You need an Iphone or an Ipad with you in the car and show to Mr.Rambo some youtube video to prove him all 4C gotta have that sound.

The car came stock like this right from the factory ??!

They accept those annoying harley davidson's sound and not your little 4C's sound ?

Does he had a tool to mesure the Decibel to prove he was right ? What say the law by your place about that ?

 

Not sure what state you're in, but here's New York:

http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/nycode/VAT/III/9/375

Section 31. Mufflers and exhaust systems.

The section is fuzzy. It first says that every motor vehicle must be equipped with an adequate muffler AND exhaust system. It then says the noise emitted must not be above the level emitted by the muffler or exhaust system originally installed on the vehicle.

So on one hand the section starts by saying every car must have a muffler, which could be contentious right there since your 4C doesn't have one. On the other hand it says it must not be modified or make noise beyond the originally installed system, which you could defend that it complies with that statement.

The law likely has a decibel limit and if push came to shove that would be a possible defense.

My suggestion would be to not drive the car in a manner that draws attention to you in that area after 10PM. Kind of like the signs that ask trucks not to use engine brakes in residential areas. Even though the 4C is loud, you can still cruise rather than gun it when required.

Ive always wondered about those insanely loud Harleys. How is it that they seem to be immune to noise bylaws?

 

American police are out of control.


You're no louder than a Harley or any other exoticar. Hell, you're not louder than my Abarth.


Just an asshole.

 

for some reason
Harleys are damn loud, but cops don't have an issue with them
not sure if its because they are an American product or what


I personally can't stand them
every Harley I have ever seen, was ridden by a mid-life crisis male, wearing the pre-requisite Harley leather jacket, bandana, and revs the eff out of the engine at all stop lights
just to draw attention to himself
hey y'all. look at me, I've over 40 and I am riding a Harley, and I think I am damn cool.

 

Yeah, I'd take that warning up with his superiors, to find out exactly what oridinance you are supposedly in contravention of.
Doing so with a reasonable attitude, not in the heat of the moment, might give you the information you are looking for, from a reliable source.

There might be some sort of local noise law akin to those used to quash out-of-hand parties. Not sure what jurisdictions might apply (local, vs state for highways, vs federal for motor vehicles).

Of course, there are two sides to every story, and perhaps you were a bit aggressive on the throttle??? Might have even been complaints? The 4C is never going to sound like a stock Corolla, but one can certainly manage the noise level if one is inclined to.

If your inquiry nets you no information that you were in violation, then you'll know you're good. And you can ask that street officers get a little retraining in this area so as not to harass law-abiding citizens.
If they do show you the law, consider yourself lucky to get off with the warning.
Yeah, you could just wait until you are actually charged with something, then fight it - but that can be an expensive way to find out you are wrong.

Just how I might handle it, if it bugged me that much.

 

Was it loud because of the exhaust? Or were you "pumping up the jam" with the Parrot sound system?

 

I'll take a Alfa over some SUV pumping out 10 Million watts of thumbing base you can hear 2 miles away.

 

In Australia, if a car is unmodified from the manufacturer, there is no issue. If the car is complianced and passes all regulations then a police officer can't issue a defect notice on an unmodified vehicle. Furthermore, no one can restrict your use of the vehicle on public roads is you are licensed and registered. I call BS, ignore it.

 

I say you weld on two Flowmaster fart cans and drive past the precinct.

 

Do you know the difference between Harley Davidson and hemorrhoids?
None. One day, all the assholes will get some.

 

Busting on Harley now are we? Got tired of P cars?

What does a hound dog and a Harley Davidson have in common?

1) They both have the same initials, HD.
2) They both make a lot of noise.
3) They both like to ride in the back of trucks.
4) They both leak on the carpet.

 

With a bike, the motive is especially salient - to prevent getting run down by inattentive drivers.

That said- whenever I was next to or in front of HD riders, I would rev the heck out if my exotic fitted with Tubi's to drowned out their crap cans. There is nothing that crushes their egos more than realizing they don't have the loudest machines on the street.

 

It gets crazier than that. Over in Belgium we have modelled our society after the works of Franz Kafka.

- Harley sans muffler or much of anything exhaust wise can terrorise the neighbourhood all day and all night, no problem.
- Boomboxes on wheels are not an issue, unless with some local authorities (one of the great proponents of the fight against those has recently killed himself, btw)
- A 4C nobody can do anything against. Same with say a Lotus 7 with side exhausts, as long as it has been allowed on the road in that particular spec.
- A grey area would be a car with "oldtimer" plates : no more yearly MOT required. So assume you own an F40 and you want to run it with a competition exhaust, best to put it on those plates and they will be less likely to get noticed, legally.

Here comes : anything that produces more than 95dB gets kicked off the local racetrack (Zolder).
So during 4C intro days for dealers, said salesmen were asked not to touch the gas
Theoretically, a meeting of the Harley Club, trying to drown out a bunch of side exhaust Lotus 7, while looking at a drifting F40 with competition exhaust, on the circuit parking lot, would not be a problem - while a 4C giving it the beans on the track would get a black flag for being too noisy.

We're still working on a law where we all turn into beetles.

 

I have a theory...the louder the Harley, the smaller the penis. Like I said..it's just a theory.

 

It's true, and the reason why I had to sell my Harley.

 

https://youtu.be/u9oatwOt61Y


recorded and edited by my GoPro fanatic local Fiat/AR studio manager....

 

I always wonder about the "tough guy" image of the Harleys.


Schmuck: you're riding the Buick of motorcycles.

 

The image was from a movie in the 50s with James Dean."Rebel with a Small PeePee" I think. Then in the 60s Easy Rider came out with Peter Fonda and Jack Nickleson and the free spirit lets get high image was introduced. Then when the Stones hired the Hell's Angels for security at their concert the gangs got tons of publicity. So anyone that wants people to think they're a badass buys a Harley. Granted most people just like to ride buts it's the one's that just want attention have the loudest bikes ( maybe they should of bought a 4C?? hahaha). I say..put a strobe light on the bike like school buses..that'll knock them down a few pegs and reduce noise pollution.

 

Does that mean true in reverse, and apply to cars too ?
The smaller the bike, the bigger the peepee ?
The smaller the car, the bigger the peepee ?
I am happy with my 4C, probably should get a vespa scooter also

 

Skateboards and roller skates.

 

You cracked me up.
It is Friday ! Can not wait to get out of my office to drive the 4C.
BTW, I think Racer Z is US version of 4Canada.
I guess he does not work either and if we see a beach bum with a laptop near Venice beach, then it is him

 

With a 4C, and a skate board…
and a very long…er, you know.

Stupid me - I brought the truck to work today. Have to wait until tomorrow to drive the 4C again!

 

Come on Z..it only hurts from the Harley sitting in the hot California sunshine all day. hahahahah

 

Sounds like the voice of experience.

 

Yep, I use to live in LA. Wasn't as hot as Phoenix, but I had to be careful with the family jewels.

 

Agreed. He probably had a rough day and was being a douche bag.

 

Which beach were you at? Nearly all beach towns on the Jersey shore have walking cops that target loud sound systems bikes, and exhausts. I've had friends ticketed in Belmar and Seaside for this crap and I think its just a quick cash grab.

Btw - Thompson Maserati in Doylestown is launching their AR franchise soon. Its going to be a duo Rati/Alfa and I'm very happy about that since I'm very loyal to Thompson BMW. Hopefully they'll get a bassalt grey on in stock soon.