Not to be an ass, but you could have ...

1) Lowered it a little to improve performance/looks
2) Kept the airbag so you don't die when you wreck rear-end some jackass diplomat on 395
3) Have a cat so that the rest of us can hear our radios
4) Keep the emissions stuff so we can enjoy our city
5) Tint it a little. You're in Fairfax, not Quito. It's not that hot here.

I'm only half kidding, not trying to be an ass.
Good luck with the tickets, though. That part does suck.