I live in Virginia with the same problems! welcome to the club!
If you got a ticket for the muffler, all you have to do is get a silencer for it.
I usually show the cop the silencer in the muffler, then take it out in like a day or two.
The only other thing that I can say is that our cars are prime targets in this area. Ive been pulled over a ton of times. Fortunetly Ive been able to get off of everyone. Where in Va do you live?