Legislation Introduced to Repeal 2018 California Exhaust Noise Law
California Assembly members Jim Frazier and Tim Grayson introduced SEMA-supported legislation (A.B. 390) to repeal a 2018 law (A.B. 1824) that amended how California law enforcement officials issue citations for exhaust noise violations, according to SEMA Action Network.
Both assemblymen are members of the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus-also supported by SEMA-and have previously attended the SEMA Show. Assemblyman Frazier is the chair of the Committee on Transportation.
Signed by then-Governor Jerry Brown in June of 2018, A.B. 1824 amended how excess exhaust noise violations are treated by law enforcement. Pursuant to the law, a vehicle cited for violating exhaust noise laws no longer receive what is known as a “fix-it” ticket. Instead, violations now result in an immediate fine. A.B. 390 would re-institute law enforcement’s discretion to issue fix-it tickets, according to SEMA.
In California, exhaust systems installed on motor vehicles with a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating of less than 6,000 pounds., other than motorcycles, may not exceed a sound level of 95 decibels when tested under Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) test procedure J1492 (formerly J1169). This would be unchanged by A.B. 390, according to SEMA.
A.B. 390 is currently awaiting committee assignment in the Assembly. Legislation introduced in the state must undergo a 30-day waiting period before consideration by the legislature.
