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Maryland exhaust laws?

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Old Mar 7, 2009 | 10:20 AM
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Maryland exhaust laws?

It seems (just recently) that I and many of my friends have been getting pulled over alot for no other reason except having a "aftermarket exhaust". WTF? When did this become Maryland state law? I guess its time for a cutout switch!
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Old Mar 7, 2009 | 11:20 AM
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I'm sure the law was there, they just never pulled anyone over. A cutout switch would probably be a good idea.
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Old Mar 7, 2009 | 11:23 AM
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I know here in VA, cutouts are illegal, but then again, if they don't know you have it, well, you get the picture.
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Old Mar 7, 2009 | 10:24 PM
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As far as I know, my police buddies can pull anyone over if they think the exhaust is too loud or can pull you over if the exhaust appears to be modified, so they can write you a repair order. Just like many things, it depends if the cop is between doughnut breaks or on his way TO the doughnut break....
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Old Mar 8, 2009 | 11:33 AM
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Yeah I'm tired of being pulled over...its time to go wingless, stick a fake OEM rear muffler in the back (to cover up the real exhaust) and a cutout switch. Maryland cops are such fat lazy pigs with nothing else to do except pull people over for no reason.
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Old Mar 8, 2009 | 11:34 AM
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You're not alone dude..we go through the same **** in NY...
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Old Mar 8, 2009 | 05:48 PM
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Originally Posted by sonicnofadz
It seems (just recently) that I and many of my friends have been getting pulled over alot for no other reason except having a "aftermarket exhaust". WTF? When did this become Maryland state law? I guess its time for a cutout switch!
Maryland is a fan of squeezing every drop out of its residents. I got a fine for not having my sidewalk cleared of snow in a timely fashion from last week's storm. What's in your wallet?
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Old Mar 8, 2009 | 06:46 PM
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Yeah I guess I just have to make my Evo "cop proof". Sigh, I don't know who the hell passes these laws but its gotten to the point where you can't pop a fart without being fined by the man. Argh.
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Old Mar 9, 2009 | 05:28 AM
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Originally Posted by redbyme
As far as I know, my police buddies can pull anyone over if they think the exhaust is too loud or can pull you over if the exhaust appears to be modified, so they can write you a repair order.
That's pretty much how it is. Basically anything anything that is not OEM or OEM equivalent (i.e. anything aftermarket) is illegal. With a loud exhaust next to a cop that's set on stopping you there's not much you can do, it depends on the cop really. However, many cops are car/bike guys and are cool as long as you are not driving in a way that draws attention.

My Evo got a stock exhaust but with my Supra I've been chased down from just the shine of my old HKS Drager exhaust while sitting and idling at a light. Since then, I got an even louder HKS Titanium exhaust and have had cops behind me and next to me without any issues. What's kinda funny too is that our neighbour that just moved in next door is a cop with 2 roommates who are also cops. So far they're cool but I've gotten curious stares from them when I start it up and back it out of the garage. Yeah, it's loud!
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Old Mar 9, 2009 | 12:13 PM
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It's BS that harleys can deafen people but anything else with modded exhaust gets ticketed.
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Old Mar 9, 2009 | 12:18 PM
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I have heard about this too. But luckily haven't gotten pulled over and ticketed for it. A woman cop in columbia pulled me over for not having a front tag and comented that my "modified" exhaust was not legal. That is the only time it has been mentioned to me though and it was right after I had polished the titanium so it was extra blue and shiny looking so it must have caught her eye
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Old Mar 9, 2009 | 12:24 PM
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Yeah, I have had the same problem where I live in Maryland. City police are strict about it, sherriff's and state troopers don't seem to care. Trucks, mustangs, Harley's never get a second look but imports get pulled over all the time here.

The actual law that I was cited for states that an exhaust can not be modified so that it is louder than the stock exhaust. Since none of the police I got pulled over by had a decipel reader or a stock EVO to compare my exhaust to I don't know how they would prove that my exhaust was actually louder in court? For me it was just easier to pay the $65 and be done with it. Just seems like a big grey area which allows for cops to take out personal grudges on imports.
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Old Mar 9, 2009 | 12:35 PM
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From: Clarksville, MD
Originally Posted by Legal Citation
§ 46.2-1049. Exhaust system in good working order.

No person shall drive and no owner of a motor vehicle shall permit or allow the operation of any vehicle on a highway unless it is equipped with an exhaust system of a type installed as standard factory equipment, or comparable to that designed for use on the particular vehicle as standard factory equipment, in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise. An exhaust system shall not be deemed to prevent excessive or unusual noise if it permits the escape of noise in excess of that permitted by the standard factory equipment exhaust system of private passenger motor vehicles or trucks of standard make.

The term "exhaust system," as used in this section, means all the parts of a motor vehicle through which the exhaust passes after leaving the engine block.

Chambered pipes are not an effective muffling device to prevent excessive or unusual noise.
One could argue here that as long as it's not louder than some given mass production, factory standard, passenger car or truck that you're not breaking the law. Most likely though, the judge will take his digression in how he/she interprets that line. I'd venture to guess you're fine as long as your - over all - noise level is < 94db
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Old Mar 9, 2009 | 12:38 PM
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All they see at first is the wing, it catches their eye. After a friend of mine took his wing off, he hasn't been pulled over.
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Old Mar 10, 2009 | 09:34 AM
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It also depends on specifically where you live in Maryland. I live about 3 miles from Crapitol so there are TONS of loud *** cars on Route 3. I would bet an honest day's paycheck that in the process of pulling me over half a dozen cars/trucks would pass by far louder then my TurboXS exhaust...
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