THE MORE YOU KNOW: California has passed a strict new exhaust law

When the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2019, a new traffic law went into effect in California regarding aftermarket exhausts. Before, if you got pulled over for an “excessively loud” exhaust, officers had the option to give you a “fix-it” ticket. That meant rather than getting slapped with the full violation fine, you could put the stock unit back on, take it to an inspection station, and pay a small $25 fine to cover the paperwork. That is no longer possible, and you will have to pay the full fine.

The new law, Assembly Bill 1824, is written in confusing legal jargon, but the California Highway Patrol has confirmed in simpler language. The Antelope Valley CHP also reiterated on their Facebook page in even more direct language:

As of January 1, 2019, a modified exhaust on an automobile or motorcycle, excessively loud, can no longer be cited as a correctable violation. Assembly Bill AB1824 has taken away the opportunity to correct the violation and requires a citation for such violation to result in a fine only. In many cases may also result in a trip to the Bureau of Automotive Repair B.A.R. If you feel your vehicle is grossly negligent in this area, removing resonators, deleting mufflers etc. You know who you are. Don’t waste your hard earned money on this violation. Drive safe everyone.

The fine, which can range from $200 to $1,000, can no longer be dropped. You’ll still have to put it back to stock; you’ll just be out $175 to $975 more than before. And In case you’re wondering, the noise limit is 95 decibels for a vehicle weighing less than 6,000 pounds. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. This has been a public service announcement from JNC.

 

 

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38 Responses to THE MORE YOU KNOW: California has passed a strict new exhaust law

  1. Cesariojpn says:

    The events in “Escape from LA” can’t come soon enough.

  2. Gwynn says:

    Honestly, 95db is pretty loud. Our local AutoX group caps at 93db. But, that being said there’s a bunch of factory exhausts on things like Porsche and Lotus cars that will blow over bone-stock. The question is how enforceable is this? Do the officers have db meters? Seems like easy thing to argue out of in court even if it’s a pain in the arse.

  3. Mike in Long Beach says:

    So, no change to the restrictions on exhaust sound levels. This change just eliminates the strategy of “Get fixit-ticket, go home and install stock exhaust, get fix-it inspection, go home and reinstall loud aftermarket exhaust.” Now you will have to include “pay the fine”: in that to-do list.

  4. Alan says:

    “If you feel that you’ve exercised your right to be free in an ostensibly free country, you know who you are–stop it, or we’ll waste your time and take your money to enforce more arbitrary, vague, overstepping laws in order to extract yet more hidden taxes for the purpose of funding our byzantine, corrupt, faceless bureaucracy. Drive safe everyone, and remember, the government is your friend.”

    • Tama5 says:

      Your right to “freedom” ends when you wake me up at 3am with your exhaust.

      • Alan says:

        Wah wah wah. Let’s get the government involved. BTW, I’m an adult, I only let it rip when appropriate, under consideration of others. We don’t need more laws mandating civil respect, that starts at home with one’s parents.

        • Jacob Shafer says:

          Completely agree, I whom is a motorcycle rider have a louder exhuast to be heard. It has saved me in many cases!

          • Papageno says:

            You don’t have the right to harm other people with farting of apocalyptic magnitude in the name of your safety. If you are afraid about your life, change your hobby to a safer one. Those who suffer from the noise emitting from your motorcycle don’t care about your safety. Quite opposite, many of them wish you crash on the next crossings – just like the person under torture wishes death to his oppressor.

        • Paul Scott says:

          Clearly your parents didn’t teach you basic decency. Making a lot of noise that disturb thousands of people every time you ride is not what decent people do.

          We have the legal right to quiet enjoyment of our property. You take that from us when you ride through our neighborhoods.

          • Jay Rex says:

            “The legal right to quiet enjoyment of our property.”

            You sound like a sterotypical clown pulling out “I have imaginary legal rights” out of your ass that don’t actually have any merit nor are written anywhere.

            If what you’re saying is true, then you should be able to outlaw jackhammers and next door construction. You don’t, you can’t.

            If you don’t want to live in a busy, noisy city… then maybe you shouldn’t live there. Go live somewhere else away from the rest of humanity.

      • Lucky8 says:

        wear ear plugs then

      • Lucky8 says:

        grow up and suck it up. DBAB all the way. i like to live my life to the fullest and enjoy my toys. Why dont you go cry to your momma.

    • Papageno says:

      (This was posted already in some other place, but I think would be a good answer to the comment by Jay Rex):

      The law should protect citizens from evil acts from other citizens, like robbery, thief, physical abuse etc.
      Driving a vehicle with very loud, modified exhaust is an act of evil. It is harming other people. It is not freedom. There were times when it was OK to shoot a N…r or an Indian for that example. Fortunately, the society has grown up and decided that it is not legal anymore. You didn’t grew up. You don’t understand what freedom is. It is not a condition, under which you can do whatever you want without consideration how it may affect other people. But I know what is your philosophy – “screw other people”. I’ve heard it many times.
      You tell Paul that he should leave the city if he doesn’t like it. And go where? Unfortunately people like you are everywhere, even in the country.

  5. Tama5 says:

    This was desperately needed. The bro-dozer and Harley crowds are the biggest offenders around here.

    Anyone who thinks their street car needs to be excessively loud to make power doesn’t know how to properly tune a car.

    Now if they’ll do only do something similar for HIDs in halogen headlight housings and LED light bars…

    • Jacob Shafer says:

      Heres the only reason my motorcycle is loud. Stock you cant hear me next to you with your music play or not paying full attention. Ive been hit twice becuase people couldnt see me. A minor inconvenience for a whole 2 mins shouldnt be a big deal when it comes to possibly saving a life. Im not a harley so im not super obnoxious like most and I respect my neighbors (most whom love my exhuast)

  6. Alan says:

    Thanks for the ignorant slur, much appreciated.

  7. The Last Grizzly Bear says:

    California is grossly overrated, overhyped and overpriced.

    This is just another tactic to make the state more comfortable for the rich and increasingly more oppressive for everyone else.

    Lest we all forget, even a $975 fine is negligible for SOME people…but will undoubtedly sink others. The impound lots are gonna be overflowing soon!

    • Paul Scott says:

      The rich and poor alike are disturbed by your loud pipes. I hope the impound lots fill up to overflowing with all the loud bikes.

  8. JDG says:

    “As of January 1, 2019, a modified exhaust on an automobile or motorcycle, excessively loud, can no longer be cited as a correctable violation.”

    Ok so theres a bit of confusion about this but its understandable since even the cops don’t know their own laws. First off THERE IS NO NEW LAW! This is the same CVC27150/27151 that has been around for decades, the only difference is now it is no longer correctable by going back to stock and getting it checked off, you will have to actually show up in court to fight it, just like any other moving violation. Also there is NO MANDATORY $1000 FINE if you beat the ticket. And heres how you’ll beat the ticket. Once received you will make sure your car can meet the SAE J1169 standard exhaust noise test that the state ref uses, this shouldnt be too difficult (95Db at 20″ at 3/4 throttle) you will have the state ref issue you a Certificate of Compliance stating that your exhaust meets the SAE J1169 standards that you will take into court and get the ticket dismissed. Having a modified/non-factory exhaust is NOT ILLEGAL! despite what any mis-informed/dishonest cop would have you believe. CVC27150/27151 are only about the noise level of the exhaust, modified/aftermarket exhaust after the cats are legal!

  9. Don says:

    What about the Harleys?
    Where I come from 99% of noisy “vehicles” are Harleys
    Are they to be policed too?

    • Papageno says:

      Harleys, no. There will be no enforcement as it comes to Harleys. Many police officers ride Harleys after duty. Of course, they also modify (which is illegal) their exhausts. So, how can you expect they will be enforcing that law on Harleys?
      This is called selective enforcement, or something like that.

  10. Matt says:

    Alan , well said . This is another law that gives probable cause to be pulled over and law inforcement to waste your time . When will California realize that liberalism is the belief in MORE : more laws , fines and control . In other words tyranny.

    • Alan says:

      Let’s not make any assumptions about my political leanings, or go down that road. I’m certainly no Republican or fan of president orange baby.

      Now, back to the cars.

  11. Negishi no Keibajo says:

    I don’t live in California but… what is enforced on vehicles in excess of 6000 GVWT? While the occasional straightpipe is indeed a nuisance, how about that construction site of roaring cement mixers, pile drivers, & dump trucks with jake brakes that seem to ignore posted signs? I’m fed up of municipalities not enforcing commercial operators. I do “shift work” & theres a construction company next door right now dumping demo concrete into empty dumpsters for trucks roaring off with the stuff. “Drive safe” my …

    OK, I’ll stop. ?

  12. Kevin T says:

    They say, make America great again…motherf***er, turning this country in to shit. The hardworking middle class is getting punked and bullied. The polices job is to serve and protect right? While they pull over every car that has a modified exhaust or that they think is considered loud, there is another bank getting robbed, another person getting killed, raped, etc etc. These laws are stupid af.

    • cesariojpn says:

      We’re talking about California here now…..

    • Papageno says:

      The law should protect citizens from evil acts from other citizens, like robbery, thief, physical abuse etc.
      Driving a vehicle with very loud, modified exhaust is an act of evil. It is harming other people. It is not freedom. There were times when it was OK to shoot a N…r or an Indian for that example. Fortunately, the society has grown up and decided that it is not legal anymore. You didn’t grew up. You don’t understand what freedom is. It is not a condition, under which you can do whatever you want without consideration how it may affect other people. But I know what is your philosophy – “screw other people”. I’ve heard it many times.

  13. saii says:

    How do they deal with Harleys? They come out factory upto 110db… So if you put the stock exhaust on its louder than their specification?

    • Papageno says:

      As far as I remember, the limit imposed by government regulations is 85dB. And manufacturers comply with that. But dealerships and motorcycle owners illegally modify exhausts to be much louder. There are different theories why they do that. One theory tries to explain that with a syndrome of a small dick. This must be compensated with something, most easy way is to emit vulgar, deafening noise. There are also other theories linking this behavior with low esteem, lack of success in life etc.

  14. James Lee says:

    Keep seeing peeps say if you beat the ticket by exhaust meeting noise requirement bla bla bla. If you get one of those shit cops to pull you over because he/she got nothin better to do and is ridin the assumption that in there head your exhaust might be jus a little diff than the norm your gonna in. shit deep. You can be pulled over for tinted glass and if he something different about your exhaust you’re paying. Noise doesnt matter. If you altered it in anyway it’s illegal.

  15. Matt says:

    My favorite part of this is the guy who pioneered the bill is in the 33 rd district; Beverly Hills and Malibu are in that district . A republican representative in one of the most liberal areas of California.I guess the maga rich don’t want to hear noise from they’re posh multi million dollar beech front homes on pch anymore . The funniest part is that most of these people own cars that probably exceed the db . I would hope accountability can be found that these maga rich areas get these tickets also .

  16. Dariusz Gulanczyk says:

    Laws are created to protect people’s interests and to protect people from the evil acts of other people, like robbery, thief, physical abuse etc.
    Driving a vehicle with excessively loud, modified exhaust is an act of evil. It harms other people. It is not an expression of freedom.
    There were times, when it was perfectly OK to shoot an Indian for that example. Fortunately, the society has grown up and decided that this will be no longer legal.
    Looks like some of you didn’t grow up. You don’t understand what freedom is. It is not a condition, under which you can do whatever you want and don’t have any responsibility of your actions.

    • Matt says:

      There’s always a social justice warrior in the crowd , with that said I would think that a fix it ticket would be more than enough . California has bigger fish to fry as far as laws go . Maybe you can give us a lecture on freedom while I pay my property taxes , state taxes , buisness taxes , permit fees ,registration etc.etc.etc

      • Matt says:

        I think the best thing for all the Social justice warriors to do before they tell us about freedom and how irresponsible we are is to check the stock dB levels on most exotics . They don’t pass the new db , but if your rich in California I guess your exempt while the middle class foot the bill

    • Alan says:

      Yes, loud exhausts are EVIL. Easily up there with the likes of slavery, murder, rape, and extortion. Or the class warfare that seems to have inspired this law’s revision (thanks for the info, Matt–very illuminating that all the major outlets are ignoring the bill’s sponsor). Pure, unadulterated evil!! Won’t SOME PULEEEZE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!

      Good grief this discussion gives me a headache.

      • Dariusz Gulanczyk says:

        As it comes to CHILDREN, those are pretty tolerant to noise. But, a strong correlation have been discovered between exposure to noise and their learning achievements.
        I don’t know, but maybe it’s actually good that some of them will be less talented. We will not have to import so much cheap labor from foreign countries then. From my experience, a person of average IQ is unable to stay more at simple industrial job for more than a couple of weeks (at the most). Just gets bored.
        But let’s go back to children, teenagers actually. Teenagers, as everybody knows, love noise. On the opposite side, elderly people not so much. So, it is rather a war between generations instead of a class warfare.

      • BRANDON F says:

        I love Alan !

  17. Eric P says:

    Man, do I love Texas!

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