§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).