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So i got a little ticket.

12K views 55 replies 39 participants last post by  hutch1200 
#1 ·
SO i go pulled over because of my exhaust, i have the exhaust kit from rustys with the flowmaster 40. The tickets for 100 because of excessive noise when im driving. Im obviously gonna appeal it, now what are somethings i should bring up, just pretty much that it is a muffler i still have a working cat, therefor its legal.
What is some good stuff i should bring up?

oh BTW i live in mass.
 
#3 ·
it was proubly just a pissed off cop. take it to corut and show them that all of your exhust is fully opperational. they will proubly let you off.
 
#4 ·
First I would find out what the law states. Usually it will say something like "100 decibels at 100 feet" or something like that. Try to borrow or purchase (at Radio shack or the like) a decibel meter. Find an open parking lot, measure of the exact distance and take a few measurements with the meter. If you are under the legal limit, then write everything down and show it to the judge.

If you are over the limit, then you might have to take a different route. Ask how did the officer know you were over the limit? Did he have anything to actually measure it?

Just because a cop gives you a ticket, doesn't mean you broke a law. That is for the courts to decide.
 
#5 ·
he didnt measure it. He pretty much pulled me over said where am i coming from, and asked me why i peeled out coming out of a off ramp, which i replied by saying its pretty slippery and its snowing out. then he went to his car for l;ike 10 minutes probably trying to find a reason to ticket me. Then he asked about my exhaust and i just said its legal, he made me tap the gas and he said it wasnt, i giggled.

**** him, im going to court.

It was a citation for 100
 
#8 ·
scott96xj said:
he didnt measure it. He pretty much pulled me over said where am i coming from, and asked me why i peeled out coming out of a off ramp, which i replied by saying its pretty slippery and its snowing out. then he went to his car for l;ike 10 minutes probably trying to find a reason to ticket me. Then he asked about my exhaust and i just said its legal, he made me tap the gas and he said it wasnt, i giggled.
**** him, im going to court.

It was a citation for 100
:laugh: :laugh: for some reason that seems extreemly funny this morning
 
#9 ·
scott96xj said:
South eastern mass, near Taunton if you know the area.

Yea i think its ridic, it was last night
Make sure you mention the fact that he pulled you over for spinning your tires in the middle of a snowstorm. I hate massachusetts police with a passion.

You should be able to get it thrown out pretty easily .... I would hope :(
 
#12 ·
pro street jeep said:
fight it. if he pulled you over for spinning your tires that what the ticket should be for. not sound ordinance.
Massachusetts as a ton of "Secondary offense" laws. In which if they pull you over for something, they can hit you with a few more things. Simply because you were pulled over (Primary offense), they can start heading into Secondary offense territory.
 
#13 ·
We drive around with no cats/mufflers here and dont know what noise violations are.

That sucks man, sounds like a vehicle-nazi state.
 
#14 ·
Cops never cease to amaze me. Most of them are on power trips. I had one watch me take my seat belt off to get my license out for him and he then went back to his care a proceeded to give me a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt. I would definitely fight that because unless the cop has some solid way of proving that your exhaust was illegal you will get off. Cops think that most people won't fight because they don't know the law.
 
#18 ·
pro street jeep said:
fight it. if he pulled you over for spinning your tires that what the ticket should be for. not sound ordinance.
thats a bad idea, atleast down here in Florida...

spinning your tires down here is considered "highway racing" and has an automatic court date, along with large fines, big points, and possible criminal charges(jail time) if it is not your first offence...

i would pay the damn sound ticket and shut my mouth....
 
#19 ·
n20jeep said:
thats a bad idea, atleast down here in Florida...

spinning your tires down here is considered "highway racing" and has an automatic court date, along with large fines, big points, and possible criminal charges(jail time) if it is not your first offence...

i would pay the damn sound ticket and shut my mouth....
dang that sucks.... I would think that spinning your tires in snow would fall under the failure to controll, rather than racing. but it all depends on the cop and his mood at the time.
 
#21 ·
when i had my wrangler (drag jeep too) a FHP was next to me stopped at a light. he was looking at me when the light turned green i launced it but not to hard and didnt go over the seed limit (55) and he did nothing. not for sound or excessive acceleration.
 
#23 ·
scott96xj said:
he didnt measure it. He pretty much pulled me over said where am i coming from, and asked me why i peeled out coming out of a off ramp, which i replied by saying its pretty slippery and its snowing out. then he went to his car for l;ike 10 minutes probably trying to find a reason to ticket me. Then he asked about my exhaust and i just said its legal, he made me tap the gas and he said it wasnt, i giggled.

**** him, im going to court.

It was a citation for 100
Do this BEFORE you go to court if it's not too much work...

- Take a picture of your exhaust...try to make it one long shot so you can see your cat AND muffler in the same shot.

- If you recently had an emissions inspection (with the *new* exhaust on) then bring that.

- Print off the Rusty's add for the exhaust kit you bought, receipt too if you have it.

- Print of the specs of the Flowmaster muffler (from the Flowmaster site).

- Take a few pics of the scene where you "peeled out", or "lost traction" as you should phrase it....(i.e. take pics of the ice/snow by the on ramp...if there is none...well improvise, then take pic). Tell the judge your "vehicle is older and is not equipped with electronic traction control or a mechanical limited slip differential" -- so it is "unpredictable at times in bad weather."

If you show up in court will all of that info and respectfully (i.e. wear a tie) present it to the judge then he will throw it out no prob. If you show up all pissed off and mad at the arse-hole cop that decided to F with you that day, then better bring your check book b/c the judge will stand up for the cop. That's just how it works.
 
#46 ·
Do this BEFORE you go to court if it's not too much work...

- Take a picture of your exhaust...try to make it one long shot so you can see your cat AND muffler in the same shot.

- Print off the Rusty's add for the exhaust kit you bought, receipt too if you have it.

That's just how it works.
Congratulations, you not only just gave him advice on how to lose the case, but also had him do all the prosecutions work for them.

Massachusetts does not allow ANY aftermarket exhausts. It doesn't matter if it's louder or softer or what. If it's not OEM it's a fine and 2 points on your license.

That's just how it works.
 
#25 ·
As of 4/24 the ticket was dismissed.

It was my first ticket so that was the cops excuse for letting it go. I showed him all the flowmaster stuff and he proceded to say that just because they sell it doesn't mean its legal.

whatever, i'm just paranoid whenever i drive by cops now.
 
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