Is Borla exhaust legal in CA?
Basically speaking, if it's before the catalytic converters (intake, headers, or anything on the engine) it needs a CARB number. So a cat-back exhaust or axle-back exhaust only need to meet sound regulations, not emissions.
It's weird that it would be legal in Cali of all places, considering that it's no longer legal here in Mass to modify your exhaust system so that it's louder than stock. They just passed a law about it about 7 or 8 months ago involving exhaust systems here in Mass. I found out about it when I went to get my last inspection sticker on my G35 and I was shooting the **** with the tech doing the inspection and he told me about the stupid new law they just passed. Here is the official wording of it, with the important part bolded and underlined:
This is where I got that from:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/90-16.htm
I guess the bold and underlined portion is open to interpretation.... but it sounds like they legally don't want us Massachusetts people putting aftermarket or "modified" exhaust systems on our cars here in this sh1tty state that I live in. I'm just amazed that we can't, and you cali-people can. Usually the Mass. laws are the same as Cali ones or more lenient.
The crappy part about it is that there is no grandfather clause. If you have had the modded exhaust on your car here in Mass. for for several years, and you went in for a new inspection sticker today... you would fail and need to change it over to a quiet exhaust.... provided that the person doing the inspection does it by the law of the book.
Originally Posted by MASSACHUSETTS LAW
Chapter 90: Section 16. Offensive or illegal operation of motor vehicles
Section 16. No person shall operate a motor vehicle, nor shall any owner of such vehicle permit it to be operated, in or over any way, public or private, whether laid out under authority of law or otherwise, which motor vehicles are prohibited from using, provided notice of such prohibition is conspicuously posted at the entrance to such way. No person shall operate a motor vehicle, nor shall any owner of such vehicle permit it to be operated upon any way, except fire department and fire patrol apparatus, unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a muffler to prevent excessive or unnecessary noise, which muffler is in good working order and in constant operation, and complies with such minimum standards for construction and performance as the registrar may prescribe. No person shall use a muffler cut-out or by-pass. No person shall operate a motor vehicle on any way which motor vehicle is equipped (1) with a muffler from which the baffle plates, screens or other original internal parts have been removed and not replaced; or (2) with an exhaust system which has been modified in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the exhaust. No person operating a motor vehicle shall sound a bell, horn or other device, nor in any manner operate such motor vehicle so as to make a harsh, objectionable or unreasonable noise, nor permit to escape from such vehicle smoke or pollutants in such amounts or at such levels as may violate motor vehicle air pollution control regulations adopted under the provisions of chapter one hundred and eleven. No siren shall be mounted upon any motor vehicle except fire apparatus, ambulances, vehicles used in official line of duty by any member of the police or fire fighting forces of the commonwealth or any agency or political subdivision thereof, and vehicles owned by call fire fighters or by persons with police powers and operated in official line of duty, unless authorized by the registrar. No person shall use on or in connection with any motor vehicle a spot light, so called, the rays from which shine more than two feet above the road at a distance of thirty feet from the vehicle, except that such a spot light may be used for the purpose of reading signs, and as an auxiliary light in cases of necessity when the other lights required by law fail to operate.
No person, except a duly authorized person driving an emergency fire vehicle, shall operate a motor vehicle equipped with metal studded tires upon a public way between May the first and November the first; provided, however, the registrar may authorize the use of such tires before November the first, if weather conditions require the use thereof. Whoever violates the provisions of this paragraph shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars.
Section 16. No person shall operate a motor vehicle, nor shall any owner of such vehicle permit it to be operated, in or over any way, public or private, whether laid out under authority of law or otherwise, which motor vehicles are prohibited from using, provided notice of such prohibition is conspicuously posted at the entrance to such way. No person shall operate a motor vehicle, nor shall any owner of such vehicle permit it to be operated upon any way, except fire department and fire patrol apparatus, unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a muffler to prevent excessive or unnecessary noise, which muffler is in good working order and in constant operation, and complies with such minimum standards for construction and performance as the registrar may prescribe. No person shall use a muffler cut-out or by-pass. No person shall operate a motor vehicle on any way which motor vehicle is equipped (1) with a muffler from which the baffle plates, screens or other original internal parts have been removed and not replaced; or (2) with an exhaust system which has been modified in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the exhaust. No person operating a motor vehicle shall sound a bell, horn or other device, nor in any manner operate such motor vehicle so as to make a harsh, objectionable or unreasonable noise, nor permit to escape from such vehicle smoke or pollutants in such amounts or at such levels as may violate motor vehicle air pollution control regulations adopted under the provisions of chapter one hundred and eleven. No siren shall be mounted upon any motor vehicle except fire apparatus, ambulances, vehicles used in official line of duty by any member of the police or fire fighting forces of the commonwealth or any agency or political subdivision thereof, and vehicles owned by call fire fighters or by persons with police powers and operated in official line of duty, unless authorized by the registrar. No person shall use on or in connection with any motor vehicle a spot light, so called, the rays from which shine more than two feet above the road at a distance of thirty feet from the vehicle, except that such a spot light may be used for the purpose of reading signs, and as an auxiliary light in cases of necessity when the other lights required by law fail to operate.
No person, except a duly authorized person driving an emergency fire vehicle, shall operate a motor vehicle equipped with metal studded tires upon a public way between May the first and November the first; provided, however, the registrar may authorize the use of such tires before November the first, if weather conditions require the use thereof. Whoever violates the provisions of this paragraph shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/90-16.htm
I guess the bold and underlined portion is open to interpretation.... but it sounds like they legally don't want us Massachusetts people putting aftermarket or "modified" exhaust systems on our cars here in this sh1tty state that I live in. I'm just amazed that we can't, and you cali-people can. Usually the Mass. laws are the same as Cali ones or more lenient.
The crappy part about it is that there is no grandfather clause. If you have had the modded exhaust on your car here in Mass. for for several years, and you went in for a new inspection sticker today... you would fail and need to change it over to a quiet exhaust.... provided that the person doing the inspection does it by the law of the book.
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uhh... test pipes omit catalytic converters, doesn't it? therefore that's illegal in any state... this thread is asking about California laws... and under CA laws, legal noise level is 95 decibels... so yes, if you have legal catalytic converters and under 95 db's you are fine...
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uhh... test pipes omit catalytic converters, doesn't it? therefore that's illegal in any state... this thread is asking about California laws... and under CA laws, legal noise level is 95 decibels... so yes, if you have legal catalytic converters and under 95 db's you are fine...
It's weird that it would be legal in Cali of all places, considering that it's no longer legal here in Mass to modify your exhaust system so that it's louder than stock. They just passed a law about it about 7 or 8 months ago involving exhaust systems here in Mass.
I'm just amazed that we can't, and you cali-people can. Usually the Mass. laws are the same as Cali ones or more lenient.
I'm just amazed that we can't, and you cali-people can. Usually the Mass. laws are the same as Cali ones or more lenient.
BTW, I'd be more concerned with the *ss running around messing with people's aftermarket exhausts than I would the law over there...
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/ca...ebody=&hits=20
Cliff notes - It basically says that any exhaust, original or not must be under 95db. If you meet that, then your exhaust is compliant to the law, and therefore the refs shall issue you a certificate of compliance for a fee.
27150. (a) Every motor vehicle subject to registration shall at all
times be equipped with an adequate muffler in constant operation and
properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise, and
no muffler or exhaust system shall be equipped with a cutout, bypass,
or similar device.
(b) Except as provided in Division 16.5 (commencing with Section
38000) with respect to off-highway motor vehicles subject to
identification, every passenger vehicle operated off the highways
shall at all times be equipped with an adequate muffler in constant
operation and properly maintained so as to meet the requirements of
Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 27200), and no muffler or
exhaust system shall be equipped with a cutout, bypass, or similar
device.
(c) The provisions of subdivision (b) shall not be applicable to
passenger vehicles being operated off the highways in an organized
racing or competitive event conducted under the auspices of a
recognized sanctioning body or by permit issued by the local
governmental authority having jurisdiction.
27150.2. (a) Stations providing referee functions pursuant to
Section 44036 of the Health and Safety Code shall provide for the
testing of vehicular exhaust systems and the issuance of certificates
of compliance only for those vehicles that have received a citation
for a violation of Section 27150 or 27151.
(b) A certificate of compliance for a vehicular exhaust system
shall be issued pursuant to subdivision (a) if the vehicle complies
with Sections 27150 and 27151. Exhaust systems installed on motor
vehicles, other than motorcycles, with a manufacturer's gross vehicle
weight rating of less than 6,000 pounds comply with Sections 27150
and 27151 if they emit no more than 95 dbA when tested in accordance
with Society of Automotive Engineers Standard J1169 May 1998.
(c) An exhaust system certificate of compliance issued pursuant to
subdivision (a) shall identify, to the extent possible, the make,
model, year, license number, and vehicle identification number of the
vehicle tested, and the make and model of the exhaust system
installed on the vehicle.
(d) The station shall charge a fee for the exhaust system
certificate of compliance issued pursuant to subdivision (a). The
fee charged shall be calculated to recover the costs incurred by the
Department of Consumer Affairs to implement this section. The fees
charged by the station shall be deposited in the Vehicle Inspection
and Repair Fund established by Section 44062 of the Health and Safety
Code.
(e) Vehicular exhaust systems are exempt from the requirements of
Sections 27150 and 27151 if compliance with those sections, or the
regulations adopted pursuant thereto, would cause an unreasonable
hardship without resulting in a sufficient corresponding benefit with
respect to noise level control.
27151. (a) No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor
vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted
by the motor of the vehicle so that the vehicle is not in compliance
with the provisions of Section 27150 or exceeds the noise limits
established for the type of vehicle in Article 2.5 (commencing with
Section 27200). No person shall operate a motor vehicle with an
exhaust system so modified.
(b) For the purposes of exhaust systems installed on motor
vehicles with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of less
than 6,000 pounds, other than motorcycles, a sound level of 95 dbA or
less, when tested in accordance with Society of Automotive Engineers
Standard J1169 May 1998, complies with this section. Motor vehicle
exhaust systems or parts thereof include, but are not limited to,
nonoriginal exhaust equipment.
times be equipped with an adequate muffler in constant operation and
properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise, and
no muffler or exhaust system shall be equipped with a cutout, bypass,
or similar device.
(b) Except as provided in Division 16.5 (commencing with Section
38000) with respect to off-highway motor vehicles subject to
identification, every passenger vehicle operated off the highways
shall at all times be equipped with an adequate muffler in constant
operation and properly maintained so as to meet the requirements of
Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 27200), and no muffler or
exhaust system shall be equipped with a cutout, bypass, or similar
device.
(c) The provisions of subdivision (b) shall not be applicable to
passenger vehicles being operated off the highways in an organized
racing or competitive event conducted under the auspices of a
recognized sanctioning body or by permit issued by the local
governmental authority having jurisdiction.
27150.2. (a) Stations providing referee functions pursuant to
Section 44036 of the Health and Safety Code shall provide for the
testing of vehicular exhaust systems and the issuance of certificates
of compliance only for those vehicles that have received a citation
for a violation of Section 27150 or 27151.
(b) A certificate of compliance for a vehicular exhaust system
shall be issued pursuant to subdivision (a) if the vehicle complies
with Sections 27150 and 27151. Exhaust systems installed on motor
vehicles, other than motorcycles, with a manufacturer's gross vehicle
weight rating of less than 6,000 pounds comply with Sections 27150
and 27151 if they emit no more than 95 dbA when tested in accordance
with Society of Automotive Engineers Standard J1169 May 1998.
(c) An exhaust system certificate of compliance issued pursuant to
subdivision (a) shall identify, to the extent possible, the make,
model, year, license number, and vehicle identification number of the
vehicle tested, and the make and model of the exhaust system
installed on the vehicle.
(d) The station shall charge a fee for the exhaust system
certificate of compliance issued pursuant to subdivision (a). The
fee charged shall be calculated to recover the costs incurred by the
Department of Consumer Affairs to implement this section. The fees
charged by the station shall be deposited in the Vehicle Inspection
and Repair Fund established by Section 44062 of the Health and Safety
Code.
(e) Vehicular exhaust systems are exempt from the requirements of
Sections 27150 and 27151 if compliance with those sections, or the
regulations adopted pursuant thereto, would cause an unreasonable
hardship without resulting in a sufficient corresponding benefit with
respect to noise level control.
27151. (a) No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor
vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted
by the motor of the vehicle so that the vehicle is not in compliance
with the provisions of Section 27150 or exceeds the noise limits
established for the type of vehicle in Article 2.5 (commencing with
Section 27200). No person shall operate a motor vehicle with an
exhaust system so modified.
(b) For the purposes of exhaust systems installed on motor
vehicles with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of less
than 6,000 pounds, other than motorcycles, a sound level of 95 dbA or
less, when tested in accordance with Society of Automotive Engineers
Standard J1169 May 1998, complies with this section. Motor vehicle
exhaust systems or parts thereof include, but are not limited to,
nonoriginal exhaust equipment.
27150.3. (a) A person may not modify the exhaust system of a motor
vehicle with a whistle-tip.
(b) A person may not operate a motor vehicle if that vehicle's
exhaust system is modified in violation of subdivision (a).
(c) A person may not engage in the business of installing a
whistle-tip onto a motor vehicle's exhaust system.
(d) For purposes of subdivisions (a) and (c), a "whistle-tip" is a
device that is applied to, or is a modification of, a motor vehicle'
s exhaust pipe for the sole purpose of creating a high-pitched or
shrieking noise when the motor vehicle is operated.
vehicle with a whistle-tip.
(b) A person may not operate a motor vehicle if that vehicle's
exhaust system is modified in violation of subdivision (a).
(c) A person may not engage in the business of installing a
whistle-tip onto a motor vehicle's exhaust system.
(d) For purposes of subdivisions (a) and (c), a "whistle-tip" is a
device that is applied to, or is a modification of, a motor vehicle'
s exhaust pipe for the sole purpose of creating a high-pitched or
shrieking noise when the motor vehicle is operated.
Last edited by dofu; Feb 5, 2009 at 08:36 AM.
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