I was driving home today going somewhere between the 25-35mph range when I passed a county cop while going through an intersection. As I drove through it, I saw lights flick on and within a few seconds later he had me pulled over. He was a complete dick and kept using the phrase 'sooped up car.' He told me my exhaust was illegal and that any 'tampering' with a car's exhaust is illegal. I live in the state of Georgia.

The Georgia code regarding exhaust is listed below. It doesn't specifically say anything about aftermarket exhaust, it basically just states that you have to have an exhaust in good working and cosmetic condition.. although it does say manufacturers, etc. should not sell aftermarket exhausts, but nothing about personal use is stated.
Has anyone else had this problem, or even better, has anyone else from Georgia? In you guy's opinions, is it even worth fighting? If the ticket is a $50 ticket I'm probably not even going to worry about it, but the cop had no clue as to how much it would be.

I'm running a greddy RS cat-back exhaust, dual mufflers. Greddy claims all their 'street legal' products are 50 state legal. Should that weigh into the factors?
http://greddy.com/products/exhausts/...er:model:350Z/

He was a younger guy, seemed like he was displaying a little Z envy.

Thanks.

GA CODE:

40-8-71.

(a) Every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with an exhaust system, in good working order and in constant operation, meeting the following specifications:

(1) The exhaust system shall include the piping leading from the flange of the exhaust manifold to and including the muffler or mufflers and tail pipes;

(2) The use of flexible pipe shall be prohibited except on diesel tractors or according to manufacturers´ original specifications;

(3) The exhaust emission point shall extend beyond the rear or outside of the passenger compartment. The trunk shall be considered as part of the passenger compartment;

(4) The exhaust system and its elements shall be securely fastened, including the consideration of missing or broken hangers; and

(5) There shall be no part of the exhaust system passing through the passenger compartment or any exposed stack so located that any individual entering or leaving the vehicle may be burned.

(b) The engine and power mechanism of every motor vehicle shall be so equipped and adjusted as to prevent the escape of excessive fumes or smoke.

(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale any muffler which causes excessive or unusual noise or annoying smoke or any muffler cutout, bypass, or similar device for use on a motor vehicle or for any person to use, to sell, or to offer for sale any motor vehicle equipped with any such muffler, muffler cutout, bypass, or similar device. Any person violating this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

 

What a dick. Id be pissed and prob fight it just to win easily but it's your call. $50 isn't bad.

 

Don't pay. That quote right there should allow you to win I am assuming. I don't think its illegal and I feel like he was just being a dick and jealous of your "sooped up car" lol.

 

I've been reading up and most people are saying that it's a $145-$185 ticket and the only real way to get it dismissed is to re-install my stock exhaust. Gotta love it.

The only thing I'm worried about is that by '50 state street legal' they might only be referring to emissions etc.. although it does specifically refer to decibels.
'GReddy maintains a full line of CARB exempt 50-state legal performance products in addition to the race only products designed and intended for off-highway use. Our street exhaust systems have been designed and tested to give you the maximum amount of performance and meet the SAE sound test of no more than 95dBA.'

 

What county? As long as it's not too much in the sticks, I would say the chances of getting out of it are excellent (granted, if you're respectful in court to everyone you talk to about it). Call the number on the ticket to find out the fine when you can anyway, but even if it ends up being $50, you still may want to go so that it doesn't stick around on your record.... though I doubt it'll be that small of a fine anyway

 

I don't think after market exhausts would be illegal. Not having exhausts or cats, where you would fail emissions is what is illegal.

 

Ask for legal representation from Greddy. They could use this case as leverage to potential buyers. Yes its a $50 ticket. I guarantee Harley's do not get ticketed. Stick it to the rookie cop! what a waste of cop. Im pissed for you.

Also i bet if you show up in court and ask for a trial then judge will just dismiss it. Bring pictures of the exhaust that shows the Catylictic converters are still on it and the mufflers are not cut off.

Man what a DICK!

 

"Improper Exhaust"

What'd it do? Put it's elbows on the table?

Unfortunately, I don't think you'll get out of this one. I know in CA, any modifications to the exhaust making it louder than OEM can be considered illegal. You may be able to fight it if you had an exhaust that looked like stock, but the dual cans are pretty obvious. Maybe Georgia's different, but .

 

Georgia of all places?? wow what a dick! dont pay it

 

easy
guy with a Z is banging his wife, clearly he is taking it out of you just by association.

I'd fight it out of pure principle and to educate him. also if its a route you take often and he patrols it often he's gonna keep getting at you for the other Z guy banging his wife.

 

Sorry OP for banging this officer's young hot wife. He's just upset with seeing me speed off .

 

Yeah, it actually was in a pretty rural county; it wasn't in my home county.

Yeah, especially considering the law in which he cited me as breaking states nothing about aftermarket exhaust.

That's just the thing, greddy promises that all their exhausts are legal in all 50 states regarding noise levels. Although, he didn't mention anything on the ticket about decibels/noise, literally just 'improper exhaust,' which there is nothing in the code he cited me for that would make my exhaust 'improper.'

I'm going to contact them tomorrow and see what they can do! Thanks for the support. I'm gonna collect my evidence and see where it goes.


Props to the guy banging his wife, sure she's a sweetheart.

Was she worth the ticket you're going to help me pay?


I've decided to call a few local exhaust shops and see if they'll take a look at my exhaust and make sure it complies with the rules that are a part of the code he cited me for. They shouldn't find anything that is 'improper' with my exhaust. Hopefully they'll give me some sort of tangible evidence proving that my exhaust is coherent with the specific law I 'broke.' I'm also going to give greddy a call and see if they can provide some sort of help considering they do endorse their products to be completely legal. I'm also thinking taking some pictures of my exhaust would do well in court if everything checks out. Although they are a little bulky, they do have the cats and everything needed to pass emissions, and are in good cosmetic and working condition.

Anything else you guys can think of that could possibly strengthen my case?
Thanks for the input,
Cheers.

 

stupid cops. wrote me a 200 dollar ticked for my exhaust..i cussed him out now i get to go to court

 

damn talk about a dick move. hope you can get away and avoid paying any type of fine.

 

Sounds like the Greddy exhaust fits all those requirements. Do some reading, show up in court, and state your findings. If you find nothing negative, then BAM...

 

This happened to me, I showed the cop the receipt and how it said 50 state legal and he just let me go

 

goodluck man

 

Tell me about it, the more I think about it, the more ridiculous it seems.

Yeah, it does! I'm going to do my homework and show out in court. F**k the system.

That's actually really promising, cheers.

I appreciate it.

 

dude thats california and they have bar none, no questions asked, the dumbest laws in the world. not just on cars either. there is no other state that has as many severely restrictive car laws as CA. **** that state.

 

Take photos of your car that show your license plate and the mufflers/exhaust. Try to also get a pic of under the car that shows taht your exhaust is intact. Bring the Greddy promo material that shows it as 50 state legal, etc. If possible, bring your receipt/invoice for the exhaust as further proof that the Greddy is what you have.

If you don't get out of this, you're either very unlucky or did something wrong in court lol