BS ticket: aftermarket exhaust in MA, FYI
Mar 23, 2006 | 12:00 PM
#16
Originally Posted by joshd
I absolutely HATE to tell you this, but the best advice I can give at this point is to just pay the $50 fine and move on with your life.
Fighting it will just end up wasting your time and sanity because that law is absolutely ridiculous and there's pretty much no way you can win. The way that law is written, if your exhaust system is .00000001 Db over stock, you are guilty ... and the officer only needs to use his 'judgement' to determine that it's been modified to be louder than stock. If you look at the ticket, he actually wrote 'louder' on it. That's all he has to say and you are officially stuffed.
The problem is the law ... how a law that is completely unenforceable and subjective gets passed is beyond me. The only way to fight this is to fight to have the law repealed ... and in today's society, it's just not going to happen (although I encourage EVERYONE to contact their state legislators and protest vehemently against such laws).
I love this country and everything it has to offer, but crap like this seriously makes me consider moving elsewhere ...
By the way, here's a cute little page talking about the proposed MA law before it was passed. I guess the efforts to stop it failed
nice try
Fighting it will just end up wasting your time and sanity because that law is absolutely ridiculous and there's pretty much no way you can win. The way that law is written, if your exhaust system is .00000001 Db over stock, you are guilty ... and the officer only needs to use his 'judgement' to determine that it's been modified to be louder than stock. If you look at the ticket, he actually wrote 'louder' on it. That's all he has to say and you are officially stuffed.
The problem is the law ... how a law that is completely unenforceable and subjective gets passed is beyond me. The only way to fight this is to fight to have the law repealed ... and in today's society, it's just not going to happen (although I encourage EVERYONE to contact their state legislators and protest vehemently against such laws).
I love this country and everything it has to offer, but crap like this seriously makes me consider moving elsewhere ...
By the way, here's a cute little page talking about the proposed MA law before it was passed. I guess the efforts to stop it failed
nice try
Mar 23, 2006 | 12:02 PM
#17
Originally Posted by wingless
I know your not from MA. but maybe you have a similar driving point/ins. premium system?. Does anyone know, or is there a way to tell on the ticket if this is a "moving violation" and if I will get points added to my record?
Mar 24, 2006 | 04:05 PM
#18
This is a link to the SEMA Action Network! http://www.semasan.com/main/main.aspx?ID=61847 This link will tell you the details on what exhaust legislation is active and what is pending. Mass is becoming almost as bad as California.
I am glad I moved to NH 3 weeks ago.
I am glad I moved to NH 3 weeks ago.
Mar 24, 2006 | 06:42 PM
#21
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Watertown, MA
Any moving violation ticket in this gay *** state will put points on ur record....Even the stupid seatbelt tickets put points on our records in MA...always fight every ticket....even tho u may be guilty just fight it anyway....As far as this state goes....I believe it cant be no more than 95db to be considered legal...THis state cares more bout emissions than sound...so just prove that its not affecting your emissions and it mearly increased the sound of your vehicle..tell the judge u put an exhaust on more for show purposes...lol..This state blows....at least u dont live in watertown where i do...they give out more tickets than the entire state police does in one year.....and we're the smallest town in the state as far as im concerned... 4 square miles.....Nice face MA
Mar 24, 2006 | 07:14 PM
#22
This is why I love Ohio because we don't have to deal with stuff like this. I really don't think you would be out of compliance with the exhaust compents that you listed. I know most of the time they have problems with the people that put the test pipe in place of there cat.
Mar 24, 2006 | 10:32 PM
#23
Originally Posted by DevilsEvo666
Any moving violation ticket in this gay *** state will put points on ur record....Even the stupid seatbelt tickets put points on our records in MA...always fight every ticket....even tho u may be guilty just fight it anyway....As far as this state goes....I believe it cant be no more than 95db to be considered legal...THis state cares more bout emissions than sound...so just prove that its not affecting your emissions and it mearly increased the sound of your vehicle..tell the judge u put an exhaust on more for show purposes...lol..This state blows....at least u dont live in watertown where i do...they give out more tickets than the entire state police does in one year.....and we're the smallest town in the state as far as im concerned... 4 square miles.....Nice face MA
Issue: Exhaust Noise/ Muffler
Bill: HB 2011
Status: Active
Location: House Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee
Description: Prohibits the sale, installation, or use of an exhaust system which has been modified in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the exhaust. Excludes antique vehicles.
Author: Representative Malia
Intro Date: 30-Nov-04
Bill Type: Two Year Bill From 2005
Issue: Exhaust Noise/ Muffler
Bill: HB 2253
Status: Active
Location: Transportation Committee
Description: Sets legal maximum limits for exhaust noise at 82dBA for any vehicle, measured at 12 inches from the end of exhaust pipe. Prohibits operation of a vehicle that exceeds this limit.
Author: Representative Connolly
Intro Date: 05-Jan-05
Bill Type: Two Year Bill From 2005
Mass sucks
Mar 24, 2006 | 10:56 PM
#24
Been through this with my Eclipse. I wish you the best of luck. Unfortunately for you, the ticket is not for a LOUD exhaust, but for a MODIFIED exhaust.
Local cops don't really care around here but every once in awhile, a statie with a bug up his *** will pull you over for it if he has nothing better to do.
You can fight it in court but they don't like to drop things like that because then they lose money.
I did end up beating mine but only because I played dumb and said I bought the car from the dealer with that same exhaust on it.
Local cops don't really care around here but every once in awhile, a statie with a bug up his *** will pull you over for it if he has nothing better to do.
You can fight it in court but they don't like to drop things like that because then they lose money.
I did end up beating mine but only because I played dumb and said I bought the car from the dealer with that same exhaust on it.
Mar 26, 2006 | 09:23 AM
#25
Like I said just play dumb. Go into court and say you have stock exhaust. You could always pull a bluff card and say you can come out right now and check out my exhaust I really dont know whats wrong its stock. I highly doubt they will go outside and now your chances of winning the ticket just moved up to i would say 60% rather than the original 0% but good luck let us know what happens.
Mar 26, 2006 | 09:47 AM
#26
They had a law that read almost exactly that in NH for a while , It was revoked as being Unlawful last year, something about the cops werent treating all cars the same. I used to get ticketed all the time in my eclipse. Good luck!! Actually had a cop tell me he pulled me over cause "my exhuast looked like a grapefruit launcher" (apexi N1) Took my ticket and paided my fine, didnt do anything about it.
Sean
Sean
Originally Posted by joshd
For efffs sake. If he doesn't know the law, he shouldn't be allowed to give you a ticket. He should get the frikkin ticket for false arrest.
Which section of the law did he cite you for?
Is it chapter 90 section 16?
Looks like MA managed to pass the same egregious, subjective, BS law that VA has:
No person shall use a muffler cut-out or by-pass. No person shall operate a motor vehicle on any way which motor vehicle is equipped (1) with a muffler from which the baffle plates, screens or other original internal parts have been removed and not replaced; or (2) with an exhaust system which has been modified in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the exhaust
which makes enforcement totally subjective ... basically saying that if it's louder than stock it's illegal. So, does the officer know exactly the DB level of a stock Evo exhaust? Somehow I doubt it ... ARGHHHH
Which section of the law did he cite you for?
Is it chapter 90 section 16?
Looks like MA managed to pass the same egregious, subjective, BS law that VA has:
No person shall use a muffler cut-out or by-pass. No person shall operate a motor vehicle on any way which motor vehicle is equipped (1) with a muffler from which the baffle plates, screens or other original internal parts have been removed and not replaced; or (2) with an exhaust system which has been modified in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the exhaust
which makes enforcement totally subjective ... basically saying that if it's louder than stock it's illegal. So, does the officer know exactly the DB level of a stock Evo exhaust? Somehow I doubt it ... ARGHHHH
Mar 31, 2006 | 09:02 PM
#27
I just got the same ticket as you tonite...where, you ask? On an off ramp in traffic with the car in neutral. There's no way he heard the exhaust. But he made me get out of the car and expalin to him "what's up with that muffler." Also, i have the same chap/Sec/Sub as you but my fine was for $100. Any ideas why this is different than yours?
I tried to be very polite, shut the car off, answer yes sir/no sir...too bad it was a waste of breath. Pay to play...
Any visibility on the points issue? is this gonna affect my SDIP rating of excellent?
I tried to be very polite, shut the car off, answer yes sir/no sir...too bad it was a waste of breath. Pay to play...
Any visibility on the points issue? is this gonna affect my SDIP rating of excellent?
Apr 1, 2006 | 08:40 AM
#30
IMO, its the law that sucks...not the officers. They are just doing their job....granted they should know the law! It does seem that we have become a target tho But opnions are like aholes....everyone has one and alot of them are s*itty 
I'm keeping an eye on the "drive across Mass" forum...if it goes on I'm going to take the family car and sell pens to the troopers..seems like they will be using alot of ink that day
But opnions are like aholes....everyone has one and alot of them are s*itty I'm keeping an eye on the "drive across Mass" forum...if it goes on I'm going to take the family car and sell pens to the troopers..seems like they will be using alot of ink that day