Washington Administrative Code
Title 173 - Ecology, Department of (See also Titles 197, 317, 372, and 508)
Chapter 173-62 - Motor vehicle noise performance standards
Section 173-62-030 - Standards
Current through Register Vol. 24-06, March 15, 2024
(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 |
(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) |
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 |
Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.107 RCW. 80-14-041 (Order DE 80-29), § 173-62-030, filed 9/30/80; Order DE 77-2, § 173-62-030, filed 6/1/77; Order DE 75-17, § 173-62-030, filed 8/11/75; Order DE 74-33, § 173-62-030, filed 1/30/75, effective 7/1/75.
