I stand corrected, see below... We are truley the LIVE FREE OR DIE state!!!
It was 98db for as long as I could remember now.....
In New Hampshire, for motorcycles, with NH RSA 266:59, Section III deleted from the law, the maximum threshold for noise can now be 106 dB. This level of noise is between the noise of a chainsaw and a loud rock concert.
I got this from a state site that clearly thinks changing to the 106db limit was crazy. Funny how the state can work when they want to.
sorry for the cut and paste but I'm at work doing the best I can for both passions.
MEASUREMENT
Specifically what did the legislature do to increase motor vehicle noise?
In terms of the 2004 legislation, enforcement of New Hampshire motorcycle noise control laws typically requires two simultaneous observations by two law enforcement officials: (1) the revolutions per minute of the engine standing close to the vehicle's tachometer, if so equipped; and (2) the decibel meter reading when measured 20 inches from the exhaust pipe at a 45 degree angle standing about two feet in back of the vehicle. To exacerbate the matter: (a) not all motorcycles have a built-in tachometer; and (b) not many law enforcement agencies equip their officers with an approved and calibrated "Society of Automotive Engineers Recommended Practice ANSI/SAE J-1287" decibel measuring device. This equipment is very expensive. The legislature deliberately did not appropriate funding to cities and towns to purchase the necessary equipment to ensure equal and effective enforcement protocols, nor did the legislature identify a method to determine the speed of the engine in the event that the vehicle does not have a working tachometer, nor did the legislature provide for the extra personnel to affect a proper ctitation, nor did the legislature set noise standards for cars and trucks.
WHY YOU SHOULD FIGHT A TICKET OF THIS TYPE, I fight and win speeding tickets all the time so this is a no branier for me.
What does this mean to you if you want a loud muffler on your car or truck?
Let's assume that you have your muffler replaced in New Hampshire by a qualified repair shop that claimed your new, but admittedly loud and "healthy sounding" muffler was "legal". You probably were not told that the legislature had abondoned all scientific measurements of the maximum loudness a muffler must comply with. Then, a law enforcement officer cites you for a loud muffler because in the officer's opinion your muffler is too loud. You go to court to argue your case. Because there is no way of measuring the lawful loudness of your muffler, the judge would need to render an opinion, a very subjective opinion, on whether or not you were guilty of having a loud muffler. What this means is that on the same day, with different judges, you could be guilty in one court and innocent in another. The question of fairness and equal justice under the law comes to mind. Unfortunately, this is exactly what the legislature voted for when it repealed NH RSA 266:59, Section III.
Will cities and towns enforce the new noise "Standard" in New Hampshire?
Probably not. When cities and towns try to enforce any motor vehicle noise citation, they will need to prove to the court that whatever "standard" they ticketed the operator for is backed by the law. Since there is no "standard" for cars and trucks in the law, this will be hard to prove when challenged in court. The legislature also did not appropriate any funds to purchase the equipment needed for enforcement either. Therefore, it is unlikely that any citations would be issued for noisy mufflers installed in any car, truck or motorcycle.
GOTA LOVE NH!!!!