Hey guys. So I got a state ref ticket yesterday. I was on my way to an event but had to stop by a bank to pull out some cash. In order for me to get to the chase bank, I drive through a parking lot structure since its located in the top floor of a shopping center. There were 2 cops in bikes that just finished eating Chipotle. I pulled out my cash, and had to exit the same way they were parked. Sure enough they got behind me as I drove through the parking lot structure again to exit onto the main street. As soon as I made a right turn they lit me up. So the officer approaches me and says reason I pulled you over is for your loud exhaust. I then told the officerthat any vehicle driving through a parking lot structure, the sound amplifies for being hollow. He starts to say no sir, even in the street its loud. I was nodding my head as he was saying that. Then he goes keep nodding your head and Ill send you to the state ref. So I stopped. Comes back and sure enough, state ref ticket. Now... My car originally had an LS1 but spun a bearing and decided to swap in an LQ4 instead. Motor is off an 06 GMC 2500HD. I used all of my LS1 accessories. Stock cats, manifolds, egr/air etc. The only thing I have on the car is a SLP lid and a Dynomax exhaust. Nothing else. I figured he would write me a fix it ticket with modified exhaust but modified emissions and none correctable?? That makes no sense. I even told the officer that I have the stock system on. Its not like I have headers or anything. I do have a small issue. I have a check engine light for having a bad cat, low efficiency on bank 2 if I remember correctly. I had to pass my star smog test under the table. I mean... What type of situation am I in? My honest intentions in the next coming weeks were to buy a set of new carb high flow cats and install my carb shorties along with new 02 sensors. If I show up to the state ref showing I have everything stock, with the proof of my car passing smog would I be in the clear?? I could say my check engine light came on a few weeks back and state that I do have plans to fix the issue. Any other pointers/advice would help. Thank you.

 

I wish I had the answer. I'm surprised your car would even be loud, considering you have dyno max mufflers. I'd get the bad cat fixed, and see carb about getting an exemption.

 

When he mentioned state ref in my head I was like what!? I was hoping for a modified exhaust ticket. I can easily swap back to my stock one. He stated not to do anything to the car prior to inspection.

 

Whatever your conduct was with the cop...you pissed him off. He knows writing that ticket will cause you grief...possibly not being able to correct the vehicle in the eyes of the CARB ref.

Motor transplants can be a problem

If there is any aftermarket exhaust or intake stuff that does not have a CARB sticker for it, you fail. Even if the shorty headers you have are carb certified...you need the sticker also

Might want to contact a traffic ticket attorney to see what options he can "litigate".

I have gone to ref and then to the state level at CARB that governs ref and the answer was still no. Different situation than yours but point is...there was no mercy or negotiating. They followed the "letter" of the CA veh code period

 

I didnt have any attitude towards him at all. The same way he explained himself, I did as well. I mean do you find it fair to get that ticket while driving in a parking structure where the sound literally amplifies?? Not even a minute on a main street before he lit me up. Its not like I have a dumped exhaust. I have the exhaust running all the way to back.

If I popped open my hood, at a quick glimpse youll literally think its a stock LS1. As for the shorties, I do have the sticker to them. Like I stated, I had intentions in doing everything new on my exhaust system that would be compliant to carb.

I see what you mean. Well I guess best of luck to me.

 

something about motorcycle cops - i think the time on the seat pinches a nerve and atrophies their nuts. i'll stop right there.
the moment they got behind you, you probably were already screwed.
personally, i like to be very polite and accommodating to peace officers. they are public servants that put their lives on the line to serve and protect... regardless of what jerks some of them can be. also... a state ref ticket can be a SERIOUS pain in the ***.

you do have options. hopefully someone that has been in this situation will be a sweetheart and send you a message in private.

 

well, there is a member here thats from CA that he was given to option to pay the fine instead of going to the ref, he had a full set of headers... If i find the thread I will post i for you..

I also had a none correctable "whistler" when it was just my intake all the CHP asked me was to rev my engine... stamped it and took to the court and pay my $20.00 ref fee..

and not to thread jack but if you need a driver side cat.. I have a brand new walker CA legal driver side cat.

Found the thread

https://ls1tech.com/forums/western-m...-you-guys.html

 

I do greet them and comply but when the conversation starts to turn sour, then thats where I tend to lose my cool a bit because its ridiculous. They waited for me to exit the parking lot structure and yes they were right on my tail. Like I said as soon I made the right turn in 30 seconds or less they lit me up. At this point, I could say Im lucky that he didnt make me pop open the hood. What im gonna do is fix the small exhaust leak I have, replace the manifolds and catalytic converters with carb compliant parts and new 02 sensors. Then ill go ahead and make that appointment. Once im at the ref station Im gonna say hey look. This is what I have. Here are the carb compliant parts. the only thing the car has is this type of exhaust and hope for the best.

 

I found it funny that he gave me that sort of ticket like if I had headers myself. Ive been in situations similar to that where Ive received a modified exhaust and yea I had to rev it right there and then but it was correctable. I went ahead and purchased some magnaflow high flow cats. Wish I would have seen this a few days ago. Everything is on the way to me. I will check that thread out. Thank you.

 

Pretty simple solution really. Throw a stock set of cats on and a stock lid (I can let you borrow both as I have them. It’ll cost you lunch and you’ll have to leave me something so I know you’re coming back but to drop them off.). As far as the LQ goes it should run on the stock tune for the ls1. Its a smog legal engine it should pass and those dudes will have no idea that it’s not the stock engine. Your issues are quite easily fixed

 

Oddly enough you can swap car engine’s into a truck but not truck engine into a car.

Either way the engine is identical to the LS1 so CARB wouldn’t know unless they had a pocket mirror to read the part number on the back of the block.

 

 

 

 

Yup, that is my understanding of the rules and regulations. I am not sure why it is this way, but it is.

 

https://www.bar.ca.gov/Consumer/Refe...e_Centers.html
https://www.bar.ca.gov/Industry/Engi...uidelines.html

Your vehicle must be able to pass a smog check at the time it is inspected. I.E. No check engine light. Must pass a visual as well.

Highflow cats are Not legal in California. You must use the correct replacement number for your vehicle. They will inspect the cats especially when they look replaced or tampered with.

Fix the catalytic converter issue. Skip the shorter header's even if there legal. It just makes them look harder for stuff that not right.

They can't Physically look inside the tune itself but they can check the operating system #, the CVN, and the checksum to make it sure its correct for that vehicle.


A cat back would technically be legal as it does not modify the emissions output of the engine, But it must comply with the sound level specified by law. There is a specific way it has to be tested and at a certain distance. They can't just stick it inside the pipe and say it to loud you fail.

 

I got one of these tickets years ago for loud exhaust/modified exhaust and stated non correctable. Car was stock except for hooker exhaust, no joke. Car was a 98 and had a 2000 engine. I literally drove it to the state referee and he stated these guys need to go take a course and he didn't know why they were wasting his time. They did throw it on the rack and look at the underside and ran it on their smog machine. Everything passed and I was out of there and he stated nice car by the way lol. Didn't give me any hassle.

 

I am also in socal and have tried to help 2 friends ref swaps. Both failed.

I strongly recommend you do not go to the ref. If the ticket is $1000 or less just pay it.

If the ref uses a magnet on the block, looks and sees that it's iron, or notices even the smallest modification you will be in for a very long ride.

Everything at the ref must be p.e.r.f.e.c.t.

 

You tend to lose your cool? Say you're nice to them until they say something that you don't like? Bad move. It doesn't matter how much of a dick they are being - they are the boss in the situation. Everytime I get pulled over I keep both hands on the wheel as they approach, stay as calm as can be and finish EVERY sentence with sir. I've been pulled over plenty of times, especially l when I was younger. Loud exhaust, no plate, no inspections (cuz it had no cats) etc. I had one trooper finish our encounter by saying more young people should be like me. I had another - driving with NO LICENSE, like I didn't have a legal one - and the cop thanked me for my honesty. Swapped driver spot with my GF and was sent on my way.

Cops deal with ******** every day. You think that you're right so you're gonna let them know it? Good luck with that. I'd love to hear the story of some hero who got pulled over, acted like a tough guy and left the situation all puffy chested and righteous while the cop walked back to his car with his tail between his legs.

You need to be one word when pulled over - HUMBLE

 

Thats the way mine is. Like I literally had plans to swapping everything new, thats compliant to smog laws. Im gonna swap everything over this week and then schedule an appointment and hope for the best and if they do decide to look under the car, above, run tests whatever. Ill just say Hey. I spun a bearing. Bought a different motor. was told it was an LS1, had a friend do the job and thats the way its been since. I mean what would happen if they say no?