Jesus christ, a $1000 fine?
I wonder what exhaust it is. I believe California uses a specific decibel limitation, it's not up to the officers discretion, and it's not just "anything aftermarket".
*edit* Looked it up, it's 95 dBa.
Per a Z shootout, here are the levels of a few I found from the 350Z.
First number is @ idle, second @ 3K rpm, tested at 20 feet back. California tests at 50 feet back.
OEM: 81db / 89db
Borla: 88db / 92db
NISMO: 84db / 95db
Stillen: 84db / 93db
Injen: 83 db/ 99db
5Zigen: 87db / 105db
They should absolutely fight that if they aren't running test pipes or something.
*double edit*
He's running a Tomei and probably a test pipe (even race tracks have lower decibel limits), and posts street racing in traffic on his Instagram. He also wrecked a previous Z due to a "truck that came out of nowhere". I'd argue the guy was driving like a jackass and gave the cop cause.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BepGSWLHgwx/?hl=en