Pulled over my the po-po today... did anyone know...
06-23-2008, 12:59 AM
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Pulled over my the po-po today... did anyone know... I was driving through Auburn today, after watching the races and I was pulled over my a Auburn cop. (she was actually pretty cute. 
Before I say why.. I have a trivia question for everyone...
Does anyone know the law in WA State regarding having louder/aftermarket exhaust on a vehicle that is driven on the street?
Yup. No modifications that make the car louder than stock, whether you did the modification or not. (This is only for cars less than 25 years old apparently.) I was floored. I always thought exhaust noise just fell under the individual city's noise ordinance, but I guess not.
The cop walked to my window and did have a surprised look on her face. I guess she didnt expect a 37 year old at the wheel. Hahaha. She was also checking out my two N2O bottles in the back but she didnt say anything about those being hooked up. I am glad she didnt walk to the front and get me on the no front plate thing. Whew.
The actual law surprised the hell out of me however I talked my way out of the ticket.
Before I say why.. I have a trivia question for everyone...
Does anyone know the law in WA State regarding having louder/aftermarket exhaust on a vehicle that is driven on the street?
Yup. No modifications that make the car louder than stock, whether you did the modification or not. (This is only for cars less than 25 years old apparently.) I was floored. I always thought exhaust noise just fell under the individual city's noise ordinance, but I guess not.
The cop walked to my window and did have a surprised look on her face. I guess she didnt expect a 37 year old at the wheel. Hahaha. She was also checking out my two N2O bottles in the back but she didnt say anything about those being hooked up. I am glad she didnt walk to the front and get me on the no front plate thing. Whew.
The actual law surprised the hell out of me however I talked my way out of the ticket.
Last edited by Goldfinger911; 06-23-2008 at 09:52 AM.
06-23-2008, 08:56 AM
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The exhuast must exit beyond the passenger compartment, so the law gives a lot of lattitude. It's hard for police to make "excessive noise" charges when brand new diesel pickups are so loud. All-in-all, WA law enforcement regarding vehicles is very lax. Traffic cops focus on raised trucks and hot rods driven by young people -leaving me out. I always drive slow on the street assuming the noise my car makes is already asking for trouble. That high noise level also increases the perception of speeding.
06-23-2008, 09:57 AM
#7
I do nopt have the RCW on hand but it can be dug up.
We got hammered last year when they yanked the Decible rating. Basicly there is almost no wiggle room and can be intupited anyway the police prefer.
Basicly right now it read you can not modify your stock exhaust to make it louder
Here is a quicky
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.37.390
We got hammered last year when they yanked the Decible rating. Basicly there is almost no wiggle room and can be intupited anyway the police prefer.
Basicly right now it read you can not modify your stock exhaust to make it louder
Here is a quicky
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.37.390
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06-23-2008, 10:56 AM
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99% of the time with cars like ours, you wont get a ticket. The officer uses the noise as PC to make contact. Once you have been put through the system and come back clean, they will let you go.
Its the early 90's honda/acuras with the grapefruit shooter exhaust that look like have been driven off a cliff that the officers really play the noise card with. Those cars are refered to as "warrant wagons" and usually make for a good stop.
Its the early 90's honda/acuras with the grapefruit shooter exhaust that look like have been driven off a cliff that the officers really play the noise card with. Those cars are refered to as "warrant wagons" and usually make for a good stop.
06-23-2008, 11:16 AM
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I get pulled over quiet often in my car.. Probibly atleast once a month, for the exhaust being to loud. But on the flip side, me or my wife goes to Starbucks every saturday sunday, and there are always two to three cops there having coffee, and they are always asking us questions about the car, and checking it out.
The only reason I have gotten away with it thus far, is I have Arizona Registration.
The only reason I have gotten away with it thus far, is I have Arizona Registration.
06-23-2008, 06:17 PM
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It's another good reason to be very polite to the officers. Just think of what happens if they decide they don't like you and start inspecting. Do you have headers, no emmisions, no cats, aftermarket cat-back--all illegal and worthy of lots of fines--if they wanted to write you up. They can also be tacked on if they stop you for something else completely--like that missing front plate. It's the risk we take to go fast.
06-23-2008, 08:53 PM
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99% of the time with cars like ours, you wont get a ticket. The officer uses the noise as PC to make contact. Once you have been put through the system and come back clean, they will let you go.
Its the early 90's honda/acuras with the grapefruit shooter exhaust that look like have been driven off a cliff that the officers really play the noise card with. Those cars are refered to as "warrant wagons" and usually make for a good stop.
Its the early 90's honda/acuras with the grapefruit shooter exhaust that look like have been driven off a cliff that the officers really play the noise card with. Those cars are refered to as "warrant wagons" and usually make for a good stop.
Good to know.
06-24-2008, 12:23 AM
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It's up to you to fight them and get them dropped.....
Even if they KNOW they can't legaly get you the do know they can write you up and then it's up to you to fight the tickets....
Therefore if you don't fight them = cop win
You do fight them, waste your time = cop win
06-24-2008, 12:34 AM
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All they would need as far as emmissions go is the law that my home town goes by, signed by the local judge which would be farely easy to get.. Show that to the judge, and they will throw it out, remember I am military. So i have a reason for having my vehicle registered elsewhere.
06-24-2008, 01:29 AM
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Does not mean they won't ticket you. In fact, you may be more likely to get the ticket. How likely is it that someone would go through that much work to fight the ticket in court? Take the day off without pay and see the judge? Hope you don't get deployed or are serving during your court date? Then you have a bench warrant. Welcome to Washington. They can and will do any thing they want to here. Ask me how I know.
06-24-2008, 09:52 AM
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They do that in all states. Its not much work for me to call up the county judge back home, and request something like that. I wouldn't have to take a day off for that either. And if they wanted to give me a ticket for it, they would have about 10x times back, when they first started pulling me over for it... I also don't have a front license plate, so will they give me a ticket for that aswell???? I mean it falls under the same category as this.. Its a requirment here, but not were I am from. So they will not issue me a ticket for it. Same goes for my loud *** exguast. They can't do it. And if they did, it would get laughed out of the damn court..
