SEMA ACTION NETWORK

URGENT LEGISLATIVE ALERT

West Virginia Bill to Penalize Some Aftermarket Exhaust Systems is Silenced

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 did not received committee consideration before adjournment of the legislature. Under the bill, violators could have been fined up to $1,000 per occurrence, jailed for six months, or both. Meanwhile, legislation (H.B. 2456) that would have allowed 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 not given consideration. Among other things, H.B. 2190 did not supply law enforcement with an enforcement standard, allowing for subjective judgments on whether an exhaust system was “disturbing or unreasonably loud.” The bill also would have made it difficult for hobbyists to replace factory exhaust systems with more durable, better performing options.

Thank you and congratulations to all who participated in opposing H.B. 1290.