BILL AS INTRODUCED H.803
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1 H.803
2 Introduced by Representatives Chase of Colchester, Birong of Vergennes,
3 Hooper of Burlington, McCarthy of St. Albans City, Nugent of
4 South Burlington, and Waters Evans of Charlotte
5 Referred to Committee on
6 Date:
7 Subject: Motor vehicles; equipment; exhaust system modification
8 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to prohibit the
9 modification of a motor vehicle’s exhaust system so that it emits in excess of
10 95 decibels.
11 An act relating to the modification of a motor vehicle’s exhaust system
12 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
13 Sec. 1. 23 V.S.A. § 1221 is amended to read:
14 § 1221. CONDITION OF VEHICLE; EXHAUST SYSTEM
15 (a) A motor vehicle, operated on any highway, shall be in good mechanical
16 condition and shall be properly equipped.
17 (b) No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a
18 manner that causes the exhaust system to emit in excess of 95 decibels as
19 measured in accordance with SAE International (SAE) Standard J1492, as
20 amended, or any subsequent standard developed and implemented by SAE.
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1 (c) A violation of subsection (b) of this section may only be proven by
2 showing that exhaust system modifications resulted in noise amplification in
3 excess of 95 decibels under the SAE standard.
4 (d) A violation of subsection (b) may be dismissed if it is found that the
5 operator had reasonable grounds to believe that the vehicle was not operated in
6 violation of subsection (b) of this section.
7 (e) Subsection (b) of this section shall not apply when a motor vehicle is
8 operated in a race, contest, or demonstration of speed or skill at an authorized
9 public exhibition held in accordance with State or municipal law and land use
10 permits.
11 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE
12 This act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.
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Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 23-1221