does anyone know if the DOT requires that a diesel pickup must have a muffler?? if ure hauling for hire? isn't the turbo considered a noise suppresor and what i have found out is considered good enough for the DOT? i had a DOT tell me that my 5" straight pipe on my truck wasn't going to cut it and i needed to put the muffler back on.

some help on this one would be great.
thanks

 

Removed the muffler on my 98.5 several years ago. I am commercial and have been in several states. Been inspected at the scales and by the road lots of time and the DOT never mentioned it. I imagine the larger exhaust would be very much louder than mine.

 

my 5" actually isn't that loud. the state trooper wasn't so nice in NV and gave me a ticket for it.

 

Its not a question if the muffler is required or not. Its the police that has you on side of the road, wanting to give you a ticket that's the issue. Ya, you can go to court and fight it, but is it worth it? If your wanting to stay straight piped, get something that atleast looks like a muffler. JMHO

 

Oh, here in Missouri were required to have a muffler. I'm sure the straight through/racing gasser muffler on mine is plugged up and acting like a straight pipe now.

 

Each state is different, I got away with out having a muffler in Missouri because I just found a more friendly inspection shop lol. By most definitions a turbo is mechanical muffler. As stated above, just get something that looks like a muffler if you are really concerned about it lol

 

i am wondering what the DOT regualtions say about it. as what i have been able to find the FEDERAL DOT state that a turbo is sufficient enought!! is a $1500.00 ticket worth fighting over?

thanks

 

Ya, the shop I go to could really care less about the muffler. I just put one on to void the possible headache.

 

A $1500 anything is worth fighting over. My buddy is a DOT officer, he says federal is happy with the turbo as a muffler/silencer, but the state of missouri says we have to have muffler. Thats a sticky one. Get a lawyer and see what you can work out. I'd say proof you now have a muffler and reduced fine is what your looking at if you fight it.

 

here in iowa we don't have to have one. so what i always thought if ure legal in ure home state your legal wereever you go? oh i am fighting it.

 

That'll be fun.

The turbo is the muffler. Argue over the legal definition of muffler and walk away with no fine. Its almost a guarantee that the state didn't spell it out adequately.

 

The turbo is considered a muffling device... but state laws vary.. here in Idaho any modifications to the OE exhaust are illegal.

 

US EPA Article #205.58(C) states that mufflers can be changed as long as there is no increase in noise. Removal of the muffler would fall in here if the exhaust was louder after you removed it. A turbo is NOT considered a muffler.

California DMV Article #27150 and #27151VC states that exhaust can be modified as long as it doesn't increase or amplify the sound. BUT, according to federal EPA regs, you cannot alter the cat. It must be of the same type and confidguration as stock.

Vehiclle noise production is under EPA pervue. It has more to do with actual noise production than installed equipment. Read your local laws and see what they say about noise. You'll probably find that it varies according to time of day and location. 2pm in a commercial zone is differant than 2am in a residential zone.

Also, noise regulations are generally local laws. You usually won't find them in the traffic or vehicle section, though. They're generally considered to be "quality of life" issues. Like loud parties in your neighborhood at 2am.

The bright spot here is that it's usually a repair ticket, meaning that if you put a muffler back on the ticket will be cancelled. Also, if you just pay the fine, it's not a moving/vehicle violation. So you don't get points or insurance notification. But, that varies from place to place.

Noisy vehicles are becoming more of an issue than in past years. Ask any Harley owner about that.

 

you fall under the laws where you are trgistered if their is no fed law. up to about a year ago texas didnt require a muffler does now. brother in law was stopped in tenn a few years back and giving a ticket for no muffler proved it was legal in tex and ticket was dropped fight it or question it to the judge

 

Joe,

You need this: http://www.driverslegalplan.com. Founder Jim Klepper is on Road Dog Trucking (sirius ch 147) weekly answering calls from OTR drivers.