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
     (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.]