Pulled over with Borla ATAK exhaust

[Mid13field]

Hi all,
I am a California resident and was recently pulled over for “loud exhaust.” I have a Borla ATAK system and I’m concerned that my 392 won’t pass the decibel testing…
Anyone else run into this?
Thoughts?

 

[Robr651]

Hi all,
I am a California resident and was recently pulled over for “loud exhaust.” I have a Borla ATAK system and I’m concerned that my 392 won’t pass the decibel testing…
Anyone else run into this?
Thoughts?

Dumb question perhaps but can you just run it on quiet mode for the inspection? Fortunately I live in a state where emissions inspections aren’t even a thing, no less decibel tests for exhausts.

 

[Mid13field]

Dumb question perhaps but can you just run it on quiet mode for the inspection? Fortunately I live in a state where emissions inspections aren’t even a thing, no less decibel tests for exhausts.

Hey Rob not dumb at all. I could keep it on quiet mode and hope for the best but I’m sure these guys will know or at least figure out how to open the valves… the button also has the exhaust icon on it…

 

[Mid13field]

Dumb question perhaps but can you just run it on quiet mode for the inspection? Fortunately I live in a state where emissions inspections aren’t even a thing, no less decibel tests for exhausts.

Jealous…, lol

 

[Robr651]

I did some research. It seems like you have the option to go to a “referee” and have them test it with a decibel meter. Does the “referee” have full access to your vehicle? Or do you just drive it in and they test it? This all seems like an overreaching joke of a system.

 

[Mid13field]

Yeah, I saw that… Crazy… I mean. There’s no way it’s louder than a lambo Maserati S Ferrari or insert misc loud sports car name here.

 

[Robr651]

Yeah, I saw that… Crazy… I mean. There’s no way it’s louder than a lambo Maserati S Ferrari or insert misc loud sports car name here.

Yeah I’m not sure of the actual process, which in and of itself seems ridiculous …but I’d wonder if just running it on quiet mode for the “referee” test would be sufficient? Barring them having access to the drivers seat obviously. 95 decibels is the limit apparently. California is a beautiful state but the laws governing stuff like this seem completely ridiculous. Hopefully someone else from California that’s dealt with it chimes in.

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

This is pretty common in CA at least I’ve seen a few YouTubers got pulled over in their videos.

Here in PA it’s rarely enforced, but the regulation is:

• Motor vehicles traveling at 35 miles per hour or less must not exceed 88 decibels.
• Motor vehicles traveling over 35 miles per hour must not exceed 92 decibels.

That’s one main reason I decided to stay stock.

 

[7.62x392]

This is pretty common in CA at least I’ve seen a few YouTubers got pulled over in their videos.

Here in PA it’s rarely enforced, but the regulation is:

• Motor vehicles traveling at 35 miles per hour or less must not exceed 88 decibels.
• Motor vehicles traveling over 35 miles per hour must not exceed 92 decibels.

That’s one main reason I decided to stay stock.

I’m pretty sure in stock form we exceed those decibel levels. I know a ton of people with aftermarket exhausts on various performance vehicles in PA including myself and I’ve never heard of anyone getting stopped or having issues with it. I also drive by police regularly with my doors off (technically illegal in PA) and have never been pulled over. I know to avoid certain areas without the doors like Allentown as the police will pull you over there for it.

Also a decibel test with referee? The whole thing seems so silly. Can’t say I’m surprised given the state of that state, but this is just reason 1022836392 why I’d never move to Cali. Great place to visit, but live? No thanks, at least not for me. Sounds more like the CCCP than the land of the free.

 

[Bald Guy]

You mean to say it won't pass the granny soundproof test?

 

[258_T18A]

Put it in quiet mode. There's no way the inspection guys should be pushing random buttons under your dash.

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

I’m pretty sure in stock form we exceed those decibel levels. I know a ton of people with aftermarket exhausts on various performance vehicles in PA including myself and I’ve never heard of anyone getting stopped or having issues with it. I also drive by police regularly with my doors off (technically illegal in PA) and have never been pulled over. I know to avoid certain areas without the doors like Allentown as the police will pull you over there for it.

Also a decibel test with referee? The whole thing seems so silly. Can’t say I’m surprised given the state of that state, but this is just reason 1022836392 why I’d never move to Cali. Great place to visit, but live? No thanks, at least not for me. Sounds more like the CCCP than the land of the free.

Absolutely well said! This video has all the tested decibel numbers Stock vs AWE:

There are lots of much louder exhaust modifications in my area and I have not yet heard anyone was pulled over because of that. Oh man I may still get AWE switchpath one day, sounds so good and not being obnoxious.

 

[Cali392JL]

You might reach out to Borla themselves and see if they can give you any kind of documentation that confirms that their system is a 50 state legal system, I bet it is, but that probably applies to emissions control only but might be good to have in your hand when you go to get the sound test done or go to the referee. I agree with the previous posters that say you should leave it in the quiet mode and don't take it out. If they ask you to come up with some excuse of why not. And it should pass easily in the quiet mode. I have had to do this once before on a previous car in California and I don't remember the RPM levels that they require you take the vehicle to, but it is reasonably high and I was cited for excessive noise on my other vehicle by the sound test referee. The solution was to get the tickets signed off by any law-enforcement officer, and fortunately I knew an officer that thought the rule was so stupid. They just signed it off for me.

 

[Mid13field]

Put it in quiet mode. There's no way the inspection guys should be pushing random buttons under your dash.

this was my initial thought, but I have no clue what they are and are not permitted to do while inspecting… Will I be the one stepping on the gas?

 

[Mid13field]

You might reach out to Borla themselves and see if they can give you any kind of documentation that confirms that their system is a 50 state legal system, I bet it is, but that probably applies to emissions control only but might be good to have in your hand when you go to get the sound test done or go to the referee. I agree with the previous posters that say you should leave it in the quiet mode and don't take it out. If they ask you to come up with some excuse of why not. And it should pass easily in the quiet mode. I have had to do this once before on a previous car in California and I don't remember the RPM levels that they require you take the vehicle to, but it is reasonably high and I was cited for excessive noise on my other vehicle by the sound test referee. The solution was to get the tickets signed off by any law-enforcement officer, and fortunately I knew an officer that thought the rule was so stupid. They just signed it off for me.

That’s a good idea. I’m wondering if there’s a way to manually disable the valve opening regardless of the switch. It is electronic after all.

 

[Mid13field]

Absolutely well said! This video has all the tested decibel numbers Stock vs AWE:

There are lots of much louder exhaust modifications in my area and I have not yet heard anyone was pulled over because of that. Oh man I may still get AWE switchpath one day, sounds so good and not being obnoxious.

Yeah, I love the AWE. Sounds so good

 

[Mid13field]

Put it in quiet mode. There's no way the inspection guys should be pushing random buttons under your Dinyiu know

Put it in quiet mode. There's no way the inspection guys should be pushing random buttons under your dash.

Do you know this to be the case?

 

[Mid13field]

You mean to say it won't pass the granny soundproof test?

Haha if they don’t mess with it… not sure how savvy these guys are

 

[Overkill]

That’s a good idea. I’m wondering if there’s a way to manually disable the valve opening regardless of the switch. It is electronic after all.

It is actually vacuum operated on the actual valves, just uses an electric switch to remove the vacuum to open it up. That's why it is loud when you start it up even if you have performance mode turned off because there is no vacuum to pull them closed. I haven't looked close enough at the vacuum actuators to see if maybe you could wire them closed, but it might be a thought.

 

[Cali392JL]

this was my initial thought, but I have no clue what they are and are not permitted to do while inspecting… Will I be the one stepping on the gas?

yes, you are the one stepping on the gas.... At least that's how it was when I had to do it but that's been more than 10 years ago.