[CSM3]

Hey Guys,

So a friend of mine got in to a car accident today, and i drove out to the site to help her out with the towing and other paperwork. We decided to follow the tow truck back BMW Herb Chambers Boston when a state trooper pulls me over near medford. I had drove past him at 5mph MAX.

He comes to my window with a tint meter, and i kinda guessed what was about to happen. The thing is, i had just FOUR DAYS AGO purchased this vehicle AS - IS from another state, and had only just registered it in Massachusetts yesterday.

I showed him all the paper work, but he came at me with
1. No front plate.
2. Harsh Exhaust noise
3. Aftermarket Exhaust
4. Illegal Tints.

For a total fine of $300. He was kinda harsh at the beginning when he issued the ticket, but i was respectful and he kinda warmed up to me a little. Explaining that i should fight this in court, and bring the car down to court, for him to see that "i MADE IT ALL RIGHT". He went on to elaborate on how an aftermarket exhaust can pollute the environment, and disturb the peace. Either way. He told me that my 335, should have NO OTHER EXHAUST but the one that a BMW 335 should have. I told him that i bought the car with this exhaust and i dont have the stock one. He told me i had to fix it, and also told me to tell all my friends about what he told me today (about modifying cars). He was a pretty friendly guy at the end, so no hard feelings but i can't help feeling cheated.

I got to BMW HC, and told the techs about it. They laughed and told me that the troopers claims were ridiculous. As long as it passes inspection, i should be fine. Anyway, i am on vanguard V2s right now, and i am thinking of getting a used akrapovic, or the BMW performance exhaust (just to be on the safe side). What do you guys think?

[cyphr]

The trooper's claims may have been ridiculous, but mass law is pretty clear about aftermarket exhausts. A lowered suspension is also grounds for a ticket so if you're running aftermarket springs/shocks, I'd try to be glad that you didn't get hit with that as well. Yep, mass hates modified cars.

Vanguard exhaust is pretty loud, no? Going akra will not solve your problem. The PE is a bit tamer but opens up under throttle. That would be my recommendation. VRSF is local, and I'm sure you could PM Tiago to see if you can hear their exhaust in person. No direct experience with them but I hear good things.

[Hadley]

I thought the Vanguard system was really loud compared to the PE and Akra

I would get the PE, and since it is an OEM system, it would be interesting to see them fight that. I have one on my car and it sounds great

[dave96dcm]

He is telling the truth. Look up the law. Mass has horribly stupid laws on altered exhaust.

[SM335i]

I hate our laws.

[zero2sixtyZ]

+1. Our modification laws are terrible. However, unless you know someone to help, I'd suggest appealing as a fix it ticket after you've thrown on some OEM parts.

Exhaust: Go PE or maybe OEM, then go with what you want, but be careful as you may run into this again. After buying this car, I plan on keeping the OEM with exhaust mod for a while.

Tint: Have it removed and then throw on 35%. My last car was originally from Florida, sold to me and inspected by a Nissan dealership, and then found out it was 20% once I got pulled over. Had Solar Solutions remove it... appealed the ticket, then threw on 35%.

We can't enjoy being enthusiasts in this state, and must be surrounded by idiots in Priuses.

[Down_Shift]

Unfortunately any modified exhaust that is louder than stock is illegal.

Louder is opinion and relative. But they are pretty strict on the modified part. From personal experience. If you appeal. Someone will check your exhaust outside.

You can't blame the state for having the law. It's the ricers with overly loud exhausts and the idiots that rev the crap out of their cars that ruin it for all of us.

The ticket isn't bad. But the moving violation on insurance is what hurts the most.


Front plate is a freebie to the cops. I've gotten so many in the past driving in Boston it's just no worth leaving the front plate off. I think there's a petition going around for this one though. Easy to get out of (just put it back on and appeal) but I've had the magistrate call me out as a repeat offender before. It's just not worth a morning wasted sitting at the court house.

Find a stocker. Throw it on. Get out of the ticket saying you fixed it after realizing it wasn't stock. Then put whatever you want on if you must have a modified exhaust.

With all the construction going on. I'd also be careful driving past details. My friend has gotten an exhaust ticket in the mail before off storrow. I've gotten a head light bulb out ticket in the mail at kenmore also.

[infidel335]

I have a muffler delete and I usually throw it in neutral when I pass a cop here.

[zero2sixtyZ]

Oh, and the inspection thing holds no value anymore. They don't do sniffer tests anymore, but the cops know as long as you don't have a code, you probably know a "guy". Grab one of the tow hook mounts for the front plate and call it a day.

[CSM3]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I am getting rid of the exhaust and have already ordered a front plate for the car, tints will be gone by next week. Trouble is i decided to go with an akrapovic exhaust, because its more bang for buck then the perf exhaust, and supposedly quieter (claims the seller). Will see how that goes and if not, i might have to borrow a stock exhaust from someone here if possible.

So btw i have vanguard V2 exhaust for sale now. Anyone interested? With cats on its really not that bad!

[dwells]

This type of thing really pisses me off. We get harassed, but I can't even count the number of times I've watched modified beater Civics with fart cans and blinding blue HIDs dropped in reflector housing cruise past a statie without the trooper doing a damn thing. But hey, if you're doing ten over in a car that's safer at ten over then most other cars on the road are at the speed limit, get ready for a ticket.

Just goes to show how the laws and the enforcement are about profit, not about protecting or serving the public.

[SM335i]

I got a ticket for "aftermarket tail lights" before on my old Mazda 6, but the tail lights were OEM, went to court, no matter how I tried, they found me guilty and I got 2 points for that. Non moving violations are minimum of 2 points in mass..

[PSEE]

what about all of the A**HOLES riding harleys?

can you say STRAIGHT PIPES?!?!?

[zero2sixtyZ]

Originally Posted by SM335i

I got a ticket for "aftermarket tail lights" before on my old Mazda 6, but the tail lights were OEM, went to court, no matter how I tried, they found me guilty and I got 2 points for that. Non moving violations are minimum of 2 points in mass..

Wow. That is ridiculous.

[dkexige]

This thread makes me sad

[Envuks]

Originally Posted by PSEE

what about all of the A**HOLES riding harleys?

can you say STRAIGHT PIPES?!?!?

Motorcycles can have as loud of an exhaust as they want in the name of safety..... Worst laws ever here in MA

[Down_Shift]

Originally Posted by Envuks

Motorcycles can have as loud of an exhaust as they want in the name of safety..... Worst laws ever here in MA

Truth on motorcycles. Sound saves lives in blind spots lol

[Dosturbos]

The law should account for the tastefulness of the mods. Fart cannon on a ricer, instant 500 dollar fine.
Personally, I have downpipes with stock exhaust, plenty loud when I get on it, and very nice sounding, but not an overbearing exhaust note when cruising around town.
Fucking staties!

Originally Posted by dwells

This type of thing really pisses me off. We get harassed, but I can't even count the number of times I've watched modified beater Civics with fart cans and blinding blue HIDs dropped in reflector housing cruise past a statie without the trooper doing a damn thing. But hey, if you're doing ten over in a car that's safer at ten over then most other cars on the road are at the speed limit, get ready for a ticket.

Just goes to show how the laws and the enforcement are about profit, not about protecting or serving the public.

[Ruca]

Got pulled over last night just north of Boston, I have a V1 and know the trooper didn't have his radar on. He pulled me over and cited me for 80 in a 65 using "passed" as a reason and gave me a warning on my exhaust, I had no idea they were so strict in Mass.

[PSEE]

straight pipes on harleys or anything else are illegal in MA.

it's a myth that loud exhaust is a safety feature. I rode a motorcycle for 10 years with a quiet stock exhaust - no issues.

if you don't ride like an a**hole - like many harley riders - then you don't have to worry about people 'accidentally' running you over...

[zero2sixtyZ]

Originally Posted by PSEE

straight pipes on harleys or anything else are illegal in MA.

it's a myth that loud exhaust is a safety feature. I rode a motorcycle for 10 years with a quiet stock exhaust - no issues.

if you don't ride like an a**hole - like many harley riders - then you don't have to worry about people 'accidentally' running you over...

That is great to know, as I'd like more reason to drop kick my neighbor who starts up his Harley at 2 AM for five minutes then goes back to bed.

[SilverGSX]

Originally Posted by Envuks

Motorcycles can have as loud of an exhaust as they want in the name of safety..... Worst laws ever here in MA

Not true. Believe it or not, motorcycles must abide by a decibel limit in MA. Police just clearly look the other way on 99% of the bikes out there.