OFF THE WIRE
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_15606079 Ask a cop: Always ride or drive your vehicles quietly By Officer Al Perez Posted: 07/26/2010 12:22:35 PM PDT
I was asked recently about the rules and regulations for loud exhausts on cars and motorcycles.
Well, we do see many cars, trucks and motorcycles having altered exhaust systems. I have spoken to some owners who come in to our CHP office to have their citation cleared. When I asked why they made these changes to their vehicles, most of them said they did it because they thought it made their vehicle "sound cool," or they thought it would enhance the performance of their vehicles by increasing the horsepower.
I spoke with a motorcycle owner who came in to have a ticket signed off for a loud exhaust. He said one of the reasons he changed from stock to a louder exhaust was because he heard that "loud pipes save lives."
I did some research on "loud pipes save lives," and I could not find a credible study that shows riding a quiet motorcycle is any less safe than riding a loud one. In fact, there are thousands of riders who ride their quiet bikes safely every day.
There are many other proven ways to improve motorcycle safety, such as attending a safety class taught by a qualified instructor, wearing highly visible, bright color clothing, not riding when tired and absolutely no riding after consuming alcoholic beverages.
One of the articles I read said the following:
"The Harley Davidson Company asks its customers to ride quietly, and the largest motorcycle organizations, the American Motorcyclists Association and Motorcycle
Riders Foundation, also urge its members to ride quietly and respectfully." I found that there are many riders who truly believe the loud pipes on their motorcycles have saved their lives, while just as many others say you can really only hear those loud pipes when you're on the bike or behind the bike, because the sounds are emitting to the rear, and not the front.
In any case, when the owner of a motorcycle, car, or truck alters the exhaust system to make it louder, he or she is in violation of the law. In fact, motorcycles made after 1982 should have an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) noise compliance label.
If you look under "Noise Control System, Tampering" in any motorcycle owner's manual, you will see a warning to the owner that removal or replacement of any noise control system component may be prohibited by law. I also found out that most companies who sell after-market exhaust systems and mufflers display the following statement, "This product is designed for use in close course racing and not intended for highway use."
The following California Vehicle Code sections are the laws governing the alteration and amplification of exhausts systems on motor vehicles.
Section, 27150 (a) reads as follows: "Every motor vehicle subject to registration shall at all times be equipped with an adequate muffler in constant operation and properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise, and no muffler or exhaust system shall be equipped with a cutout, bypass, or similar device."
This law applies to all motor vehicles on public highway and does not apply to passenger vehicles being operated off the highway in an organized race.
Section 27151 (a) reads as follows: "No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor of the vehicle so that the vehicle is not in compliance with the provisions of Section 27150 or exceeds the noise limits established for the type of vehicle in Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 27200). No person shall operate a motor vehicle with an exhaust system so modified."
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has issued 15,045 citations for violation of section 27150 (a) and 13,799 citations for violation of section 27151 (a). These citations were issued from 2005 to current date and 1,965 of these citations were issued to motorcycles.
If you make these types of modifications to your car, truck or motorcycle for a reason such as, "sounds cool, more horsepower or loud pipes save lives," you are in violation of the law and are taking a risk of being cited for such violation/s.
If any of you have been issued a citation for operating a motor vehicle in violation of sections 27150 or 27151, I will explain the process to have them cleared or signed off.
If you received a citation for a car or truck, the only certified agency to sign off these types of violations is the Bureau of Automotive Repair, State Referee. You can call their Scheduling Center at (800) 622-7733 and make an appointment.
If you received a citation for a motorcycle, you are currently not required to take your motorcycle to a State Referee; the CHP can sign off these types of violations on motorcycles.
Once the citation has been signed off, you must show proof of correction to the court. Keep in mind the court now charges $25 for dismissible infractions.
As always buckle up and make sure everyone in your vehicle is buckled, no matter how short or long your trip may be.
Officer Al Perez works out of the California Highway Patrol's Santa Fe Springs Division. E-mail him with your parking- or traffic-related questions to alf.perez@chp.ca.gov
