West Virginia Bill to Create Criminal Offense for Certain Exhaust Systems

Legislation (H.B. 2251) that would make it a criminal offense to disturb the peace has been introduced in the West Virginia House.  Included in the definition of disturbing the peace is the "noise from an exhaust system of any vehicle that is not equipped or constructed so as to prevent any disturbing or unreasonably loud noise."  Vehicle owners convicted of a violation would be fined up to $1,000 per occurrence, confined up to 6 months in jail or both.

Contact members of the West Virginia House Judiciary Committee(List Below) to Request Their Opposition to H.B. 2251

• Current West Virginia law only allows a muffler originally installed by the manufacturer or an equivalent.  The law provides no objective noise measurement standard for exhaust systems that would benefit consumers, industry and police officers who are charged with enforcing the law.  The term “disturbing or unreasonably loud” is highly subjective and open to wide interpretation.
   
• H.B. 2251 doesn’t recognize that aftermarket exhaust systems are more durable, designed to make vehicles run more efficiently without increasing emissions and offer increased performance, which can make a vehicle safer by improving its ability to merge, pass, travel uphill, etc.
   
• H.B. 2251 continues the erroneous assumption that enthusiasts who equip their vehicles with modified exhaust systems are involved in illegal street racing or other illegal activity.

DON’T DELAY!  Please contact members of the House Judiciary Committeeimmediately by phone or e-mail to urge opposition to H.B. 2251.  Please e-mail a copy of your letter to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.  Thank you for your assistance. 

West Virginia House Judiciary Committee

To e-mail all Committee members, copy and paste the email address block below: