MA? Fined for having no cats?

OrangeMustangGt · Nov 8, 2007

If I were to get pulled over, is there a fine in MA for having no cats? I heard 2k per cat missing> ??!!

95BlueStallion · Nov 9, 2007

I always thought that if your state has a yearly vehicle inspection, you will get in trouble for not running cats. I know my bros car didnt pass inspection in TX when he bought it without cats... I dont have that problem in IA, no inspection!

SublimeRT · Nov 9, 2007

I'm pretty sure it is a federal offense to tamper with any emissions devices regardless if there is annual inspections and/or testing in your area. I heard of people getting busted and fined for no cats in Houston quite often when I lived there.

Car Nut · Nov 9, 2007

Local shops around here won't install mid-pipes unless you're cats are busted. I'm sure there are a few places that will look the other way, but I've personally seen people turned away.

When I had my X-pipe replaced, I simply told the shop what I needed installed and then showed them the diagnostic report from a local Ford dealer (which showed that both cats had failed).

Of course, Ford would have replaced my mid-pipe with another stock one for about $1,800.00 (not joking here). I bought the Bassani catted pipe for $400 and another $80 for the install at my favorite local shop. Problem solved.

$2,000 fine per missing cat? Wow! Not sure about MA, but I've heard of it being a couple hundred in some states OR a warning given to get it fixed or face impoundment on the next offense.

The Green GT · Nov 9, 2007

My car passed with no cats OR mufflers.

But I live in redneck country lmao

earleys94gt · Nov 9, 2007

It is a federal offense to run your car without cats.

You can also get into federal trouble for removing a properly functioning cat.

It varies state to state, but I don't think cops can do "emission checks"

I think they have to send you to a test center.

The Green GT · Nov 9, 2007

earleys94gt said:
It is a federal offense to run your car without cats.

You can also get into federal trouble for removing a properly functioning cat.

It varies state to state, but I don't think cops can do "emission checks"

I think they have to send you to a test center.

They can give you a ticket for loud exhaust and make you come in 30 days with it fixed, but besides that, they cant do anything else.

95BlueStallion · Nov 9, 2007

"My car passed with no cats OR mufflers."

Nice, I dont know who would let that go, but hey I wouldnt complain!

vp6799 · Nov 10, 2007

It's a federal offense to tamper with good working cats. I have yet to see or hear of someone in MA getting busted on the side of the road by an officer looking for cats. I look at it as if you don't give them a reason too look, then they won't.

Just make sure your car isn't extremely load. That might draw unwanted attention. State troopers in MA do have the right to do a safety and visual inspection of any vehicle they pull over. It's one of those laws that don't get enforced. I would think that you would really have to piss off the officer for he/she to do this.

My cats were junk and they have been removed temporarily. It did pass inspection and emissions without a problem.

OrangeMustangGt · Nov 10, 2007

whell, i put on some "fats" just so it can pass a visual for this year's inspection sticker(dont have to run the dyno test this year) the stock heatshields work nicely!

My brother told me someone he knows got pulled over in a stang with no cats and they fined him $2000 per cat missing for a total of $8000! I was worried to say the least!

reddy351 · Nov 10, 2007

GreenMustangGt said:
My brother told me someone he knows got pulled over in a stang with no cats and they fined him $2000 per cat missing for a total of $8000! I was worried to say the least!

I'm pretty sure that the large fines like that are for shops that install the "not legal" parts. Not the owner of the car. Most states would give you a small fine, at most. Then you would have to make the car legal again and prove to the state that it is "legal". (Re-inspect within 30 days kind of thing.)

I'd say that if you're non-compliant for a long enough time (after they have given plenty of chances to fix it), then they would blast you with a bigger fine.

RAD · Nov 10, 2007

GreenMustangGt said:
whell, i put on some "fats" just so it can pass a visual for this year's inspection sticker(dont have to run the dyno test this year) the stock heatshields work nicely!

My brother told me someone he knows got pulled over in a stang with no cats and they fined him $2000 per cat missing for a total of $8000! I was worried to say the least!

WOW!!!! $8000

Pokageek · Nov 10, 2007

Tampering with running cats up to 70k miles is illegal...but a federal offense? Driving a car without cats is a federal offense? Where did you get this information? Thanks.

The $8k thing is total crapola I am not buying it.

GTA_V6_Mustang · Nov 10, 2007

I know the worst I have seen is a friend of mine get fined $40 for having no cats, thats it. I just run High flow cats so in case they bring emmissions back here I will have no problem.

vp6799 · Nov 12, 2007

GreenMustangGt said:
whell, i put on some "fats" just so it can pass a visual for this year's inspection sticker(dont have to run the dyno test this year) the stock heatshields work nicely!

My brother told me someone he knows got pulled over in a stang with no cats and they fined him $2000 per cat missing for a total of $8000! I was worried to say the least!

There is no more 1 year safety and 1 year emissions testing in mass. The system does it randomly now. You could go for safety or safety and emissions next year.

There is no way the $8000 fines are true. I was told that it's a federal offense if the cat is in good working order. The worst they can do is give you an improper equipment fine and pull your registration until you can prove it got repaired.

The best way to do it is to open up the cat and weld a pipe from one opening to the other. so it will flow through without disturbing the rest. Then fill the cat half way with sand and weld it back up. That way it will still be mounted on the car and the sand will keep it from giving the hollow sound when it gets hit for the hollowed cat test.

MA? Fined for having no cats?

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