Is having aftermarket exhaust illegal in Washington state?

[mugen79]

I ordered agency power exhaust for my FRS three days ago.
And I was doing a little research and I came to a conclusion that aftermarket exhaust is indeed illegal in Washington state.
And also imports with modified exhaust are prone to get pulled over and get a ticket possibly.
Are these all true? Can anyone with aftermarket exhaust share some of your experiences? I mean this is like the first time that I actually want to do something to my car and I don't want to get pulled over all the time by having aftermarket exhaust... So I ended up cancelling my order for now.

I am 33 and got 2 kids and I don't want any headaches from state cops.

thanks guys.

[Touge_ninja]

As long as your not a douche about it, revving and speeding to show off. You should be ok.

[deucethemoose]

Technically yes, modifying your exhaust is illegal. If you're not driving like an asshat (or in Federal Way) you will be fine. I rocked a straight pipe on my MR2 loud enough to be heard a mile away for some time, which I replaced with a Greddy SP. No problems at all.


So don't drive like a douche, and stay away from Federal Way.

[Vukodlac]

I've had after market exhaust on all my vehicles and I've lived in the Seattle area for years. Never had any problems.

[Im_SPEED]

the way i under stand it is aftermarket exhausts are ok but they cant be louder then stock. but cops dont use db meters any more so its all by ear. and like people have told me do you know the stock db of *insert car here. no you dont. and are you MR. officer a db meter no i dont think so.

[HATED1]

Yes it is illegal, an exhaust other than factory is illegal reguardless of decibel readings. It is ultimately the law enforcement officer's discretion.

[Tim_Asphalt_FRS]

Contact the SEMA Action Network. They've put in legislation in multiple states that have tried this ban. Basically all the state laws are identical at a 95db limit from a certain distance away. The cops have a decimal meter to actually measure.


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[mugen79]

Thanks for all your inputs. Now I am curious if TRD is going to be illegal too. It is being sold at a dealer as an option. Hard to imagine you buy a brand new car from a dealer and being illegal.
This law is just absurd imo

[HATED1]

Decimal reading doesn't matter here in WA.

I don't think the TRD exhaust would be illegal as it is an option from factory. Don't quote me on that though.

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by HATED1

Decimal reading doesn't matter here in WA.

Yes it does, very much so and the officer pointed me to this RCW (and only issued me a warning, this was 8 years ago)

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.37.390

RCW 46.37.390

Mufflers required — smoke and air contaminant standards — definitions — penalty, exception.


(1) Every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and no person shall use a muffler cut-out, bypass, or similar device upon a motor vehicle on a highway.

(2) [removed as #2 only has to do with exhaust gasses like smoke etc]

(3) No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the engine of such vehicle above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle, and it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle not equipped as required by this subsection, or which has been amplified as prohibited by this subsection. A court may dismiss an infraction notice for a violation of this subsection if there is reasonable grounds to believe that the vehicle was not operated in violation of this subsection.

Bold and Color are mine.

Originally Posted by HATED1

I don't think the TRD exhaust would be illegal as it is an option from factory. Don't quote me on that though.

A TRD exhaust meets that criteria as you can order a TRD exhaust with a brand new car installed by the dealer. So TRD is definitely good to go in WA State.

[rice_classic]

Also what makes the wording of the law so rough is that it's pretty ambiguous and leaves it up to the officer to make the call.

They don't write a lot of tickets on this from understanding however. Loud exhausts, from a perspective your neighbors, co-workers, boss, wife, family and pretty much everyone make the driver look kind of like a tool. just sayin'

But hey, go with what you like and who cares what people say right!?!

edit: not directed at the OP or anyone specifically. The AP exhaust nor the TRD exhaust are loud fart-can kind of setups.

[HATED1]

I got pulled over in 2007, for an Espelir Exhaust which had documentation that it was 50 state legal. It was well below the decibel reading. Law states anything other than factory is illegal.

[Tim_Asphalt_FRS]

Join the SEMA Action Network and contact your state legislators. These types of laws ignore the facts that aftermarket exhaust systems increase fuel mileage & reduce emissions.


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[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by HATED1

I got pulled over in 2007, for an Espelir Exhaust which had documentation that it was 50 state legal. It was well below the decibel reading. Law states anything other than factory is illegal.

Give another look at the wording. It does not state aftermarket exhausts are legal, it essentially says THEY ARE but not if they're louder than the OEM option. Where have you seen it specifically says aftermarket exhausts are illegal? Just so people know, it is VERY possible to make power without making more sound regardless of what Harley Davidson wants us to believe.

(3) No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the engine of such vehicle above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle, and it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle not equipped as required by this subsection, or which has been amplified as prohibited by this subsection. A court may dismiss an infraction notice for a violation of this subsection if there is reasonable grounds to believe that the vehicle was not operated in violation of this subsection.

"In a manner" means modifying is allowed but must meet the criteria set out by terms following the phrase; "In a manner".

You might want to consider keeping a copy of the RCW in your glove box.

I do exactly that when I'm towing to the track (and have a passenger) and use the car-pool lane. Some cops may see me with a trailer and think I'm not allowed in the HOV lane but the RCW states that as long as my total combined weight is under 10k lbs I'm good. And it is. And I have documentation with regarding both the law and weight.