Well the on-going with one of the 1% in the area can explain the reasons for the increase and the stops. That said it is unfortunate situation and something that we have to deal with at time, much along the lines of being overall checked by TSA and Homeland security at time due to increase threats.
That said, they stopped you, you were not and even if you were, unless you were wanted on a warrent, you would still have rights. Now that is stopped you and from your first message, it sounds like the only item would be the helment, still the question remains on the exhaust and taking pictures.
For me it would boil down to do I just pay the ticket and forget about it, or excerisze my rights and go to court and fight the exhaust. I tend to go and let the courts deal with issue.
First would be to plead to the helment if and only if, the detail law states it has to be certified and approved to DOT and/or Snell. If it doesn't say so and just says helment (highly unlikely but possible), then fight that. Also there has been times were States have said that it must be approved by State, but then the states go to DOT (been tested more than a few times and dismissed since no States conducts Testing-thus unenforceable).
On the Exhaust, regardless if you had Mean Mothers, Hookers, stock, or a set of open exhaust pipes from the backyard on it, the law states what the requirement is.
From what I can tell, if they did not do the test as per the statue, they can not say if it was within or not, regardless of how much experience, how good of hearing or anything else the officer may have. Now if he wrote you up for changing EPA/CARB approved equipment, different scenario.
I do not sugget that you change the pipes and get the stock tested, for IMHO that would make you as wrong oas the officer. Basically you would be lying in court (prejury) and if they ever found out-not good. PLus if the law states the requirements for measuring, there is no need too. Nor is a defendant required to prove otherwise, it is always the prosecution that is required to prove it, not you to prove them wrong.
So for me, it would go to court, plead to the helment, not to the exhaust. No need discussing with the officer unless he starts to just push the subject, then question him, however before you do, make sure you know the statues inside and out. Can quote them in your sleep on exhaust and including and subs and one realted.
On the tattoos, unless you want to get a lawyer and start investigating what there authority is in regards to taking pictures of such, best to just leave it alone. BTW you were not arrested were you?
If you were, most laws allow such pcitures to be taken, if not it is very iffy and could border on your rights to be treated different including gathering data unless that is a standard procedure for all motorist in CA now.
One last item, be carefull for all in PA, there is some towns that actually do have the equipment set up for measuring the db levels of exhaust and they have no issues writting the tickets. Friend of mine got one last year and, sure as shit it had the equipment used, the calibration date and specifics on it for the the ticket. He paid it !!!!
