Any exhaust on a car illegal?

[Blane1992]

Just been pulled by a traffic cop because I've got an exhaust on my car, he said it isn't to do with how loud it is, that is irrelevant. They said its illegal because Renault never made the car with that exhaust and it has no bs number or something on it. I tried to argue the point that putting an exhaust on isn't illegal but he just threatened me with a £60 fine and 3 points so I was just shooting myself in the foot trying to argue. He gave me a £30 fixed penalty notce with 28 days to pay. Where do I stand on this? Am I right that you can put an exhaust on a car? And can I appeal it?

Cheers for any advice on this. Blane

 

[sbridgey]

Sounds like BS to me, exhaust modifications allowed on your insurance, and you wouldn't expect all these exhaust companies to still be going if it were to be illegal.

 

[Gally]

What was the fine for?

 

[DannyR]

He needs to noise test it to prosecute

 

[Tunst]

Im sure I read somewhere a car shouldnt be any louder than it came from the factory..

 

[Blane1992]

I know, soon as I tried arguing the point he just threatened me with 3 points

 

[DannyR]

Im sure I read somewhere a car shouldnt be any louder than it came from the factory..

This is true.

Shouldn't get points though. My bet it wasn't a traffic officer.

 

[Heez]

What was the fine for?

.

 

[Blane1992]

The fine was for having a modified exhaust and not a standard one, I said it's got to be over a certain DB but he said doesn't matter how loud it is, it's just illegal if its not a standard exhaust. Yeah it was a traffic cop

 

[Tunst]

This is true.

Shouldn't get points though. My bet it wasn't a traffic officer.

I thought it was, but wasnt 100% sure haha

 

[Tunst]

The fine was for having a modified exhaust and not a standard one, I said it's got to be over a certain DB but he said doesn't matter how loud it is, it's just illegal if its not a standard exhaust. Yeah it was a traffic cop

Sounds like a cop in a shitty mood tbh

 

[DannyR]

He doesn't know its not standard though. Needs to be noise tested and over 95dB (possibly wrong) to fail, it could be a pattern part and read higher as such. But it as to be below the legal level cars are manufactured too.

No idea how Lamborghinis and Ferrari's get around this though.

 

[Blane1992]

Sounds like a cop in a s**tty mood tbh

Tell me about it, anyway I can argue this?

 

[DannyR]

If its below 95dB I'd be tempted.

For the sake of £30, just move on

 

[Blane1992]

It's not the £30 I'm bothered about, but if it's so illegal why didn't he tell me to take it off? And are they just gonna keep pulling me for the same thing? I've never heard of something like this before, only for it been too loud

 

[DannyR]

Well if its illegal and you've been fined, its fairly self explanatory it needs to come off.

If your seen too they'll probably pull you again and check.

 

[Blane1992]

He never said to remove it though, didn't test the noise or anything, really annoyed me haha

 

[Gally]

Sounds ridiculous. If you give some a fine a law has to be written up. He can't write, "non standard exhaust fitted".

Aslong as you've declared it to you insurance I would speak to someone, whether it's another police officer or not.

Pm Ron on here for dome advice.

 

[Blane1992]

I know mate, not declared it though, only just got it put on, reckon I can't do much about it then?

 

[Gally]

Erm yeah.

 

[DannyR]

It's £30, pay it and move on.

 

[Blane1992]

Think I'm gonna have to, certain coppers like that give rest of them a bad name even though a lot of them are sound

 

[Daz.]

I'd be asking advice before paying - Yes it's £30 but as stated it's not a done deal - potentially he could get stopped again and again...


Do all pattern parts have bs numbers by the way? if not then half of the cars on the road are illegal then.

 

[Blane1992]

I've never known any to have bs numbers, he looked under the car for a matter of seconds and said he couldn't see the number.

 

[Adam.]

I thought the bs thing was bike exhausts?

 

[Michael Woodford MST]

People need to read up on the law to stop these coppers on there power trip!

I wouldnt of acsepted anything. but its weather you want the BS over £30 to go to court and argue

 

[Sunglasses_Ron]

I've never heard of after market exhausts being illegal. Ill try and find out when I go into work on Monday. Don't pay that fine yet.

 

[aucky]

As if you'd see any kind of printed number on rotting standard exhaust?

If you get an exhaust from Quickfit, thats not an OEM exhaust from Renault is it? By that logic about 60% of cars on the road have an illegal exhaust.

Sounds like he was either having a bad day, or he caught the OP gunning it and had to find something to say when he pulled him over IMO.

 

[Pulsator]

End of the day even if he had given you a £60 fine and 3 points, what would you of of done about it ??

Fair enough they are not illegal but...........

All they would of done is checked your insurance to find out its not a declared mod and then you would of been done for having invalid insurance aswell, so would end up costing you a hell of a lot more in the long run !!!

Pay the £30 and go back to standard exhaust just to stop them doing you everytime for the same thing illegal or not, cos "technically" its not declared and your insurance is invalid

Ps. - Not trying to be funny mate but to me it sounds like its a warning from the copper - and no doubt he will pull you again and again until your skint lol

 

[Pulsator]

Find how much it is to declare it on your insurance that way when he pulls you he cant do jack s**t if its declared LOL

 

[Blane1992]

Cheers everyone, gonna talk to a few people first who I know are coppers for some advice then see what's what, think he was just been a pit picky and can't have given out enough tickets last night. Gonna ring the insurance up and see how much it is to declare it, his face would be a picture knowing its declared and not illegal! Haha

 

[J4mou]

Ignoring what others have said, simply produce your mot at the same time, stating that the ministry of transport passed an mot for this vehicle whilst carrying this exhaust. (Presuming it did) how can they argue wi
hen the ministry they defend have approved it.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Ignoring what others have said, simply produce your mot at the same time, stating that the ministry of transport passed an mot for this vehicle whilst carrying this exhaust. (Presuming it did) how can they argue wi
hen the ministry they defend have approved it.

Because your MOT is only actually valid on the day of issue. You could go home and swap exhausts, wheels with bald tyres etc and then try telling the police your tyres are legal...

I've never heard of after market exhausts being illegal. Ill try and find out when I go into work on Monday. Don't pay that fine yet.

^ Listen to this man. He is a Policeman Officer.

 

[Addicted]

Cheers everyone, gonna talk to a few people first who I know are coppers for some advice then see what's what, think he was just been a pit picky and can't have given out enough tickets last night. Gonna ring the insurance up and see how much it is to declare it, his face would be a picture knowing its declared and not illegal! Haha

Why was it not declared in the first place? Sigh.

 

[J4mou]

Take it to an mot tester and ask for a letter dated that day stating they would not fail it for an mot then.

 

[Joe#]

As if you'd see any kind of printed number on rotting standard exhaust?

If you get an exhaust from Quickfit, thats not an OEM exhaust from Renault is it? By that logic about 60% of cars on the road have an illegal exhaust.

Sounds like he was either having a bad day, or he caught the OP gunning it and had to find something to say when he pulled him over IMO.

This. Very few people buy OEM exhaust systems, the prices are ridiculous.

 

[J4mou]

Actually ignore what I just said, just found this:

http://www.norfolk.police.uk/safetyadvice/roadsafety/advicetoroadusers/howlegalisyourvehicle.aspx

 

[chris-182]

if you had declared it to your insurers I would of said challenge it. but ATM you haven't got a leg to stand on

 

[Blane1992]

Why was it not declared in the first place? Sigh.

Ive only just got it put on, I'm going to ring my insurance up this morning and declare it

 

[Gaz_]

I had this years ago in my punto gt. De catted magnex, was a beast. Pulled over, not standard noise blah blah, then jumps in it and bangs it on the limiter! w**ker. Told me to take it off as if he saw be agian with it, he'd fine me with points. Did I?? Did I f**k.

I would contest that, he didn't measure any sound levels, its bollox mate. Ever heard a pattern part exhaust for a mk2 rs?? Loud.