NEODYMIUM

Got pulled over at about 2am for speeding just as I was pulling into my drive.
cop: so what took you so long to pull over?
me: It literally took me 5 seconds to pull over (puzzled face)
cop: why did you pull into the driveway, did you think that i wouldn't be able to do anything?
me: (with an increasingly puzzled look on my face) no....this is where i'm going to sleep (it was a friends house)
cop: Do you know what the speed limit is?
me: I believe 30
cop: why were driving so fast and do you know exactly how fast you were going?
me: I was not aware that I was speeding
cop: well, I don't know how fast you were going, I didn't get you with radar so I can't ticket you

Lesson here: don't admit to anything, or you will get a ticket

now the focus is on my exhaust

cop: is your exhaust the original
me: no, it's an aftermarket (more obvious than the speeding and I didn't want to insult him further)
cop: well, local ordinance says that the exhaust system can not be modified so that it is louder than the stock system

At this point I am just dying to ask him how he knows how loud my stock system is to compare, but I know this is a debate that needs to happen in court, so instead....

me: oh, really, I did not know that

So I got a ticket for "loud muffler", he cited the ordinace incorrectly on the ticket (i'm pretty sure)
and I got a ticket for failing to show proof of insurance.

I'm damn near positive I can get out of this noise ticket, my attorney agrees. Here is the ordinance
(a) Equipment standards applicable to motor vehicles:
(1) Exhaust system. Except for motor carriers engaged in interstate commerce regulated under federal standards contained in 40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 202 (40 CFR Part 202), no person shall operate or cause or allow the operation of a motor vehicle on a public right-of-way unless it is at all times equipped with an adequate muffler or other sound dissipative device which is:
a. In constant operation and properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise;
b. Free from defects which affect sound reduction; and
c. Not modified in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise of such muffler or other sound dissipative device above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle so as to produce excessive or unusual noise.

thoughts? any personal experiences?
thanks

RowdyITR

i had the same crap

take a picture of your car with your stock exhaust...tell the judge you were not aware of the ordinance and you put the stock ehaust back on...

thats what i did, and i got out of it.

good luck, what a hastle and waist of time

rustywave

either that...or maybe with the wording you can get out of it, cuz it says "excessive or unusual noise". which exhaust? also, you brought up a good point...how would the officer know? our car is pretty loud already, maybe you can use that?

YellowS2kPwr

Lol, if a cop hears my exhaust at WOT, he'll have a heart attack. Good luck with the ticket.

pushin9

I had the same thing happen a few years back. Here is what I had to do

S2000GT

@ the irony of greg's post and his new avatar to the left of it!

NEODYMIUM

From what people have posted so far, I think I will put my stock exhaust back on and bring a picture of it to court. I will tell the prosecutor if they don't drop the ticket I will fight it. I will also point out the fact that they have a weak case to begin with.

pushin9

That is not 100% true. A couple years back I was pulled over for

ToeKneeC

in certain states, the exhaust ticket is a fix-it-ticket. don't know how it is in IL. depending on how much it is, i'd just pay it and deal as a part of living the "car life"

jaromi15

In Cali it is... I always thought of it here in Chi. if same rule applies...