FL exhaust laws?

[BillTheCat]

Anyone in here know the FL statutes on exhaust mods? I just brought home a "new to me" Supra from Kentucky, with plans to change or modify a lot of parts on the car. One of those plans was to slightly "de-mod" the exhaust, as it is an HKS Dragger 3" grapefruit launcher- a look I don't care for. Pic:

Well, less than 24 hours after getting the car home, and before I could even get it registered, Tampa PD pulled me over & informed me that "anything aftermarket" is illegal in the exhaust department.

Now, he didn't issue a citation, and when pressed for details, he relented on the "anything aftermarket" comment, but was unable to explain his understanding (or lack thereof) of the statute.

I was already planning to swap out the test pipe for an actual hi-flo cat, and then see what I could do to reduce the fart-can look of the exhaust. (It does SOUND awfully nice, I have to admit)

But before I do anything, I need some good info on what is actually considered legal, so I can decide how to proceed with the exhaust mods. Any firsthand knowledge and/or relatively informed opinions are welcome.

Comments urging me to just ignore the law are simply not the point of this post. I'll decide how closely to comply with the law once I know what the law requires. And that's the point of this post.

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[Alejo_NIN]

it is pretty much up to the police officer that stops you.
there is no measurement on it, if the officer woke up that day with very good hearing, chances are he'll say u r loud.
now, as far as the law goes, anything louder than a regular exhaust can be considered illegal....and if you have to ask, it is definitely illegal

 

[Scott]

The law is worded a little weird, but here it is. I've bolded the applicable section.

316.272Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine Exhaust systems, prevention of noise.--
(1) Every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with an exhaust system in good working order and in constant operation, including muffler, manifold pipe, and tailpiping to prevent excessive or unusual noise. In no event shall an exhaust system allow noise at a level which exceeds a maximum decibel level to be established by regulation of the Department of Environmental Protection as provided in s. 403.061(13) in cooperation with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. No person shall use a muffler cutout, bypass or similar device upon a vehicle on a highway.

(2) The engine and power mechanism of every motor vehicle shall be so equipped and adjusted as to prevent the escape of excessive fumes or smoke.



316.293Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine Motor vehicle noise.--
2) OPERATING NOISE LIMITS.--No person shall operate or be permitted to operate a vehicle at any time or under any condition of roadway grade, load, acceleration, or deceleration in such a manner as to generate a sound level in excess of the following limit for the category of motor vehicle and applicable speed limit at a distance of 50 feet from the center of the lane of travel under measurement procedures established under subsection (3).

(a) For motorcycles other than motor-driven cycles:

35 mph or less / over 35 mph
Before January 1, 1979 82 dB / 86 dB
On or after January 1, 1979 78 dB / 82 dB



(b) For any motor vehicle with a GVWR or GCWR of 10,000 pounds or more:
35 mph or less / over 35 mph
On or after January 1, 1975 86 dB / 90 dB



(c) For motor-driven cycles and any other motor vehicle not included in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b):
35 mph or less / over 35 mph
Before January 1, 1979 76 dB / 82 dB
On or after January 1, 1979 72 dB / 79 dB



(3) MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES.--The measurement procedures for determining compliance with this section shall be established by regulation of the Department of Environmental Protection as provided in s. 403.415(9), in cooperation with the department. Such regulations shall include the selection of measurement sites and measurement procedures and shall take into consideration accepted scientific and professional methods for the measurement of vehicular sound levels. The measurement procedures may include adjustment factors to be applied to the noise limit for measurement distances of other than 50 feet from the center of the lane of travel.

(4) APPLICABILITY.--This section applies to the total noise from a vehicle and shall not be construed as limiting or precluding the enforcement of any other provisions of this chapter relating to motor vehicle mufflers for noise control.

(5) NOISE ABATEMENT EQUIPMENT MODIFICATIONS.--

(a) No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle or any other noise-abatement device of a motor vehicle operated or to be operated upon the highways of this state in such a manner that the noise emitted by the motor vehicle is above that emitted by the vehicle as originally manufactured.

(b) No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon the highways of the state with an exhaust system or noise-abatement device so modified.


403.415Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online SunshineMotor vehicle noise.--

(1) SHORT TITLE.--This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Florida Motor Vehicle Noise Prevention and Control Act of 1974."

(2)(a) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--The intent of the Legislature is to implement the state constitutional mandate of s. 7, Art. II of the State Constitution to improve the quality of life in the state by limiting the noise of new motor vehicles sold in the state and the noise of motor vehicles used on the highways of the state.

(b) It is also the intent of the Legislature to recognize the proposed United States Environmental Protection Act Noise Commission Standards Regulations for medium and heavy-duty trucks as being the most comprehensive available and in the best interest of Florida's citizenry and, further, that such regulation shall preempt all state standards not identical to such regulation.

(3) DEFINITIONS.--The following words and phrases when used in this section shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in this subsection, except where the context otherwise requires:

(a) "dB A" means the composite abbreviation for A-weighted sound level, and the unit of sound level, the decibel.

(b) "Gross combination weight rating" or "GCWR" means the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a combination vehicle.

(c) "Gross vehicle weight rating" or "GVWR" means the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a single vehicle.

(d) "Motor vehicle" means any vehicle which is self-propelled and any vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails.

(e) "Motorcycle" means any motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor or a moped.

(f) "Moped" means any vehicle with pedals to permit propulsion by human power, having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels, with a motor rated not in excess of 2 brake horsepower and not capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed greater than 30 miles per hour on level ground, and with a power-drive system that functions directly or automatically without clutching or shifting gears by the operator after the drive system is engaged. If an internal combustion engine is used, the displacement may not exceed 50 cubic centimeters.

(g) "Sound level" means the A-weighted sound pressure level measured with fast response using an instrument complying with the specification for sound level meters of the American National Standards Institute, Inc., or its successor bodies, except that only A-weighting and fast dynamic response need be provided.

(h) "Vehicle" means any device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

(i) "Department" means the Department of Environmental Protection.

(4) NEW VEHICLE NOISE LIMITS.--No person shall sell, offer for sale, or lease a new motor vehicle that produces a maximum sound level exceeding the following limits at a distance of 50 feet from the center of the lane of travel under test procedures established under subsection (5)

(5) TEST PROCEDURES.--The test procedures for determining compliance with this section shall be established by regulation of the department and in cooperation with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles in substantial conformance with applicable standards and recommended practices established by the Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., or its successor bodies, and the American National Standards Institute, Inc., or its successor bodies, for the measurement of motor vehicle sound levels.

(6) CERTIFICATION.--The manufacturer, distributor, importer, or designated agent thereof shall file a written certificate with the department stating that the specific makes and models of motor vehicles described thereon comply with the provisions of this section. No new motor vehicle shall be sold, offered for sale, or leased unless such certificate has been filed.

(7) NOTIFICATION OF CERTIFICATION.--The department shall notify the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles of all makes and models of motor vehicles for which valid certificates of compliance with the provisions of this section are filed.

(8 ) REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT.--

(a) No person shall sell or offer for sale for use as a part of the equipment of a motor vehicle any exhaust muffler, intake muffler, or other noise abatement device which, when installed, will permit the vehicle to be operated in a manner that the emitted sound level of the vehicle is increased above that emitted by the vehicle as originally manufactured and determined by the test procedures for new motor vehicle sound levels established under this section.

(b) The manufacturer, distributor, or importer, or designated agent thereof, shall file a written certificate with the department that his or her products sold within this state comply with the requirements of this section for their intended applications.

(9) OPERATING VEHICLE NOISE MEASUREMENTS.--The department shall establish, with the cooperation of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, measurement procedures for determining compliance of operating vehicles with the noise limits of s. 316.293(2). The department shall advise the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles on technical aspects of motor vehicle noise enforcement regulations, assist in the training of enforcement officers, and administer a sound-level meter loan program for local enforcement agencies.

(10 ) ENACTMENT OF LOCAL ORDINANCES LIMITED.--The provisions of this section shall be applicable and uniform throughout this state and in all political subdivisions and municipalities therein, and no local authority shall enact or enforce any ordinance on a matter covered by this section unless expressly authorized. However, this subsection shall not prevent any local authority from enacting an ordinance when such enactment is necessary to vest jurisdiction of violation of this section in the local court.

So, what does it mean? It means that, technically-speaking, anything aftermarket that is louder than an OEM exhaust is illegal. It isn't enforced fully because it's time-consuming, and the citation can be beaten or greatly reduced fairly easily.

Hope this answers your question!

 

[JC-MP5]

Luckily I have an exhaust that is almost quiet at idle, so I've never gotten any trouble for it. I think it's just up to the officer.

 

[StealthWyvern]

it is pretty much up to the police officer that stops you.
there is no measurement on it, if the officer woke up that day with very good hearing, chances are he'll say u r loud.
now, as far as the law goes, anything louder than a regular exhaust can be considered illegal....and if you have to ask, it is definitely illegal

eh some officers think the stock msp exhuast is aftermarket and theirfor illegal(braindead

 

[essejkcamraw]

i swear tampa PD are one of the most BRAINLESS police force out there. well, they are a VERY close second to temple terrace PD. i have a turboxs TBE catless and its fairly loud an i drive in front of behind and next to cops ALL the time and have never had any troubles.


my buddy drives a vette no cats VERY LOUD! and ive been with him driving next too in front of and behind cops a lot also, again, no problems. i think its just a matter if the cop wants to be a dick or not.


im sure a lot of it has to do with the type of car it is, i think cause its older and loud it gives them more of a reason to mess with you. i have plenty of friends who rock hondas and they get pulled over for exhaust noise. i think it has just a lot to do with the type of car and if its new or not an if the cop wants to be a asshole.


nice ass car BTW man. i LOVE older supras but still am a sucker for mkiv's. and yours is in REALLY good condition. congrats!

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

tampa PD are the worst for exhaust tickets....I dont even like driving through the Gandy area with my MSP most of the time

they hate any "young" person driving an import but if its a dude on a harley louder than a 747 or a muscle car they could give to s****...

they're a bunch of tool sacks.

 

[essejkcamraw]

i think the main reason they only pull over (no offence) cars like yours an hondas and stuff is because they think they are more liable to find something else when they pull you over an run your info, warrant tickets an whatnot.

having a few friends who were cops or are cops they say thats the only reason they pull people over for stupid s*** like that an once they find there isnt anything they bring up the next simple thing to have a reason for pulling somebody. example: exhaust.

cops are just dicks an most of the time just bored, and when it comes to tampa PD or temple terrace PD they have NOTHINGGGG else better to do, i've been pulled over by TPD and it was a woman. next thing i know 2 MORE cars roll up for JUST ME in the car. its just stupid. i really try an avoid driving through town anymore.


like i said, i guess its all in the look of the car you drive.

 

[BillTheCat]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I'm 99% certain he didn't pull me over for noise. It was all about the look. That HKS Dragger is obviously not stock. But it's not nearly as loud as I would have expected it to be.

I'm thinking that once I get some more important issues straightened out, I'll probably find a different cat-back system that has smaller dual tips that won't attract so much attention. But it's not going to be 1st on the list.

 

[TFMMC]

Anything that isn't stock is illegal. They SEE a fart can and they can/will pull you over for it.... not that they care about it 95% of the time if its not retarded loud... but do something else stupid and they'll start racking stuff up on you.