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California Exhaust Noise Laws

Loud pipes do save lives, but there’s a limit in California about how loud they can be, especially on cars and SUVs. Most exhaust systems on vehicles coming off of a production line are at no more than 75 decibels. Therefore, excluding motorcycles, the legal noise limit for cars in California is 95 decibels. There’s a big difference between 75 decibels and 95 decibels. How loud is 70 decibels? Think of standing next to a blender when it’s operating. That’s about 75 decibels.

The Decibel Differential

The difference between 75 decibels and 95 decibels is more than twice the sound as 75 decibels. For example, a car operating at 95 decibels would completely drown out the sound of a 75-decibel car next to it.

The Noise Limit for Cars

Pursuant to CVC 21750, every car being operated on California roadways is required to have a muffler in constant operation that’s maintained to prevent excessive noise. That muffler can’t be equipped with a cutoff, bypass or similar device either. If a motor vehicle weighs less than 6,000 pounds, CVC 27151 allows for a sound level of 95 decibels, exclusive of motorcycles.

The Hearing Loss Concern

There’s justified concern for limiting motor vehicle noise and legislating against it. It’s not only a nuisance, but the health and safety of the general public suffer when they experience hearing loss. Additionally, most Californians live in the state’s cities and suburbs. They’re routinely exposed to noise from roads and freeways, industries, ships and air traffic. A one hour-commute to work in your car five days a week is likely to cause hearing loss. That commute might already be affecting you. Ordinary urban life in California emits 60 decibels. Even that 60 decibels is enough to raise a person’s heart rate, increase stress and interfere with or interrupt sleep.

Loud Pipes and Socioeconomic Status

Loud pipes have even been shown to transcend class differences in urban areas. Noise from street and freeway traffic can be diminished by better auto and road engineering. Hearing loss is a silent disability with a wide variety of causes.

Accidents and Sudden Hearing Loss

Sudden hearing loss might be a result of a traumatic accident like a car or motorcycle crash. Even the loss of hearing in one ear is a serious injury.

Contact a California Personal Injury Lawyer

If you or a family member has suffered a gradual or sudden hearing loss, don’t turn a deaf ear to it and ignore it. Contact us at Maison Law as soon as you can and arrange for a free consultation and case review with no obligation at all. We can discuss your hearing loss, how you suffered it and how it has affected you and your family. If there’s a legal option available to you, we’re going to advise you accordingly.

 

 

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