WAC 173-62-030. Standards

(1) No person shall operate any motor vehicle or any combination of such vehicles upon any public highway under any conditions of grade, load, acceleration or deceleration in such a manner as to exceed the maximum permissible sound levels for the category of vehicle in Table I, as measured at a distance of 50 feet (15.2 meters) from the center of the lane of travel within the speed limits specified, under procedures established by the state commission on equipment in chapter 204-56 WAC, "procedures for measuring motor vehicle sound levels." Table I IN-USE MOTOR VEHICLE NOISE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS Measured @ 50 feet (15.2 meters) Maximum Sound Level, dBA Speed Zones Vehicle Category (type) Effective Date 45 mph (72 kph) or less Over 45 mph (72 kph) Stationary Test Motorcycles July 1, 1980 78 82 N/A Automobiles, light trucks and all other motor vehicles 10,000 pounds (4536 kg) GVWR or less July 1, 1980 72 78 N/A 35 mph (56 kph) or less Over 35 mph (56 kph) All motor vehicles over 10,000 pounds (4536 kg) GVWR June 1, 1977 1986 and after 86 Reserved 90 Reserved 86 Reserved Maximum Sound Level, dBA Speed Zones Vehicle Category (type) Effective Date 45 mph (72 kph) or less Over 45 mph (72 kph) Stationary Test Motorcycles July 1, 1980 78 82 N/A Automobiles, light trucks and all other motor vehicles 10,000 pounds (4536 kg) GVWR or less July 1, 1980 72 78 N/A 35 mph (56 kph) or less Over 35 mph (56 kph) All motor vehicles over 10,000 pounds (4536 kg) GVWR June 1, 1977 1986 and after 86 Reserved 90 Reserved 86 Reserved (2) Every motor vehicle operated upon the public highways shall at all times be equipped with an exhaust system and a muffler in good working order and constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise. (3) No person shall operate a motor vehicle in such a manner as to cause or allow to be emitted squealing, screeching or other such noise from the tires in contact with the ground because of rapid acceleration or excessive speed around corners or other such reason, except that noise resulting from emergency braking to avoid imminent danger shall be exempt from this provision. (4) No person shall operate any motor vehicle upon any public highway if the vehicle exhaust system exceeds the maximum permissible sound levels of Table II for the category and year of vehicle, as measured at a distance of twenty inches (0.5 meter) from the exhaust outlet under procedures established by the state commission on equipment in chapter 204-56 WAC, "procedures for measuring motor vehicle sound levels." (5) No person shall sell or offer for sale a new motor vehicle except an off-highway vehicle, which produces a maximum noise exceeding the noise levels in Table III at a distance of 50 feet (15.2 meters) under acceleration test procedures established by the state commission on equipment in chapter 204-56 WAC, "procedures for measuring motor vehicle sound levels." Table II IN-USE MOTOR VEHICLE EXHAUST SYSTEM NOISE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS Measured @ 20 inches (0.5 meters) Vehicle Category (type) Model Year Maximum Sound Level, dBA Motorcycles before 1986 1986 and after 99 (reserved) Automobiles, light trucks and all other motor vehicles 10,000 pounds (4536 kg) GVWR or less before 1986 1986 and after 95 (reserved) Vehicle Category (type) Model Year Maximum Sound Level, dBA Motorcycles before 1986 1986 and after 99 (reserved) Automobiles, light trucks and all other motor vehicles 10,000 pounds (4536 kg) GVWR or less before 1986 1986 and after 95 (reserved) Table III MAXIMUM SOUND LEVELS FOR NEW MOTOR VEHICLES Measured @ 50 feet (15.2 meters) Vehicle Category (type) Date of Manufacture Maximum Sound Level, dBA Any motor vehicle over 10,000 pounds (4536 kg) GVWR excluding buses before January 1, 1978 after January 1, 1978 after January 1, 1982 86 83 80 All buses over 10,000 pounds (4536 kg) GVWR after January 1, 1980 after January 1, 1983 after January 1, 1986 85 83 80 Motorcycles after January 1, 1976 after January 1, 1986 83 80 Automobiles, light trucks and all other motor vehicles 10,000 pounds (4536 kg) GVWR or less after January 1, 1976 80 Vehicle Category (type) Date of Manufacture Maximum Sound Level, dBA Any motor vehicle over 10,000 pounds (4536 kg) GVWR excluding buses before January 1, 1978 after January 1, 1978 after January 1, 1982 86 83 80 All buses over 10,000 pounds (4536 kg) GVWR after January 1, 1980 after January 1, 1983 after January 1, 1986 85 83 80 Motorcycles after January 1, 1976 after January 1, 1986 83 80 Automobiles, light trucks and all other motor vehicles 10,000 pounds (4536 kg) GVWR or less after January 1, 1976 80