OFF THE WIRE
CALIFORNIA TO BEGIN ENFORCING MODIFIED EXHAUST PENALTIES
As of January 1, 2019, a modified exhaust on an automobile or
motorcycle in California, excessively loud, can no longer be cited as
a correctable violation. Previously, if you were cited you had time
to get it fixed in order to avoid paying the fine, but Assembly Bill
AB1824 carves out an exception for exhaust noise by removing the
opportunity to correct the violation and requires a citation to result
in a fine only.
AB 1824, which was sponsored by the Assembly Committee on Budget and
signed into law by then-Governor Jerry Brown in June of 2018, does not
change existing laws pertaining to exhaust noise or sale and
installation of aftermarket exhaust systems, but rather amends how
excess exhaust noise violations are handled by law enforcement.
Beginning this year, a vehicle cited for violating the current exhaust
noise law will no longer receive what is commonly known as a “fix-it”
ticket. Instead, violations will result in an immediate mandatory
monetary fine.
The fine for a California traffic ticket for “a loud exhaust system”
is up to $1,000 dollars.