Legislation (H.B. 2456) that would allow West Virginia’s vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket modified exhaust systems that meet a 95-decibel limit will be considered by the House Judiciary Committee on Thurs., Feb. 23, 2012. The bill was already approved by the House Roads and Transportation Committee and now must be passed by Judiciary before moving to the House floor for a vote by all members. Current West Virginia law only allows a muffler originally installed by the manufacturer or an equivalent.
If You Have Not Done So Already, We Urge You to Contact Members of the House Judiciary Committee (Contact Info Below) Immediately to Request Their Support for H.B. 2456
- H.B. 2456 would remove subjective provisions in the law and force compliance with an objectively measured standard. Under the standard, exhaust noise could not exceed a sound reading of 95-decibels under a fair and predictable test.
- H.B. 2456 would benefit consumers, the aftermarket industry and police officers who are charged with enforcing the law.
- H.B. 2456 would remedy the enforcement policy currently used by police officers in which nearly all exhaust system modifications are considered illegal, even where noise levels are not excessive or unusual. This policy leaves enthusiasts, exhaust system manufacturers and dealers without recourse.
- H.B. 2456 recognizes that aftermarket exhaust systems are more durable, are 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. 2456 challenges the erroneous assumption that enthusiasts who equip their vehicles with modified exhaust systems are involved in illegal street racing.
DON’T DELAY! Please contact all members of the House Judiciary Committee immediately by phone or e-mail to urge support for H.B. 2456. Please e-mail a copy of your letter to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org. Also, please forward this Alert to your fellow car enthusiasts. Urge them to join the SAN and help defend the hobby! Thank you for your assistance.
West Virginia House Judiciary Committee
To e-mail all members of the committee, copy and paste the email address block below:
tim.miley@wvhouse.gov; mhunt@markahunt.com; john.ellem@wvhouse.gov; patrick.lane@wvhouse.gov; larry.barker@wvhouse.gov; bonnie.brown@wvhouse.gov; johndoyle@wvhouse.gov; mike.ferro@wvhouse.gov; barbaraf@wvhouse.gov; john.frazier@wvhouse.gov; linda.longstreth@wvhouse.gov; tmanchin@manchininjurylaw.com; mike.manypenny@wvhouse.gov; harold@hardynet.com; clif.moore@wvhouse.gov; john.pino@wvhouse.gov; meshea.poore@wvhouse.gov; david.walker@wvhouse.gov; danny.wells@wvhouse.gov; bill.hamilton@wvhouse.gov; woody.ireland@wvhouse.gov; jonathan@delegatejmiller.com; john.oneal@wvhouse.gov; john@overington.com; kelli.sobonya@wvhouse.gov
Delegate Tim Miley (Chair)
Phone: (304) 340-3252
E-mail: tim.miley@wvhouse.gov
Delegate Mark Hunt (Vice Chair)
Phone: (304) 340-3392
E-mail: mhunt@markahunt.com
Delegate John N. Ellem (Minority Chair)
Phone: (304) 340-3394
E-mail: john.ellem@wvhouse.gov
Delegate Patrick Lane (Minority Vice Chair)
Phone: (304) 340-3275
E-mail: patrick.lane@wvhouse.gov
Delegate Larry W. Barker
Phone: (304) 340-3149
E-mail: larry.barker@wvhouse.gov
Delegate Bonnie Brown
Phone: (304) 340-3106
E-mail: bonnie.brown@wvhouse.gov
Delegate John Doyle
Phone: (304) 340-3184
E-mail: johndoyle@wvhouse.gov
Delegate Michael T. Ferro
Phone: (304) 340-3111
E-mail: mike.ferro@wvhouse.gov
Delegate Barbara Evans Fleischauer
Phone: (304) 340-3169
E-mail: barbaraf@wvhouse.gov
Delegate John R. Frazier
Phone: (304) 340-3396
E-mail: john.frazier@wvhouse.gov
Delegate Linda Longstreth
Phone: (304) 340-3124
E-mail: linda.longstreth@wvhouse.gov
Delegate Tim Manchin
Phone: (304) 340-3166
E-mail: tmanchin@manchininjurylaw.com
Delegate Mike Manypenny
Phone: (304) 340-3139
E-mail: mike.manypenny@wvhouse.gov
Delegate Harold Michael
Phone: (304) 340-3340
E-mail: harold@hardynet.com
Delegate Clif Moore
Phone: (304) 340-3189
E-mail: clif.moore@wvhouse.gov
Delegate John Pino
Phone: (304) 340-3170
E-mail: john.pino@wvhouse.gov
Delegate Meshea Poore
Phone: (304) 340-3248
E-mail: meshea.poore@wvhouse.gov
Delegate David Walker
Phone: (304) 340-3135
E-mail: david.walker@wvhouse.gov
Delegate Danny Wells
Phone: (304) 340-3287
E-mail: danny.wells@wvhouse.gov
Delegate Bill Hamilton
Phone: (304) 340-3167
E-mail: bill.hamilton@wvhouse.gov
Delegate Lynwood "Woody" Ireland
Phone: (304) 340-3195
E-mail: woody.ireland@wvhouse.gov
Delegate Jonathan Miller
Phone: (304) 340-3147
E-mail: jonathan@delegatejmiller.com
Delegate John D. O'Neal IV
Phone: (304) 340-3164
E-mail: john.oneal@wvhouse.gov
Delegate John Overington
Phone: (304) 340-3148
E-mail: john@overington.com
Delegate Kelli Sobonya
Phone: (304) 340-3175
E-mail: kelli.sobonya@wvhouse.gov