Inspection Nightmare - Should I scrap my headers?

[Brendon]

Well about a month back, I got my car inspected for the first time with my custom exhaust system. It was failed for being too loud. I took it again to another place for a second opinion, this time the Lexus dealership, and they wouldn't even bother starting the inspection because they said its too loud. Right now I'm running a true dual 2.25" from the primary cats. The center cat is gone, along with the two resonators. I also have a pair of Rod Millen Magnaflows for mufflers. While I pass on emissions, it seems to me I'll never be able to pass safety because of the way the new law in Massachusetts is written:


Section 540 CMR 4.04 - Procedures for Inspection of Non-Commercial Motor Vehicles
(5) Muffler and Exhaust System. Accelerate motor to test for prevention of unnecessary noise and emission of any unreasonable amount of smoke. The exhaust system, exhaust manifold(s), exhaust pipe(s), muffler(s), and tailpipe(s), if designed to be so equipped, shall be tight and free of leaks. System components shall be securely fastened with fasteners in place and undamaged. All motor vehicle exhaust systems shall discharge the exhaust beyond operator, passenger, and/or trunk compartment. Unnecessary noise is herein defined as any noise which is louder than that emitted by the vehicle when equipped with the original manufacturer's equipment. A gas or diesel vehicle will be rejected if, at normal operating temperature, at any constant speed over 15 MPH, (approximately 1,000 to 1,200 RPM's) visible black or blue exhaust emissions are evident.


The bold portion of the excert above is the part in which both mechanics failed me on. I'm planning on getting the resonators put back on in order to pass; however, now I face another dilema. About 2 months back I purchased a pair of IMF headers. I talked to a guy at a custom exhaust shop and he warned me that even if I get the resonators put back on, if I install the headers the exhaust will be even louder than it is right now without the resonators. What should I do? How much louder do headers make our V8s? Should I just scrap this entire exhaust idea given that massachusetts is turning fascist?