Chapter 10.58
MOTOR VEHICLE NOISE
Sections:
10.58.020 Maximum permissible noise levels – Table I.
10.58.030 Exhaust system and muffler in good working order required.
10.58.040 Squealing tires prohibited.
10.58.050 Maximum permissible noise level – Table II.
10.58.060 Maximum permissible noise levels – Vehicles for sale – Table III.
10.58.080 Standing motor vehicles.
10.58.090 Violation – Penalty.
10.58.010 Definitions.
(1) “dBA” means the sound pressure level in decibels measured using the “A” weighting network on a sound level meter as specified in the American National Standards Institute Specifications (S-1.4-1971) for sound level meters.
(2) “Decibel” means a unit of sound, based on a logarithmic scale, of the ratio of the magnitude of a particular sound pressure to a standard reference pressure of 20 micropascals.
(3) “Motorcycle” means any motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, except such vehicles powered by engines not to exceed five horsepower and farm tractors.
(4) “Motor vehicle” means any vehicle which is self-propelled, used primarily for transportation of persons or property upon public highways and required to be licensed under RCW 46.16.010. (Airplanes, water craft and vehicles used exclusively on stationary rails or tracks are not motor vehicles as that term is used herein).
(5) “Muffler” means a device consisting of a series of chambers or other mechanical designs for the purpose of receiving exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine and effective in reducing noise to comply with the standards of this chapter.
(6) “New motor vehicle” means a motor vehicle manufactured after December 31, 1975, whose equitable or legal title has never been transferred to a person, who in good faith, purchases the new motor vehicle for purposes other than resale.
(7) “Off-highway vehicle” means any self-propelled vehicle not used primarily for transporting persons or property upon public highways nor required to be licensed under RCW 46.16.010.
(8) “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, association, governmental body, state agency or other entity whatsoever.
(9) “Public highway” means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained by the department of highways, Pierce County, or the city when any part thereof is generally open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel as a matter of right.
(10) “Sound level” means a weighted sound pressure level measured by use of a sound level meter using an “A” weighted network and reported as dBA.
(11) “Sound level meter” means a device which measures sound pressure levels and conforms to Type 1 or Type 2 as specified in the American National Standards Institute publications. (Ord. 1937 § 1, 1982).
10.58.020 Maximum permissible noise levels – Table I.
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 limit 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 at 50 feet (15.2 meters))
Maximum Sound Level, dBA
Speed Zones
45 mph over
(72 kph) 45 mph Stationary
Vehicle Category (type) or less (72 kph) Test
Motorcycles 78 82 N/A
Automobiles, light 72 78 N/A
trucks and all other 35 mph Over
motor vehicles 10,000 (56 kph) 35 mph
pounds (4536 kg) or less (56 kph)
GVWR or less
All motor vehicles over
10,000 pounds (4536 kg) 86 90 86
(Ord. 1937 § 2(1), 1982).
10.58.030 Exhaust system and muffler in good working order required.
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. (Ord. 1937 § 2(2), 1982).
10.58.040 Squealing tires prohibited.
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 accepted from this provision. (Ord. 1937 § 2(3), 1982).
10.58.050 Maximum permissible noise level – Table II.
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 20 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.”
Table II
In-Use Motor Vehicle Exhaust System
Noise Performance Standards
(measured at 20 inches (0.5 meter))
Maximum Sound
Vehicle Category Model Year Level, (type) dBA
Motorcycles before 1986 99
1986 and after (reserved)
Automobiles, light
trucks and all other
motor vehicles 10,000
pounds (4536 kg) before 1986 95
GVWR or less 1986 and after (reserved)
(Ord. 1937 § 2(4), 1982).
10.58.060 Maximum permissible noise levels – Vehicles for sale – Table III.
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 III
Maximum Sound Levels for
New Motor Vehicles
(measured at 50 feet (15.2 meters))
Maximum
Sound
Vehicle Category Date of Level,
(type) Manufacture dBA
Any motor vehicle over before January 1, 1978 86
10,000 pounds (4536 kg) after January 1, 1978 83
GVWR excluding buses after January 1, 1982 80
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All buses over 10,000 after January 1, 1980 85
pounds (4536 kg) GVWR after January 1, 1983 83
after January 1, 1986 80
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Motorcycles after January 1, 1976 83
after January 1, 1986 80
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Automobiles, light trucks
and all other motor vehicles
10,000 pounds (4536 kg)
GVWR or less after January 1, 1976 80
(Ord. 1937 § 2(5), 1982).
10.58.070 Exemptions.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to noise caused by auxiliary equipment on motor vehicles used for highway maintenance, nor to noise caused in the performance of emergency work for the immediate safety, health, or welfare of the community or of individuals of the community, or to restore property to a safe condition following a public calamity. (Ord. 1937 § 3, 1982).
10.58.080 Standing motor vehicles.
No person shall operate or permit the operation of any motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) in excess of six thousand pounds, or any auxiliary equipment attached to such a vehicle, for a period longer than 30 minutes in any hour while the vehicle is stationary, for reasons other than traffic congestion, on a public right-of-way or public space within 150 feet (46 meters) of a residential area or designated noise sensitive zone, between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. the following day. (Ord. 1937 § 4, 1982).
10.58.090 Violation – Penalty.
Violation of any in-use motor vehicle noise standard set forth in this chapter shall be an infraction, enforced by the city in such manner as violations of Chapter 46.37 RCW. (Ord. 1937 § 5, 1982).