HB344: Exhaust system; aftermarket exhausts.

HOUSE BILL NO. 344

Offered January 8, 2020
Prefiled January 1, 2020
A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1049 of the Code of Virginia, relating to exhaust system; aftermarket exhausts.
Patron-- Bell

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 46.2-1049 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 46.2-1049. Exhaust system in good working order.

A. As used in this section, "exhaust system" means all the parts of a vehicle through which the exhaust passes after leaving the engine block, including mufflers and other sound dissipative devices.

B. No person shall drive and no owner of a vehicle shall permit or allow the operation of any such vehicle on a highway unless it is equipped with an exhaust system in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual levels of noise; provided however, that for. For motor vehicles, such exhaust system shall be (i) of a type installed as standard factory equipment, or (ii) comparable to that designed for use on the particular vehicle as standard factory equipment, or (iii) an aftermarket exhaust system that is appropriate for such motor vehicle and prevents a level of noise above the accepted industry standard. An exhaust system shall not be deemed to prevent excessive or unusual noise if it permits the escape of noise in excess of that permitted by the standard factory equipment exhaust system of private passenger motor vehicles or trucks of standard make.

The term "exhaust system," as used in this section, means all the parts of a vehicle through which the exhaust passes after leaving the engine block, including mufflers and other sound dissipative devices.

Chambered pipes are not an effective muffling device to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and any vehicle equipped with chambered pipes shall be deemed in violation of this section.

C. The provisions of this section shall not apply to (i) any antique motor vehicle licensed pursuant to § 46.2-730, provided that the engine is comparable to that designed as standard factory equipment for use on that particular vehicle, and the exhaust system is in good working order, or (ii) converted electric vehicles.

2. That the Department of State Police shall establish and maintain regulations setting an industry standard noise level for exhaust systems.