Sec. 14-80a. Maximum noise levels.
Sec. 14-80a. Maximum noise levels. (a) No person shall operate a vehicle or combination of vehicles, nor shall the owner of any vehicle allow the vehicle to be operated,
at any time or under any condition of grade, surface, speed, load, acceleration, deceleration or weather condition in such a manner as to exceed the decibel levels established
under subsection (c) of this section. This subsection applies to the total noise generated
by a vehicle and shall not be construed as limiting or precluding the enforcement of any
other motor vehicle noise provisions of this title.
(b) No person shall sell or offer for sale a new vehicle which produces a maximum
decibel level which exceeds the decibel levels established under subsection (c) of this
section.
(c) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall, with the advice of the Commissioner
of Environmental Protection, adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of
chapter 54 establishing the maximum decibel levels permissible for motor vehicles,
which shall not exceed the maximum decibel levels established for motor vehicles by
federal law or regulation. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall establish the procedure for checking maximum decibel levels. The decibel level shall be measured fifty feet
from the centerline of the vehicle. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may provide for
measuring at distances closer than fifty feet from the centerline of the vehicle. In such
a case, the measuring devices shall be calibrated to provide for measurements equivalent
to the noise limit established by this section measured at fifty feet.
(d) Violation of the provisions of this section shall be an infraction.
(1971, P.A. 762, S. 1-3; 1972, P.A. 133, S. 1; 294, S. 41; P.A. 75-577, S. 67, 126; P.A. 77-80; P.A. 84-429, S. 29.)
History: 1972 acts added definition of "dB(A)" in Subsec. (a) and replaced "(26)" with "(56)" of Sec. 14-1 in definition
of "vehicle", made provisions of Subsec. (b) applicable as of January 1, 1973, inserted new (c) re sales on or after January
1, 1975, redesignated former Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (d) and amplified provisions, also replacing health commissioner with
commissioner of environmental protection and added Subsec. (e) incorporating penalty provision formerly found in Subsec.
(b); P.A. 75-577 replaced provision re fine for violation with provision that violation is an infraction in Subsec. (e); P.A.
77-80 deleted definition of "dB(A)" in Subsec. (a) and replaced specific provisions re maximum decibel levels allowed
in certain years in Subsec. (d) with reference to maximum levels "established for motor vehicles by federal law or regulation"; P.A. 84-429 deleted obsolete date provisions, rephrased provisions, relettered Subsecs. and made other technical
changes.
See chapter 881b re infractions of the law.