So, these look really good, and from reading through the forums I can tell that people are satisfied with this product.

However, that is not the issue.

I'm still confused as to whether this is legal or not. I know that going catless is illegal, but I've heard that replacing the downpipe is illegal as well.

Is this true? If so, how do you pass emissions inspection?
Is the law on cats enforced? Is this a federal offense punishable by jail time?

I really want to purchase this product, but I don't want to have to worry about being caught with something illegal on my car.

 

One of the many times I got pulled over in NY is because of exhaust. According to all the state troopers that I have spoken with. It is illegal to change or modify your exhaust and put anything other than OEM equipment on it. Now think about this. Usually all inspection stations can care less if you have a modified exhaust system. If you ever got pulled over for it, just simply embellish the truth. If he asks if your exhaust is stock or OEM simply say yes. He never asked what part of your exhaust is stock, could just be one hangar........see where this is going?


Good thing my car is registered in FL. NYS inspection is a bitch. I don't believe that they even use the snorkel anymore, but I know they hook up to the OBDII port.

 

New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law Article 375-31
31. Mufflers and exhaust systems. Prevention of noise. Every motor
vehicle, operated or driven upon the highways of the state, shall at all
times be equipped with an adequate muffler and exhaust system in
constant operation and properly maintained to prevent any excessive or
unusual noise and no such muffler or exhaust system shall be equipped
with a cut-out, bypass, or similar device. No person shall modify the
muffler or exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will
amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor or exhaust system of
such vehicle above that emitted by the muffler or exhaust system
originally installed on the vehicle and such original muffler and
exhaust system shall comply with all the requirements of this section.

in New York any modifications to the stock exhaust system that make it "louder" are illegal. Unless it sounds like a freight train, you will be ok. I dont know how much of a difference no cat makes on the sound of exhaust (if any) but you will have more trouble trying to pass the emissions part of your inspection than anything else.

 

Thanks, but I'm referring specifically to laws pertaining to replacing a catalytic converter. I'm not that worried about noise, however, I have heard that it is a felony to replace a catalytic converter.

 

I think you may have the wrong information about it being a felony. There are no equipment violations in NYS that are felonies, or misdemeanors for that matter. You can buy the cat less converter in NYS and put it on your vehicle, but the only time someone will know is when you get your car inspected and it fails emissions.

 

why do you need a cat-less setup?....get it with a high-flow cat...you need to get the P0420 code removed out of your pcm and get a quiet resonator and put a cone in your setup to help quiet it down....bigger performance gains w/o the noise

 

"I'm not that worried about noise, however, I have heard that it is a felony to replace a catalytic converter."

Not sure how this could be .... What if someone had a car that the cat converter got clogged?... It would be illegal to replace it with the same part and then drive it??....

I am guessing it might be illegal to mess with some of the emission equipment though, maybe in California for example??..... I bet the cat converter is part of the smog/emissions system.....law enforcement might give you a fine maybe???

 

I guess my car is illegal in NYS then :P

 

Yeah, that's what I want to do: high flow cat

Here is the law I am referring to:
http://catalyticconverter.org/law/index.htm

 

bump