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Public Law
124th Legislature
Second Regular Session
Chapter 639
H.P. 1170 - L.D. 1642
An Act Relating to Road Noise
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.   29-A MRSA §1912, sub-§1,  as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
 
1. Muffler required.    A person may not operate a motor vehicle unless that vehicle is equipped with an adequate muffler properly maintained to prevent excessive or unusual noise. For purposes of this subsection, “excessive or unusual noise” includes motor noise emitted by a motor vehicle that is noticeably louder than similar vehicles in the environment.
Sec. 2.   29-A MRSA §1912, sub-§3,  as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
 
3. Amplification prohibited.    A person may not operate a motor vehicle with an exhaust system that has been modified to amplify when the result of that modification is the amplification or increase the of noise emitted by the motor above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle.
Sec. 3.  Working group; excessive highway traffic noise. The Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State Police shall convene a working group to study issues relating to highway traffic noise, including, but not limited to, unwarranted noise created when an exhaust system is not properly installed or maintained or is altered. The working group must include representatives from municipal and county law enforcement, a commercial motor carrier association, the Department of Transportation, the Maine Turnpike Authority and a neighborhood or neighborhood association affected by highway noise. The working group shall submit a report, including findings and recommendations, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters no later than January 15, 2011.
 
Effective July 12, 2010