States where open headers are street legal?

I've been noticing that a significant number of the vehicles I see in images here are running open headers on the street. In the states where I have lived it wasn't legal to run without a muffler in your exhaust even if you ran the pipe all the way to the rear of the vehicle. In at least one state I recall hearing that glasspacks weren't legal for street use. That has me wondering about some things.

Are there any states where unmuffled exhaust systems are actually legal for street use?

Are there any states where open headers are actually legal for street use?

If so, is there a list of these states?

If not, could folks who know states where one or both of these things are legal post something here about that?

Thanks.

 

Not in Georgia...maybe on a Harley

 

I'll take a wild guess and say none

 

here in kansas, if you have "mufflers" you're legal. they don't really bother doin inspections in wichita.

 

I don't think Arkansas requires mufflers per se, but the exhaust must exit behind the passenger compartment.

 

Here in Arizona anything pre-64 is not subject to any emissions testing. Part of the test on newer vehicles is a check for a catalytic converter. I got pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt which on pre-64 stuff is not required and the lack of turn signals, seatbelts, or mufflers didn't get me a ticket. Its the friggin' wild west out here and you can get away with damn near anything and as long as its a pre-64 ride.

 

Here in Arizona anything pre-64 is not subject to any emissions testing. Part of the test on newer vehicles is a check for a catalytic converter. I got pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt which on pre-64 stuff is not required and the lack of turn signals, seatbelts, or mufflers didn't get me a ticket. The only question the cop had was about the half gallon Jack Daniels bottle mounted up as an overflow bottle. Its the friggin' wild west out here and you can get away with damn near anything and as long as its a pre-64 ride.

 

I have a small baffle in each pipe. Always get a thumbs up from the police here in Maryland.

 

what's a legal hot rod?

 

I live in Ohio. Open headers and "straight pipes" arent legal. But... Are most things on Hot Rods really "legal" ? Thats where the fun is.

 

I always hear that in New Mexico you don't need any mufflers. All my customers from there never order baffles with their headers.

 

Partly the police (around here anyway) are more lenient on these sorts of thing when it's an old car. What are you thinking of running with open exhaust? When they do get you out here it's a fix it ticket. A few hours of work to get it signed off, a few more to put it back how it was and presto!
I think most states mandate at least a spark arrestor.

 

I think my question may have given you the wrong impression. I'm not thinking of running anything with an open exhaust.

The truth is that I'm just honestly curious about how so many hot rodders manage to drive around in cars with open headers without having their licenses suspended and their cars impounded.

Around here the state troopers and town police would pull you over and possibly radio to have your car towed. There is no way a car with open headers would pass the required annual state inspections here and unlike some violations the noise levels from open headers would call so much attention to the car that you'd attract the attention of law enforcement wherever you went.

So it occurred to me that the reason people in some states are able to do it is that it isn't illegal in those states and I decided to ask about it.

 

Let me guess. You live in Taxachusetts?
Like Nick said ,this is the wild west. I'd never move back there .Too much government...Way too much,.
I don't suppose you can walk into a grocery store and buy beer, 24 /7 like here either.

 

Yep its the same way here. Pre '64 all you need is the title and proof of insurance, which for me will just be liability and presto Ive got a "legal" driving car.

I cant wait to hear my open pipes

 

I would bet that the vehicle codes regarding full exhaust systems in every state require a muffler and tailpipe or mufflers and tailpipes on all street driven vehicles.
That has nothing to do with emissions and everything to do with noise abatement.

 

I doubt an open exhaust is legal on ANY public street. Legal and allowed are often two different situations.

 

Nick does Arizona require you to retro fit pre 73 vehicles with catalytic converters?

 

its all about the age of the car here in Texas, my 53 chevy could run open headers but my 2001 gmc better Damn sure have catalytic converters and mufflers as far as there concerned,thats when you just hollow um out though haha.

 

Nope

 

I'm glad Dragons had my back on that one cause I honestly didn't know. I do know that up in Carefree, which is a resort/richy rich/tourist trap just north of Phoenix, the Deputy's enforce a 86(?I think?)db noise code. Lots of weekend warriors with straight piped v-twins take it real easy on the main drag through there. Other then that we really don't have any kind of a restriction exhaust/noise on what the State deems a "classic".

 

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=8 width=680 height=420><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=680 align=left><!Creation Date: 15/24/95><!Author: Marc Chepeus><!Typist: LCS>28-955. Mufflers; noise and air pollution prevention; emissions control devices; civil penalty; exception
A. A motor vehicle shall be equipped at all times with a muffler that is in good working order and that is in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise.
B. A person shall not use a muffler cutout, bypass or similar device on a motor vehicle on a highway.
C. The engine and power mechanism of a motor vehicle shall be equipped and adjusted to prevent the escape of excessive fumes or smoke.
D. Beginning with motor vehicles and motor vehicle engines of the 1968 model year, motor vehicles and motor vehicle engines shall be equipped with emissions control devices that meet the standards established by the director of environmental quality.
E. A person who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty of at least one hundred dollars.
F. This section does not apply to an electrically powered motor vehicle.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have driven the Jag..to the muffler shop on open headers (sbc)...and other projects..but was real careful not to jack it..

I think all states require a muffler..but..?

Here we have few laws about Hot Rods or modified cars..no inspection. No emmision testing older than '68..and no testing at all outside of Pima Co. and Maricopa (or Phx area).
Testing for motorcycles was recinded last year for Pima Co.(Tucson)

Generally if you don't act like an ass with the pipes..on a scoot or car..you'll probably not be hasseled.

The ricers with the annoying high pitched coffee cans seem to get away with noise. I think the deep growl and roar is easier on my old ears..but..still need a muffler to be legal.
May not be enforced unless you do stupid shit though.

 

There are two main reasons exhaust systems are required on internal combustion engine powered vehicles in all states. First is noise abatement the second is safety.

The reason an exhaust system is required to extend at least beyond the passengers compartment is to negate carbon monoxide poisoning to the operator and or passengers from exhaust gasses passing into the passenger compartment.

That being said all states require them but whether or not local police decide on INDIVIDUAL CASE BY CASE assessments to issue a summons or fix it warning is up to the individual officer involved.

So some of the members can and have gotten away with it but the bottom line is it is a requirement in ALL STATES.

 

Last weekend here in Tucson was the Cops n Rodders show. About 200 of the cars probably had pipes that did not extend past the passenger compartment. We do not have that requirement as you can see from the ARS above (Arizona Revised Statues)

Some cars..Vipers..63-67 Vettes a few others have sidepipes that don't extend past the compartment.

http://www.azleg.state.az.us/ArizonaRevisedStatutes.asp?Title=28

 

If its legal you didnt build it right.

 

Most jurisdictions don't have a law actually requiring
mufflers per se, but usually have a subjective "catch
all" law forbidding "excessive" or "unnecessary" noise.
I drove my '87 Freightliner tractor all over Canada and
the U.S with dual 6 six-inch straight pipes for almost 4
years and never got hasseled by a cop or at a scale
or inspection station. Except for once in northern
California. Even then, I had been through that same
Weed California scale numerous times before (and
hauled into the barn for a full California Highway Patrol
- CALDOT safety inspection every time I went through,
by way) and only once - the last time I was ever through
there - did I ever get ticketed for having straight pipes.
Because the engine had a turbo that quieted things
down somewhat, the truck wasn't deemed to be
"excessively loud" by the California D.O.T, even with
the straight pipes, except by one very 'Barnie Fife-like'
rookie inspector, who with dollar-signs in his eyes, took
it upon himself to subjectively decide that my truck was
suddenly "too loud" and "needed mufflers" It cost me
$500, right then and there!

Mart
=============================

 

Don't you need a muffler or baffles to create "backpressure" so as to not burn any valves? That's what I always thought but maybe that is bad info? That it wasn't so much the noise as the need for the backpressure?

 

I don't know what state I was in when I drove my car without an exhaust, but George T was playing the theme song, and the hangover lasted for weeks

 

That's complete and utter Bull shit! Don't believe it.

I think we can thank the Harley guys for softening the sensitivity to loud pipes. 40 years ago a cop would stop what he was doing to chase down a disrespectful hotrodder that would dare to run open pipes right in front of him. They took it personally. There are so many HDs that they don't even look twice anymore. It never will be legal, but they look the other way unless you are a real ass.

When I started I was 20 and the cops were 45. Today I'm 65 and the cops are 20.

 

I run Warlock mufflers that have a plug you pull then you put turn downs on. It is going into the mufflers but it is going straight through. Sounds good but after a short drive it is all you want. My truck is loud enough using mufflers. When I drive through the downtown the noise and vibrations set off car alarms. Part of it might be the 3" exhaust also.