§1912. Mufflers
1. Muffler required. A person may not operate a motor vehicle unless that vehicle is equipped with an adequate muffler properly maintained to prevent excessive or unusual noise. For purposes of this subsection, “excessive or unusual noise” includes motor noise emitted by a motor vehicle that is noticeably louder than similar vehicles in the environment.
[PL 2009, c. 639, §1 (AMD).]
2. Cutouts prohibited. A muffler or exhaust system may not be equipped with a cutout, bypass or similar device.
[PL 2015, c. 206, §8 (AMD).]
3. Amplification prohibited. A person may not operate a motor vehicle with an exhaust system that has been modified when the result of that modification is the amplification or increase of noise emitted by the motor above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle.
[PL 2009, c. 639, §2 (AMD).]
4. Exhaust system fastened to engine. The entire exhaust system must be complete, without leakage and securely fastened to the engine block and frame.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
5. Exception; racing meets.
A. [PL 2015, c. 206, §9 (RP).]
B. [PL 2015, c. 206, §9 (RP).]
C. [PL 2015, c. 206, §9 (RP).]
D. [PL 2015, c. 206, §9 (RP).]
[PL 2015, c. 206, §9 (RP).]
6. Defense for noise violations by motor vehicles. The following are defenses to a violation of subsection 1 or 3.
A. If a muffler or exhaust system of a motor vehicle as defined in section 101, subsection 42, not including a motorcycle, does not emit noise in excess of 95 decibels as measured in accordance with standards and specifications outlined in standard J-1169 adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers in May 1998, subsections 1 and 3 do not apply. A person served with a Violation Summons and Complaint charging a violation of subsection 1 or 3 must provide satisfactory evidence that the muffler or exhaust system does not emit noise in excess of 95 decibels as measured in accordance with standards and specifications outlined in standard J-1169 adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers in May 1998. Measurements must be made by a participating certified inspection station. [PL 2011, c. 158, §1 (NEW).]
B. [PL 2013, c. 100, §1 (RP).]
[PL 2013, c. 100, §1 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 140, §1 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, §Q23 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, §X2 (AFF). PL 2005, c. 314, §11 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 639, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 158, §1 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 100, §1 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 206, §§8, 9 (AMD).
Copyright ©2024 LegalFix. All rights reserved. LegalFix is not a law firm, is not licensed to practice law, and does not provide legal advice, services, or representation. The information on this website is an overview of the legal plans you can purchase—or that may be provided by your employer as an employee benefit or by your credit union or other membership group as a membership benefit.
LegalFix provides its members with easy access to affordable legal services through a network of independent law firms. LegalFix, its corporate entity, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and contractors do not provide legal advice, services, or representation—directly or indirectly.
The articles and information on the site are not legal advice and should not be relied upon—they are for information purposes only. You should become a LegalFix member to get legal services from one of our network law firms.
You should not disclose confidential or potentially incriminating information to LegalFix—you should only communicate such information to your network law firm.
The benefits and legal services described in the LegalFix legal plans are not always available in all states or with all plans. See the legal plan Benefit Overview and the more comprehensive legal plan contract during checkout for coverage details in your state.
Use of this website, the purchase of legal plans, and access to the LegalFix networks of law firms are subject to the LegalFix Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.