<p> 1 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.645 2 2008 Page 1 3 4 1 H.645</p><p>2 Introduced by Representatives Sharpe of Bristol, Fisher of Lincoln, Fitzgerald </p><p>3 of St. Albans City and Zenie of Colchester</p><p>4 Referred to Committee on </p><p>5 Date: </p><p>6 Subject: Motor vehicles; motorcycles; all-terrain vehicles; mufflers; noise </p><p>7 reduction systems</p><p>8 Statement of purpose: This bill proposes to establish noise reduction </p><p>9 requirements for motorcycles and to prohibit the bypassing, modifying, or </p><p>10 removing of exhaust or other noise reduction equipment on these vehicles. It </p><p>11 additionally proposes to strengthen the existing prohibition on bypassing these </p><p>12 systems on all-terrain vehicles and to reduce the maximum noise levels </p><p>13 permitted for all-terrain vehicles from 82 to 80 decibels.</p><p>14 AN ACT RELATING TO THE NOISE LEVELS OF MOTORCYCLES 15 AND ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES</p><p>16 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: </p><p>17 Sec. 1. 23 V.S.A. § 1256a is added to read</p><p>18 § 1256a. MOTORCYCLE NOISE EMISSIONS</p><p>19 (a) All motorcycles shall be equipped with a muffler system and such other</p><p>20 equipment or devices which reduce maximum machine operating noise to a </p><p>5 www.leg.state.vt.us 1 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.645 2 2008 Page 2 3 4 1 noise level of not more than 80 decibels on the A scale at 50 feet in a normal </p><p>2 operating environment. The muffler system and all other noise reduction </p><p>3 equipment on a motorcycle shall not be bypassed, modified, or removed in a </p><p>4 manner which violates the noise limitation imposed in this section.</p><p>5 (b) Any person selling or offering to sell a motorcycle or replacement </p><p>6 muffler system, whether at wholesale or retail, shall include in the </p><p>7 specifications precise information concerning the designed maximum sound </p><p>8 levels of the motorcycle or replacement muffler system.</p><p>9 Sec. 2. 23 V.S.A § 3505(b) and (c) is amended to read:</p><p>10 (b) Subject to regulation by rule of the commissioner, any all-terrain </p><p>11 All-terrain vehicles shall be equipped with a muffler system and such other </p><p>12 equipment or devices which reduce maximum machine operating noise to a </p><p>13 noise level of not more than 82 80 decibels on the A scale at 50 feet, in a </p><p>14 normal operating environment.</p><p>15 (c) No A person shall not sell or offer to sell within the state of Vermont an</p><p>16 all-terrain vehicle unless it complies with the sound requirements specified in </p><p>17 subsection (b) of this section. No The muffler and other noise reduction </p><p>18 equipment on an all-terrain vehicle shall not be equipped in any manner which </p><p>19 permits the operator to bypass the muffler; no bypassed, modified, or removed.</p><p>20 A person shall not sell or offer to sell at either wholesale or retail a </p><p>21 replacement exhaust muffler system which will not meet or exceed the exhaust</p><p>5 www.leg.state.vt.us 1 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.645 2 2008 Page 3 3 4 1 noise reduction capabilities of the all-terrain vehicle. In addition, any person </p><p>2 selling or offering to sell an all-terrain vehicle or replacement muffler system, </p><p>3 whether at wholesale or retail, shall include in the specifications, precise </p><p>4 information concerning the designed maximum sound levels of the all-terrain </p><p>5 vehicle or replacement muffler system.</p><p>6 Sec. 3. 23 V.S.A. § 3506(d) is amended to read:</p><p>7 (d) In addition to all other requirements, an all-terrain vehicle may not be </p><p>8 operated:</p><p>9 (1) if equipped with an exhaust system with a cut out, bypass, or similar </p><p>10 device the muffler or other noise reduction equipment has been bypassed, </p><p>11 modified, or removed in a manner which violates the requirements of </p><p>12 subsection 3505(b) of this title; or</p><p>13 (2) with the spark arrester removed or modified, except for use in closed</p><p>14 course competition events.</p><p>5 www.leg.state.vt.us</p>