It’s one of the first things car enthusiasts do to a modern project. They add a partial or full exhaust system and other bolt-on modifications to help their vehicle pick up a few extra ponies and breathe easier. Better yet, most aftermarket pipes will add sound, tone, and dare I say, music to your machine. However, if you’re not careful, your pipes could land you in hot water with the authorities. 

Your exhaust system could be just enough or more than enough to snag some attention from the police

Unfortunately for car enthusiasts, law enforcement is looking for noisy, disruptive vehicles. That means cracking down on loud exhaust systems. According to the SEMA Action Network, most states “use of muffler that emits ‘excessive or unusual’ noise.” However, some states, like Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, and New York, add prohibitions for modifications that produce “more noise than the original, factory-installed muffler.”

Fortunately, many aftermarket companies will post stats and videos about the loudness of their exhaust systems. However, even with videos and decibel meter readings, your aftermarket pipes might sing right past the loudness limits of certain communities.

Now, admittedly, I owned an S197 Ford Mustang Bullitt in Northern Kentucky for a couple of years. While the Bullitt’s Ford Racing H-pipe was plenty sonorous, I installed Roush axle-backs. With the addition of the Roush system, the special edition Mustang certainly made a modified sound. However, I didn’t once receive a citation for emitting “more noise than the original, factory-installed muffler.”

However, some places in the United States might take issue with your car even if your exhaust system is bone-stock. For instance, New York City authorities use decibel (dB) measuring camera technology to bust noise-makers. However, some of these cameras are catching factory-fresh performance cars as they downshift or accelerate.

In one such case, a driver in a 997-generation Porsche 911 received multiple tickets for his stock exhaust system. According to the driver, he earned one of the 85-dB noise violation notices for downshifting and adding revs in his stock Porsche. Tragically, NYC bestows an $800 citation on drivers for a first-time violation. Subsequent violations could net drivers a tidy $2,500 ticket from the police.

We recommend learning the vehicle noise regulations of your state. Additionally, spirited drivers should be mindful of dB-capturing equipment if they want to avoid a spendy citation.