Well we know
that's not true. Flowmaster has off road and street products. They meet the noise specifications in most states. Did you realize Meineke mufflers (a nationwide retail chain) sells them? Flowmaster mufflers in most states
meet the state's noise levels. One concern I did have was the noise level of the car. I know for a fact Flowmasters and several other cat-back systems meet the requirements here in NC. I learned from the dealer that 95-100 db is the general level of most state laws. Depending on which Flowmaster system is applied and the application, noise levels come in anywhere from 85-100 db. Much less than a jet as the idiot in this article would have us believe
BTW, welcome to FR
Never take legal advice from a dealer. Jeez! 95-100 db is NOT "the general level of most state laws". Most state laws using a dB limit specify a
maximum of 86 db at 50 feet from the centerline. As every 3 dB increase represents twice the sound level, 95-100dB is 10 to 20 times over the legal
maximum.
And Flowmasters do not meet the legal requirements for use on public roads in North Carolina. When they say "legal in 50 states", they mean legal to install - they don't necessarily mean legal to operate.
Here's the North Carolina law - Ch.20 Section 128 - the Motor Vehicle Code:
§ 20-128. Exhaust system and emissions control devices.
(a)No person shall drive a motor vehicle on a highway unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a muffler, or other exhaust system of the type installed at the time of manufacture, in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise, annoying smoke and smoke screens.
(b) It shall be unlawful to use a "muffler cut-out" on any motor vehicle upon a highway. No dB specification to weasel out with here. You could be easily convicted of an offense if charged.
What I have discovered by researching state codes is that so far all I have looked at do not list an acceptable dB range. The codes that I have seen defer to federal standards for stock equipment, require that after-market equipment must have the same noise reduction capabilities as stock and contain the language "excessive or unusual noise." The term "unusual noise" is what makes Flowmaster and other products illegal in state that have that language in their codes. Most people know that lower frequencies travel further and penetrate solids better than higher frequencies, therefore the noise is perceived at a further distance. In California, governor Gray Davis changed the law at the bequest of SEMA's lawyers and lobbyists. SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) realized that the many of the products their constituents marketed were indead illegal for street use onder the old California law so they had it changed and good old Governor Davis signed it into law.