Mass Muffler Laws
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 538
Likes: 15
From: Eastern MA
Mass Muffler Laws
MA law says nothing about having to use OEM mufflers, just a db level.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/90-7u.htm
So just for grins, I have ordered this cheapo $26 db meter
search ebay for "decibel meter", they have a bunch of postings.
The MA law seems like it would be tough to enforce based on how it's written just by randomly stopping bike.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/90-7u.htm
So just for grins, I have ordered this cheapo $26 db meter
search ebay for "decibel meter", they have a bunch of postings.
The MA law seems like it would be tough to enforce based on how it's written just by randomly stopping bike.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 1
From: MA
RE: Mass Muffler Laws
Dynamite -
You are correct - don't see how they can enforce this. Would they pull you over, stand 50 ft behind your bike, and run a test? The cops don't want to do that! I took my MC test at the RMV a while back - loud pipes - they only cared that the registration and inspection were in order. He went over the numbers very thouroughly as my bike was sitting there barking at him!
OEM mufflers might be a federal regulation - but the local guys aren't going to even attempt to enforce that.
Be curious to "hear" what the results are for your setup.
You are correct - don't see how they can enforce this. Would they pull you over, stand 50 ft behind your bike, and run a test? The cops don't want to do that! I took my MC test at the RMV a while back - loud pipes - they only cared that the registration and inspection were in order. He went over the numbers very thouroughly as my bike was sitting there barking at him!
OEM mufflers might be a federal regulation - but the local guys aren't going to even attempt to enforce that.
Be curious to "hear" what the results are for your setup.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 967
Likes: 3
From: Eastern Massachusetts
RE: Mass Muffler Laws
Interesting. The last time I read the law it said 90 dB with the bike revved halfway to the red line. It didn't sound very practical because it would require stationary measurement. I think you have to find "the prescribed highway vehicle sound level measurement procedure" to find out how they'd do it. I believe the typical procedure is to set up a "measuring station" 50 feet off the center line of a given lane and take readings of passing vehicles. They won't bother borderline cases, but will go after the people who are more than 3dB over the limit, so 85 dB in the current case.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 1
From: MA
RE: Mass Muffler Laws
ORIGINAL: Splatter
......The last time I read the law it said 90 dB with the bike revved halfway to the red line.
......The last time I read the law it said 90 dB with the bike revved halfway to the red line.
ORIGINAL: Splatter
I believe the typical procedure is to set up a "measuring station" 50 feet off the center line of a given lane and take readings of passing vehicles. They won't bother borderline cases, but will go after the people who are more than 3dB over the limit, so 85 dB in the current case.
I believe the typical procedure is to set up a "measuring station" 50 feet off the center line of a given lane and take readings of passing vehicles. They won't bother borderline cases, but will go after the people who are more than 3dB over the limit, so 85 dB in the current case.
How does the scientist measuring the SPL determine where the sound came from unless there is a sound chamber involved that isolates all noise sources except for my exhaust?
Seriously - stamping pipes or not allowing non-stock exhausts is the only way they can enforce this!!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,359
Likes: 2
From: MA
RE: Mass Muffler Laws
Chapter 90: Section 7S. Motorcycle sound emissions; definitions [/align]
Section 7S. The following words used in this section twenty-four A to twenty-four C, inclusive, unless the context otherwise requires shall have the following meanings:— “A-weighted sound level”, the sound level in decibels as measured on a sound level meter using the A-weighting network. The level is designated dB(A). “Decibel (dB)”, a unit for measuring the volume of a sound, equal to twenty times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure; which is 20 micropascals or 20 micronewtons per square meter. “Motorcycle”, any motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, including any bicycle with a motor or driving wheel attached, except a tractor or a motor vehicle designed for carrying golf clubs and not more than four persons, an industrial three-wheel truck, or a motor vehicle on which the operator and passengers ride within an enclosed cab. “Person”, any individual, association, partnership, or corporation, and includes any officer, employee, department, agency or instrumentality of the commonwealth or any political subdivision of the commonwealth. “Registrar”, the registrar of motor vehicles. “Sound level”, the weighted sound pressure level obtained by the use of a sound level meter and frequency weighting network, such as A, B or C as specified in American National Standards Institute specifications for sound level meters (ANSI S1.4-1971). If the frequency weighting employed is not indicated, the A-weighting shall apply.
Section 7S. The following words used in this section twenty-four A to twenty-four C, inclusive, unless the context otherwise requires shall have the following meanings:— “A-weighted sound level”, the sound level in decibels as measured on a sound level meter using the A-weighting network. The level is designated dB(A). “Decibel (dB)”, a unit for measuring the volume of a sound, equal to twenty times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure; which is 20 micropascals or 20 micronewtons per square meter. “Motorcycle”, any motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, including any bicycle with a motor or driving wheel attached, except a tractor or a motor vehicle designed for carrying golf clubs and not more than four persons, an industrial three-wheel truck, or a motor vehicle on which the operator and passengers ride within an enclosed cab. “Person”, any individual, association, partnership, or corporation, and includes any officer, employee, department, agency or instrumentality of the commonwealth or any political subdivision of the commonwealth. “Registrar”, the registrar of motor vehicles. “Sound level”, the weighted sound pressure level obtained by the use of a sound level meter and frequency weighting network, such as A, B or C as specified in American National Standards Institute specifications for sound level meters (ANSI S1.4-1971). If the frequency weighting employed is not indicated, the A-weighting shall apply.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,359
Likes: 2
From: MA
RE: Mass Muffler Laws
PART I. ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT [/align]
TITLE XIV. PUBLIC WAYS AND WORKS [/align]
CHAPTER 90. MOTOR VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT [/align]
MOTOR VEHICLES [/align]
Chapter 90: Section 7T. Motorcycle sound levels; testing regulations [/align]
Section 7T. The registrar shall adopt regulations establishing test procedures and instrumentation to be utilized for measuring sound levels of in-use vehicles. Such regulation shall include site criteria and moving and stationary vehicle measurement procedures and shall take into consideration accepted scientific and professional methods for the measurement of vehicular sound levels. The measurement procedures shall include adjustment factors to be applied to the noise limit for measurement distances of other than fifty feet from the center of the lane of travel and shall allow the extent feasible sound level measurement and enforcement action to be accomplished in reasonably confined areas such as residential areas of urban cities and off highway locations. Test procedures established by the registrar shall be in substantial conformance with applicable standards and practices established or recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
TITLE XIV. PUBLIC WAYS AND WORKS [/align]
CHAPTER 90. MOTOR VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT [/align]
MOTOR VEHICLES [/align]
Chapter 90: Section 7T. Motorcycle sound levels; testing regulations [/align]
Section 7T. The registrar shall adopt regulations establishing test procedures and instrumentation to be utilized for measuring sound levels of in-use vehicles. Such regulation shall include site criteria and moving and stationary vehicle measurement procedures and shall take into consideration accepted scientific and professional methods for the measurement of vehicular sound levels. The measurement procedures shall include adjustment factors to be applied to the noise limit for measurement distances of other than fifty feet from the center of the lane of travel and shall allow the extent feasible sound level measurement and enforcement action to be accomplished in reasonably confined areas such as residential areas of urban cities and off highway locations. Test procedures established by the registrar shall be in substantial conformance with applicable standards and practices established or recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,359
Likes: 2
From: MA
RE: Mass Muffler Laws
PART I. ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT [/align]
TITLE XIV. PUBLIC WAYS AND WORKS [/align]
CHAPTER 90. MOTOR VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT [/align]
MOTOR VEHICLES [/align]
Chapter 90: Section 7U. Motorcycles; maximum sound levels [/align]
Section 7U. No person shall operate a motorcycle intended for use on the highways of the commonwealth and registered under the provisions of section two of chapter ninety at any time or under any condition of grade, load, acceleration or deceleration in such a manner as to exceed eighty-two decibels when operated within a speed zone of forty-five miles per hour or less, or in such a manner as to exceed eighty-six decibels when operated within a speed zone of over forty-five miles per hour measured at fifty feet using the prescribed highway vehicle sound level measurement procedure. No person shall operate a motorcycle intended for use off the highways of the commonwealth and registered under the provisions of section twenty-two of chapter ninety B at any time that exceeds one hundred and three decibels measured at twenty inches, or one-half meter, using the prescribed stationary vehicle sound level measurement procedure. For enforcement purposes a tolerance of plus two decibels shall be applied to all measured sound levels of in-use vehicles to provide for variances in equipment calibration, measurement site characteristics and measurement techniques.
TITLE XIV. PUBLIC WAYS AND WORKS [/align]
CHAPTER 90. MOTOR VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT [/align]
MOTOR VEHICLES [/align]
Chapter 90: Section 7U. Motorcycles; maximum sound levels [/align]
Section 7U. No person shall operate a motorcycle intended for use on the highways of the commonwealth and registered under the provisions of section two of chapter ninety at any time or under any condition of grade, load, acceleration or deceleration in such a manner as to exceed eighty-two decibels when operated within a speed zone of forty-five miles per hour or less, or in such a manner as to exceed eighty-six decibels when operated within a speed zone of over forty-five miles per hour measured at fifty feet using the prescribed highway vehicle sound level measurement procedure. No person shall operate a motorcycle intended for use off the highways of the commonwealth and registered under the provisions of section twenty-two of chapter ninety B at any time that exceeds one hundred and three decibels measured at twenty inches, or one-half meter, using the prescribed stationary vehicle sound level measurement procedure. For enforcement purposes a tolerance of plus two decibels shall be applied to all measured sound levels of in-use vehicles to provide for variances in equipment calibration, measurement site characteristics and measurement techniques.
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 967
Likes: 3
From: Eastern Massachusetts
RE: Mass Muffler Laws
ORIGINAL: glide05
Good - If this is the procedure - then I'm NEVER EVER EVER going to get a ticket for excessive sound.
Good - If this is the procedure - then I'm NEVER EVER EVER going to get a ticket for excessive sound.
All states in the US are cracking down on loud pipes. Mass usually likes to be in the forefront of oppressive laws, so I'm pretty pleased that so far all they have are statutes that describe sound measurement rather than EPA stamping. But there's no question in my mind that EPA stamping is the way it's going to fall out.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 1
From: MA
RE: Mass Muffler Laws
ORIGINAL: Splatter
[sm=icon_rofl.gif]I think you're confusing not getting a ticket with fighting a ticket. All I can say is good luck with that.
All states in the US are cracking down on loud pipes. Mass usually likes to be in the forefront of oppressive laws, so I'm pretty pleased that so far all they have are statutes that describe sound measurement rather than EPA stamping. But there's no question in my mind that EPA stamping is the way it's going to fall out.
ORIGINAL: glide05
Good - If this is the procedure - then I'm NEVER EVER EVER going to get a ticket for excessive sound.
Good - If this is the procedure - then I'm NEVER EVER EVER going to get a ticket for excessive sound.
All states in the US are cracking down on loud pipes. Mass usually likes to be in the forefront of oppressive laws, so I'm pretty pleased that so far all they have are statutes that describe sound measurement rather than EPA stamping. But there's no question in my mind that EPA stamping is the way it's going to fall out.
The law as posted by jake seems pretty unenforcable ... but unfortunately - as you have stated, and I agree - EPA stamping is somewhere in our future, then all they have to do is a quick visual inspection - and start writing...
Maybe there will be an aftermarket for illegally stamping illegal pipes - LOL