So I was at a BBQ and one of my old friends who joined the LAPD was there.

I showed him my shiny 05 black STi and for shizs and giggles I had him do a under hood inspection. First of all if he was on patrol, he would pull me over for the modified exhaust, I have a BPM TBE. On that alone he would ask me to open my hood because of the exhaust tip. If I refused he could impound the car! He says the modified exhaust is the only probable cause he would need.

He poked around and pointed at my GFB Stealth BOV and says that's stock. Then he asked what it did. I lied to him saying it was a bypass valve for the turbo. He then saw the Injen CAI and noted the CARB sticker on it and says that's okay. He skimmed past the DP but didn't say anything, neither did I.

He asked about my exhaust and I said it was a cat-back. He says thats illegal! Then I explained to him that the factory cat converter was still there and it's just everything after it. Then he said, "oh, then it's okay". He looked under the car and saw the high flow cat that was there. Then he says that I put the silencer in my fart can. And I told him it was too loud without it (which it was).

I had him look at my interior. He didn't say anything was wrong. I have a TT and a center gauge pod.

He told me some tips on being stealthy.

Don't put any aftermarket company logo stickers or logo license plate frames on your car. That can be probable cause for him. He mentioned a car he pulled over with modified exhaust. He asked the driver to open the trunk because he had NOS stickers on his car. Low and behold there was a NOS bottle there.

Hide any toggle switches in the armrest or anywhere out of sight. Having a toggle switch in plain sight can give him probable cause to check your trunk.

Install your front license plate. Number one reason why most cars are pulled over. Shoot my dad got a ticket from Parking Enforcement when his car was parked in the street because he didn't have a front plate.

 

nice tips.

 

thanks for the info

 

just because you have a mod exhaust? man that sucks...

 

That is good info

 

I was under the impression as well that unless your car is certified by the California Air Resources Board(CARB) it was illegal. Before a part is legal for use the manufacturer must prove to CARB that it does not increase emissions at all. The process usually takes 6 months to a year. Part of your court mandated smog test includes the referee checking the car for any aftermarket parts. If he finds any without CARB cert. You fail. If you pass inspection with parts that don't have a CARB # and assume that those parts are just magically OK, don't. Assume the ref missed it. If I'm right about all this and I think I am. It's odd. Since I live in TX and all where no one gives a **** about emissions. I'm moving to LA in a week tho, so I had to read up.

 

its 10k$ to get carb to even test the part

 

A real cat-back exhaust does not tamper with emissions since the factory cats are still present.

I did test fitting on my previous car with Thermal R&D and they told me they do not need a CARB number since the factory cats are still present. All they worried about was if the exhaust met the 95 decibal sound level legal requirement.

What irks me is that a officer can pull you over if your exhaust tip looks weird to them and call you on a modified exhaust. My thoughts is that if it's just a cat-back, they can look under your car and see the factory cat still there. If it is still there, the exhaust gases haven't really been tampered with so there goes their probable cause. They might dick you and write you up on a illegal LOUD exhaust anyways.

Yes, L.A. sucks. All this regulation and enforcement and I still see a thick layer of gray mist covering my area.

 

no the cops are society of automotive engeers certified to give hte 95db test

so they have to guesstemate and going on that give you a ticket to go to the ref

harleys semis and busses are exempt because they are diesel city car and make less polution than cars so they get to do what ever they want