouble spots.

 

[Toejam]

A guy down the street from me about 10 years back had a low-buck alky Flopper. He had no problem firing it up on his driveway, you think those cars are loud at the track????? A couple of cops pulled up one day cause they heard it a mile away! They were curious more than anything!

 

[Rollout96]

A guy down the street from me about 10 years back had a low-buck alky Flopper. He had no problem firing it up on his driveway, you think those cars are loud at the track????? A couple of cops pulled up one day cause they heard it a mile away! They were curious more than anything!

My dad would always send us kids around the neighborhood to warn people (the "problem" folks) before firing their Alky Flopper (and later the T/F car). Many neighbors would then come over to watch it in action.

 

[Kelly Andersen]

If you use a little common sense and dont piss your neighbors off with the noise you shouldn't have a problem. If you disrespect people and make a bunch of unwanted noise then you are going to have trouble and get pulled over. I think most people like a nice sounding car, but they dont like noise abuse. Know when to keep your foot out of it and you'll be fine. You might wanna check on warranty issues before you hack up the exhaust also. That car in the vid. sounded nice!!!!

 

[Rollout96]

If you use a little common sense and dont piss your neighbors off with the noise you shouldn't have a problem. If you disrespect people and make a bunch of unwanted noise then you are going to have trouble and get pulled over. I think most people like a nice sounding car, but they dont like noise abuse. Know when to keep your foot out of it and you'll be fine. You might wanna check on warranty issues before you hack up the exhaust also. That car in the vid. sounded nice!!!!

Exactly. I have a neighbor with a very loud Harley. When he comes home late at night he shuts it off about 5 houses away and coasts into his driveway. When he leaves he is always 100% ready to drive away so he starts it and goes. He has told me that he loves it but worries about us neighbors hating it.

 

[HEMI6point1]

If you use a little common sense and dont piss your neighbors off with the noise you shouldn't have a problem. If you disrespect people and make a bunch of unwanted noise then you are going to have trouble and get pulled over. I think most people like a nice sounding car, but they dont like noise abuse. Know when to keep your foot out of it and you'll be fine. You might wanna check on warranty issues before you hack up the exhaust also. That car in the vid. sounded nice!!!!

Tell me about it, I heard sound clips from a few brands of exhaust for the Charger and only the SLP's give that "70's muscle car sound."

 

[Jenn]

We had some complaints with the noise in the old shop too. Now that we moved everything over to a different location there isn't that big of a noise issue.

My brother does custom exhaust work and I enjoy the low throaty rumble of exhaust over the obnoxious exhaust. He put dual exhaust on my convertable with tips similar to the crossfire exhaust. I get loads of compliments (and you can bet he didn't do it out of brotherly love either)

 

[.]

Exactly. I have a neighbor with a very loud Harley. When he comes home late at night he shuts it off about 5 houses away and coasts into his driveway. When he leaves he is always 100% ready to drive away so he starts it and goes. He has told me that he loves it but worries about us neighbors hating it.

Speaking of harleys, how come they can be as loud as they want/can and us doorslammers can't?
Holy crap there are some that rip my head off they are so loud!

 

[Toejam]

This guy I was referring to earlier wasn't shy about opening it up at all! The First time I heard it run it was at 8:30 at night, and I heard it over the TV set! He was still running it as I walked over to his house about 10 homes down the block, and he burped it to 6-7,000 RPM a couple of times. I swear I could hear the echos go for Blocks! But No cops and No neighbors complained, I was Stunned!

 

[sharkman]

My Dad had SLP's on his 96' Impala SS, man they sounded sweet! those in the video sound good too, you should'nt have trouble unless you go around asking for it. My vette had 2.5 inch pipes with flowmasters on it and I've never had any complaints.....except when I first fired it up with just the Hookers and no pipes, at midnight in My Brothers shop, right next door to My ex-wife.....She has NO sense of humor, or appreciation of a finely tuned racecar engine

 

[cstarns]

Speaking of harleys, how come they can be as loud as they want/can and us doorslammers can't?
Holy crap there are some that rip my head off they are so loud!

Trust me, us harley riders take our fair share of crap from the cops. The difference is when a loud car gets pulled over, he gets a ticket. When we get pulled over, we get patted down and sometimes handcuffed while they run us for warrants BEFORE getting a ticket.

 

[Toejam]

It's pretty common knowledge that Loud pipes save lives! They may not see you, but they can Damn sure hear you!

 

[Jenn]

It's pretty common knowledge that Loud pipes save lives! They may not see you, but they can Damn sure hear you!

My dad has a Goldwing and his is so quiet that people at motorcycle shows recommended putting deer whistles on the bike.

 

[T.Smith]

My F-Body has a Corsa stainless steel cat-back. The f**ker is just wicked sounding when I get on the gas and go up through the gears. Thank God for the clutch pedal, that's the easiest way the kill the sound when you see the Fuzz.

I had some cop chase me down into a parking lot, bustin' my balls about my loud exhaust. He tried to tell me my exhaust was illegal...told him no f'ing way. I told him Corsa is an official OEM replacement for GM cars. Took the catalog out the back seat and showed it to him. We agreed to disagree, and was told to "cool it".

 

[Marchboom]

I think the thing that gets drivers tickets the most is how they drive their "loud" cars. These days I believe cops, and most people, like the sound of a good sounding (V8) muscle car. Brings back the way a car should sound. The cars that I REALLY hate are the rice burners with those stupid "coffee can" (for lack of a better term) mufflers. They make those cars sound very annoying and way too loud. You actually have 2 violations here: the exhaust being louder than stock AND a device installed the amplifies the exhaust noise. And the worst part is that the idiots who drive them don't know when to keep their foot out of it. They usually could care less if they piss off their neighbors. They are also the people who play their loud sound systems with that EXTREMELY loud, pounding noise coming from them, love those 24"+ diameter wheels, wear earrings, think drifting is racing, etc. I have zero respect for these drivers and would cite them immediately. There isn't an excuse good enough to keep them from getting a ticket.

As for the Harley riders, seems like the louder their bikes are the bigger their egos get. And some could care less how loud their bikes are. Well, the public and cops care and the riders of these bikes should not be surprised when they get stopped for a loud exhaust. I don't mind a good sounding bike but when they abuse it and the bike can be heard 1/2 mile away, then they get cited. Again, knowing when to get on it and when to drive quietly is the key. Piss off your neighbors enough and they will deliver payback.

But, a good sounding V8 is something I really like and would not cite the driver unless he was really acting the fool.

 

[Marchboom]

My F-Body has a Corsa stainless steel cat-back. The f**ker is just wicked sounding when I get on the gas and go up through the gears. Thank God for the clutch pedal, that's the easiest way the kill the sound when you see the Fuzz.

I had some cop chase me down into a parking lot, bustin' my balls about my loud exhaust. He tried to tell me my exhaust was illegal...told him no f'ing way. I told him Corsa is an official OEM replacement for GM cars. Took the catalog out the back seat and showed it to him. We agreed to disagree, and was told to "cool it".

The above situation is the best way to get a ticket.

First off, I wouldn't "bust someone's balls" about a loud exhaust. It just ain't that big of a deal...it's just a loud muffler, not a murder. I would just tell him that I think it is too loud and not in compliance with the vehicle code.

Second, telling most cops "no f'ing way" is the BEST way to get a ticket. Wrong attitude to display whether you think you're right or not. Telling me that I could not cite you when I know I can AND I had a violation of the vehicle code was a sure way to get cited. When I would make a stop, I didn't stop the violator to ask his opinion or get his approval of my intentions. It was to issue a ticket. If he wants to be an idiot, I can deal with that. But it might cost him a lot more $$$. His choice.

Third, I could care less if the muffler is an "official OEM replacement" muffler. I'm making my decision based on how loud the noise is, not the muffler used. Just because it's manufactured doesn't mean it's legal for the street. The best thing hot rodders can do before modifying their cars is to buy a vehicle code from the DMV (it's also on the internet) and check to see if their intended modification is legal. Could save big $$$.

 

[BlueStangGT]

My Stang has a straight-through Bassani X Stainless setup with no cats and even with the baffles in the tailpipes it's pretty damn loud if I'm agressive in any way. I always try to be respectful of residential areas but otherwise I'm not too concerned unless I'm in close proximity to an officer. I've only been pulled once with my current exhaust setup and it was no biggy. I wasn't speeding and the OK DPS officer had heard me leaving a rest stop on I-35. He just asked me to remember to "take it easy, son".