Loud Exhaust law
 

The state of New Jersey has yet to adopt the SAE 95 db limit. But currently there is a bill being passed..

Show your support of this bill and support of our right to our hobby contact Assemblyman Gordon and members of the New Jersey Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee immediately by phone at (609) 292-5135 or e-mail to request their support of the 95-decibel limit under SAE J1169.

Moderators Please make this a sticky and people please spread the word around to other auto forums in NJ.



Legislation to Establish Exhaust Noise Limit Introduced in New Jersey; to be Considered by Assembly Committee - January 2005



URGENT LEGISLATIVE ALERT

Legislation to Establish Exhaust Noise Limit Introduced in New Jersey; to be Considered by Assembly Committee

Legislation (A.B. 3738) that would require the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to prescribe a decibel limit to which all aftermarket mufflers sold in the state would have to be certified to operate has been introduced in the New Jersey State Legislature. The bill, introduced By Assemblyman Robert Gordon, gives no instruction as to what the decibel limit should be.

In some states, noise limits for modified exhaust systems are established by a SEMA model bill (attached) and applicable to an easy to administer test standard. The SEMA model provides for the testing of vehicle exhaust noise to a standard adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) with an established noise limit of 95-decibels (SAE J1169). Under the SAE standard, a sound meter is placed 20 inches from the exhaust outlet at a 45-degree angle and the engine is revved to three quarters of maximum rated horsepower. The highest decibel reading is then recorded.

To date, with the popular support of vehicle enthusiasts and related businesses, the model has been enacted in California, Washington State and Maine. This year, the SEMA model was introduced in Virginia.

Contact members of the New Jersey Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee (List to Follow) to request their support for a 95-decibel limit under SAE J1169

The SEMA model removes subjective provisions in the law and force compliance with an objectively measured standard. Under the standard, exhaust noise could not exceed a sound reading of 95-decibels under a fair and predictable test.
The SEMA model would benefit consumers, the aftermarket industry and police officers who are charged with enforcing the law.
The SEMA model would remedy the enforcement policy currently used by police officers in which nearly all exhaust system modifications are considered illegal, even where noise levels are not excessive or unusual. This policy leaves enthusiasts, exhaust system manufacturers and dealers without recourse, despite having the law on their side.
The SEMA model recognizes that aftermarket exhaust systems are designed to make vehicles run more efficiently without increasing emissions.
The SEMA model removes authority for the calculation of a decibel limit from state regulators and puts it back in the hands of your elected representatives.
DON’T DELAY! Please contact Assemblyman Gordon and members of the New Jersey Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee immediately by phone at (609) 292-5135 or e-mail to request their support of the 95-decibel limit under SAE J1169.

NJ Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee

John F. McKeon
Email: asmmckeon@njleg.org

Michael J. Panter (District 12 - Colts Neck Township)
Email: Legislative Contact Service

Larry Chatzidakis
Email: AsmChatzidakis@njleg.org

Robert M. Gordon (District 38 - Cliffside Park Borough)
Email: Legislative Contact Service

Reed Gusciora
Email: reednj15@aol.com

Louis Manzo (District 31 - Bayonne City)
Email: Legislative Contact Service

John E. Rooney
Email: AsmRooney@njleg.org


PROPOSED AMENDMENT (changes in [brackets])

*** THIS DOCUMENT IS CURRENT THROUGH P.L. 2002 CH. 62, 8/6/2002 ***
*** NOVEMBER 8, 2002 ANNOTATION SERVICE ***

TITLE 39. MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC REGULATION
SUBTITLE 1. MOTOR VEHICLES GENERALLY; TRAFFIC LAWS
CHAPTER 3. MOTOR VEHICLES GENERALLY
ARTICLE 3. EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATION


GO TO CODE ARCHIVE DIRECTORY FOR THIS JURISDICTION

N.J. Stat. @ 39:3-70 (2002)

@ 39:3-70. [Mufflers]

Every motor vehicle having a combustion motor shall at all times be equipped
with a [muffler] in good working order and in constant operation to prevent
[excessive or unusual noise and] annoying smoke, AND NO PERSON SHALL MODIFY THE EXHAUST SYSTEM OF A MOTOR VEHICLE IN A MANNER SO THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM EMITS IN EXCESS OF NINETY-FIVE DECIBELS AS MEASURED BY THE SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS (SAE) STANDARD J1169 (May 1998). IT SHALL NOT BE A VIOLATION OF THIS SUBSECTION UNLESS PROVEN BY PROPER AUTHORITIES THAT THE EXHAUST SYTEM MODIFICATION RESULTS IN NOISE AMPLIFICATION IN EXCESS OF NINETY-FIVE DECIBELS UNDER THE PRESCRIBED SAE TEST STANDARD.

A COURT MAY DISMISS ANY ACTION FOR WHICH A PERSON IS PROSECUTED FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE IN VIOLATION OF THIS SUBSECTION IF IT IS FOUND THAT THE DEFENDANT HAD REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERATED IN VIOLATION OF THIS SUBSECTION.

[and] n No person shall use a [muffler] cut-out, bypass or similar device upon a motor vehicle on a highway.

new jersey doesnt have to adopt the 95db limit. it is already part of federal highway law. so you have to meet 95db on any road that was in any part paid for with federal money, which is every road everywhere in the country.
this is more a formality than anything.

later
tim

hmm any idea what a borla with the least plate before fully open would put out?

my 91 camaro had headers+!cat+borla with open plate and i only registered about 78db reving it to 3K in my driveway.
the standard for testing is actually supposed to be at a load and engine rpm consistant with highway travel. teh testing equipment is also supposed to be 60ft away i believe, so it has to be loud enough to exceed 95db at part throttle from 60ft away.
i can't imagien a lot of systmes actually fail this kind of test.

later
tim

The only one that comes to mind would be the SLP Loudmouth, and even at that, the car would probably need an Off-road Y-pipe to be that loud that far away.

Actually NJ refuses to adopt some of the federal highway standards and chooses to make some of their own rules which is why there are tolls on 95 which is an interstate federally funded road. The government refuses to pay any financial support to states that don't adopt all of the federal standards.

and yet i fail inspection for loud exhaust when all ive got is some headers, a cat, and hooker cat-back. when i bring it back im gonna slap them in the face with this ****. ill tell em i tightened the bolts...and if they say its too loud ill say measure it...if tim cant be near 95 with no cat, headers, and an open plate borla...i shouldve passed just fine.

how bought we all go up to the inspection station and run open headers and make them **** their pants and run like babies :lol:

do you even have headers?

Hey im gettin there give me a month or so.

trust me we get financial support...otherwise all of our roads would look like the entrance to island dragway.

Hey, all I know is my exhaust as it is, is "50 State Legal" and last time I read my government books, federal superseeds state & local law.

i think thats only for emissions :shrug:

It's on a road by road basis. We get nothing for 95 because at first NJ wouldn't adopt the federal speed limit for interstate roads, now that NJ has tolls on a federal road, the governemnt won't assist in any way for the maintenance of 95.

I got no problem with them passing such a law as long as they do the same for motorcycles.

thats actually the main factor behind this law. open pipes on 1200's, though it sounds amazing, is damn loud. plus, it doesnt help when riders blip the throttle while going through crowded/populated areas.