'Unreasonably loud' exhaust targeted by West Virginia bill

Author:: Angelo Van Bogart
Publish date:: Jan 26, 2011

West Virginia Reintroduces Bill to Penalize Some Aftermarket Exhaust Systems

A bill (H.B. 2190) to provide that the noise from a motor vehicle exhaust system that has been deemed “disturbing or unreasonably loud” constitutes the crime of disturbing the peace has been reintroduced for consideration in the West Virginia State Legislature. Under the bill, violators could be fined up to $1,000 per occurrence, jailed for six months, or both. Meanwhile, legislation (H.B. 2456) that would allow West Virginia’s vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket modified exhaust systems that meet a 95-decibel limit under a fair and predictable test was also introduced in the West Virginia State Legislature.

We Urge You to Contact House Judiciary Committee Members (List Below) Immediately to Request Their Opposition to H.B. 2190 and Support for H.B. 2456

H.B. 2190 does not supply law enforcement with an enforcement standard, allowing them to make subjective judgments on whether an exhaust system is “disturbing or unreasonably loud.”
H.B. 2190 fails to recognize that a better way to address this issue is by establishing a fair and reasonable exhaust noise decibel limit.
H.B. 2190 ignores the fact that aftermarket exhaust systems are designed to make vehicles run more efficiently without increasing emissions.
H.B. 2190 fails to recognize that aftermarket exhaust systems offer increased performance, which can make a vehicle safer by improving its ability to merge, pass, travel uphill, etc.
H.B. 2190 would make it difficult for hobbyists to replace factory exhaust systems with more durable, better performing options.

DON’T DELAY! Please contact members of the West Virginia House Judiciary Committee immediately by phone or e-mail to request their opposition to H.B. 2190 and support for H.B. 2456.

Please e-mail a copy of your letter to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org. Thank you for your assistance. Also, please forward this Alert to your fellow car enthusiasts. Urge them to join the SAN and help defend the hobby! Thank you for your assistance.

West Virginia House Judiciary Committee

Delegate Tim Miley
Phone: (304) 340-3252
Email: tim.miley@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Mark Hunt
Phone: (304) 340-3392
Email: mhunt@markahunt.com

Delegate John N. Ellem
Phone: (304) 340-3394
Email: ellem@wirefire.com

Delegate Patrick Lane
Phone: (304) 340-3275
Email: patrick.lane@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Larry W. Barker
Phone: (304) 340-3149
Email: larry.barker@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Bonnie Brown
Phone: (304) 340-3106
Email: bonnie.brown@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Mike Caputo
Phone: (304) 340-3249
Email: mike.caputo@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Michael T. Ferro
Phone: (304) 340-3111
Email: mike.ferro@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Barbara Evans Fleischauer
Phone: (304) 340-3169
Email: barbaraf@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate John R. Frazier
Phone: (304) 340-3396
Email: jfrazier@mail.wvnet.edu

Delegate Linda Longstreth
Phone: (304) 340-3124
Email: linda.longstreth@wvhouse.gov