There is always this debate about getting stopped and ticketed for a cat-less exhaust and how much trouble you can get into. I was wondering how many people have been pulled and actually been ticketed for their "cat-less exhaust"?

I was also wondering if you did not get a ticket for cat-less exhaust the what kind of ticket did you end up getting?

 

in richmond do you need cats?

 

There is a federal requirement for cats in all 50 states. So that mean you are breaking a federal law then. i was wondering how many people have actually been fined for being cat-less.

 

Yes, in every state you need cats. It is illegal to modify your cat unless it is damaged. It is a federal offense I believe. I could be wrong though

 

i have a testpipe.. so i checked the rules.. i think its a $5K fine for Illegal Emission or somethin.. i had a cop tell me that modifying the muffler at all is illegal. i was like no its not! he said if you change the factory setting its illegal. stupid *** pigs.
sorry to all the friendly cops. (sisters boyfriend) you got some stupid cops out there!

 

its a federal offense... In CA, you can be fine upwards of $2k and imediate impound of your car.

 

Yeah, I guess its pretty serious but i've had mine for awhile and no one has said anything. Yes i've been pulled with it on but that was for different reasons.

 

See that just the thing, I here all the hype about getting in trouble for cat-less but has anyone yet gotten ticketed?

 

I believe that the cop was partially correct in regards to only the CAT. You technically are not allowed to replace the CAT unless it is damaged. If you get that line again just tell him you ran over something in the road, damaged the CAT and had to replace it with a high flow one.

 

The question wasn't whether or not it's legal. The question was whether or not anyone has actually gotten a ticket for it.

 

I just got busted yesturday... California Highway Patrol busted me for "modified exhaust" you can see the mods in my sig... question is... the officer marked this as a "correctable infraction"... does anyone know the cost of a fix-it ticket in CA?

 

I have the answer to this thread. The answer is no. Right now alot of cops don't even bother to check if you have a cat. because to them,you must be really stupid (no offense) to take a chance of getting a federal fine, which can range from $1000-$5000 and impound of your car.
Ultra....It is not illegal to have a modified exhaust. From the catalytic back, the muffler is not an emission device. It only deal with noise pollution. Read up : http://www.enjoythedrive.com/content/?ID=8133

 

ex-honda... thanks... i haven't had my perrin test pipe on since my last track event (last month)... i was pulled over (while in traffic i should say) by CHP for my HKS Hi-Power exhaust. I called HKS USA and they faxed me their "exhaust statement of compliance" which states in bold "Rach system is individually designed for a specific applicationand complies with the requirements of Sections 27150, 27151 & 27200 of the California Vehicle Code; and Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 10361 w2hich establishes a noise limit of 95dB(A) for passenger cars."

The question now is... should i fight it? Maybe my Helix down pipe made my exhaust too loud... does anyone know if it's street legal or not?

 

Helix DP probably isn't CARB legal. You might try contacting them for a similar statement of compliance to that which HKS provided you.

ex-honda is right, most cops probably won't check for a cat delete on a car. But still, you run the risk of getting caught if you do.

 

Anything from the cat. back is okay. But the other way around is questionable. I would like to explain it more detail but it will be too long of a post. I used to be a smog inspector so I pretty much know what is legal or not. With the HKS exhaust statement, they test it on a stock vehicle with no other modifications and there might be a clause with the paperworks of the exhaust saying something like "any other modification invalidates our system to be legal".....something like that. Your best bet is to fight it and the judge will give you a extension pending a referee test results on noise level of your exhaust system. Then if/when you pass the 95db test, you show it to the judge and he/she will drop the ticket. But here is the "curve ball" on this. Even though you pass everything and your exhaust is legal, they can ticket you again if the cop is really a dick. Why you ask? Well it's like this, the cop can say "how do I know that this is the same exhaust that you got tested?" Ain't that a b*tch?