Massachusetts Bill to Ban the Sale/Installation of Aftermarket Exhaust Systems...

[Rob]

<img src="/images/design/front/exhaust.jpg" width="225" height="103" border="1" hspace="3" vspace="3" alt="" align="right" />I normally try and reserve the home page space for Corvette related news only, but this is indirectly related to Corvettes, and yet another piece of rotting manure, otherwise known as "legislation" making its way through the ranks. Can anyone explain to me why motorcycles like some Harley Davidsons are able to drive along side of me causing me to turn up the radio in my car, and yet, automotive aftermarket exhaust systems are close to getting squashed? --Rob

Massachusetts bill to Ban the Sale/Installation of Aftermarket Exhaust Systems Continues to Move through Legislature.

Although we thought we had successfully stalled this bill in the Committee on Public Safety earlier this year, a bill (H.B.1722) to ban the Sale or Installation of "an exhaust system which has been modified in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emmitted by the exhaust" continues to move through the Massachusetts Legislature. It remains an extremely damaging piece of legislation.

IT MAY BE COMING UP FOR VOTE VERY SHORTLY - PLEASE HELP!!!

After months of inactivity, H.B.1722 was recently sent back to trhe Massachusetts House Rules Committee. If recommended for this committee, the bill will be scheduled for a vote by the Massachusetts House of Representatives. It's PARAMOUNT that we act swiftly in force to finally defeat this Bill.

Please contact the Massachusetts Secretary of States office at 617-727-2828 to find your local legislators. Or via on-line
www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php

House Bill 1722 arguments:

H.B.1722 ignores the fact that aftermarket exhaust systems are designed to make vechicles run more efficiently without increasing Emissions.

H.B.1722 does not supply Law inforcement with a clear standard to enforce, allowing to make subjective judgements on wheather or not a modified exhaust system is a Violation.

H.B.1722 Fails to recognize that aftermarket exhaust offer increased performance, which can make a vehicle safer by improving its ability to Merge, Pass, Travel Up Hill, ETC.

H.B.1722 would make it difficult for Hobbyists to replace Factory exhaust systems with more durable, better performing options.

This bill tramples on the rights of vehicle enthusiasts in Massachusetts.

 

[Alan76]

What do expect from a state that keeps electing Ted Kennedy and John Kerry

 

[Rob]

What do expect from a state that keeps electing Ted Kennedy and John Kerry

Hmmm. Good point. And to think I may actually be moving there... :eyerole

 

[tonyk72]

I would hope that the manufacturers of aftermarket exhaust systems & muffler shops also jump in on this & lobby the legislature to put a stop to this...they stand to lose a lot of $$$...especially if other states follow suit.

 

[fatboy-vette]

Harley-Davidson exhaust

Rob
Ive been a Harley tech for forty years now in dealers only.
Harley is now sending us information on asking our customers not
to install exhaust systems that are too loud for street use. They are
concerned that there will not only be state legislation but also federal
standards on replacement pipes. I believe that it is just plain rude
to run straight pipes on a bike. Harleys dont run well without some
restriction from mufflers anyway. Ive refused to test ride some bikes
because they are so damn loud. All sorts of laws will come about
unless our industry and owners police ourselves. I would hate to see
other people suffer from stupid laws because some people cant use
common sense.
Carl Beebe
Service manager
Las vegas Harley-Davidson

 

[*89x2*]

All sorts of laws will come about
unless our industry and owners police ourselves. I would hate to see
other people suffer from stupid laws because some people cant use
common sense.

Amen!

 

[Mac]

Common sense- the least common of all.

Carl, did you ever get to meet Trev Deeley? We used to be neighbours.

-Mac

 

[FX GS]

Massachusetts bill to Ban the Sale/Installation of Aftermarket Exhaust Systems Continues to Move through Legislature.

Sad, very sad state of affairs.

 

[atmmac]

This is ridiculous just like this whole damn state im living in. As far as im concerned the MA govt (except Mitt Romney) can burn in hell.

 

[Evolution1980]

Can anyone explain to me why motorcycles like some Harley Davidsons are able to drive along side of me causing me to turn up the radio in my car, and yet, automotive aftermarket exhaust systems are close to getting squashed?

Many a times I've spent pondering that exact same question.

"H.B.1722 does not supply Law inforcement with a clear standard to enforce, allowing to make subjective judgements on wheather or not a modified exhaust system is a Violation."
...that's the biggest one in my book since that's already essentially a law here in Ohio. I got out of that ticket, but the fact that I was even pulled over was silly. Who's to say what's loud, unless they carry around some type of decibel meter. Yes, there are clear instances where sometimes it's not just loud but OBNOXIOUSLY loud, but there's a pretty clear difference there.
Of course, even by that statement it's left up to my judgement -vs- someone else's. You can't very well enforce that type of law.

IF...if they wanted to get real picky and start listing off decibel tolerances as defined by the department of public health at which point hearing damage can occur, they would have to muffler just about every lawnmower out there. The average 3HP push lawnmower emits a loud enough exhaust that OSHA recommends wearing hearing protection. How many people cut their lawn while wearing hearing protection???

 

[Striker 85]

I have to have loud pipes to drown out the ricer blaring his RAP music next to me...thats my defense. The bass thats shaking my windows is more annoying then any exhust. And I from the Harley Home town, I know exhust noise

 

[bluecoupe]

I would be willing to bet that most of the trouble is being caused by people complaining about the import tuner cars with those coffee can mufflers. In my opinion they are too scary sounding. They sound like your being passed by a giant hornet. This sound is even more obnoxious than the loudest muscle car or even open Harley pipes. I don't think is just a matter of taste. I really think the high pitch buzz sound of the import cars and import bikes causes some kind of primal fear response. Deeper loud sounds don't seem to cause the same response.

When people stop using common sense the government steps in with some all purpose fix that punishes everyone for a few troublemakers.

<DT>"The right to swing my fist ends where the other man's nose begins." <DD>- Oliver Wendell Holmes (1841-1935) </DD>

 

[wishuwerehere82]

To each his own.
In the biker circles we have a saying"Loud Pipes Save Lives".
It's true, and I have seen (and heard) it in action. Although, there's nothing more painful than riding next to a guy with straight pipes for more than a couple of miles. Straight pipes are simply too loud. But they do get people's attention long enough to keep them from making a left turn in front of you!
If you had drag pipes on the Vette, you wouldn't want to stay in it for long! I know that a little extra sound is good, as long as you get the performance boost from it. But the new Vettes don't get any more from a loud exhaust other than sound. I like a car I can stay in for an 8 hour trip without scrambling my eardrums. However, it should be my choice, not the state's.

 

[Evolution1980]

To each his own.
In the biker circles we have a saying"Loud Pipes Save Lives".
I like a car I can stay in for an 8 hour trip without scrambling my eardrums.

In music circles, we have a saying that says "If it's too loud, you're too old." :L :L (Just goofin' with ya... )

 

[Tom Bryant]

What do expect from a state that keeps electing Ted Kennedy and John Kerry

Rob,
Maybe you can help fix this situation. Vote the drunk and the orange guy out of the senate. :L

 

[wishuwerehere82]

In music circles, we have a saying that says "If it's too loud, you're too old." :L :L (Just goofin' with ya... )

Been there done that, Too close to the mixing board.Too many times. The Who, Genesis(7 times), King Crimson, Blue Oyster Cult, Peter Gabriel(5 times), Black Sabbath, The Eagles, CN&Y, REO Speedwagon, Aerosmith(4 Times),Cheap Trick, Pink Floyd, America, Seals and Crofts(woops ,I'm showing my age), Neil Young, Jethro Tull(4 times).

Now the thing that hurts my ears worst is women talking!:L
I guess I'm too old.

 

[KANE]

Thank your ......

This would have to be a Massachusetts thing...but could be anywhere-

This is part of the broader image that could become legislation. It is almost a of quasi socialist mentality, and it doesn't TRULY benefit the people (the finacially challenged, the small shops, and people who have different taste). Instead, it seeks to supplant the rights of the individual with the "better" guidance of the state.

Vote. Vote and contact your represenative. Sign petitions. That is how we fix these problems. Otherwise, all hail the state.

What ever happened to "not my car, not my business"?

Legislation can be forced back. SEMA will get a case of the a** and more than likely help petitioners.

This legislation HURTS small shops because they have to pay dealer prices.

 

[Evolution1980]

Been there done that, Too close to the mixing board.Too many times. The Who, Genesis(7 times), King Crimson, Blue Oyster Cult, Peter Gabriel(5 times), Black Sabbath, The Eagles, CN&Y, REO Speedwagon, Aerosmith(4 Times),Cheap Trick, Pink Floyd, America, Seals and Crofts(woops ,I'm showing my age), Neil Young, Jethro Tull(4 times).

Now the thing that hurts my ears worst is women talking!:L
I guess I'm too old.

Damn...at least you had some good shows. :BOW
Yeah, I'd be willing to take a few hits to my overall hearing ability if I had the opportunity to experience all those shows from the mixing board (which is the best seat in the house!)

 

[Eric]

Forget the LOUD ones, I'm seeing that something like this could be taken to the extreme and effect peoples pocketbooks in ways no one has hit on yet. Case in point, I just replaced the entire exhaust system on my 20 year old Chevy truck. How would such a law effect what I just did? For those who have replaced twenty+ year old cats, you know very little airflow occurs in them, simply because of the technology in place then. Since technology has improved to the point where a higher flow cat allows more efficient engine operation on the older emission systems like mine, I am getting better gas mileage and seeing a much more smooth running engine. And the truck just went through emissions testing and passed better than with the original exhaust. I could see this legislation requiring me to put the clog-box back on and begin burning more gas. And by the way, my exhaust is very quiet.

While bikes and hot rods have had loud exhaust for years, I think we can blame this on the overnight explosion of the fart cannons along with the growing popularity of the bike shows on TLC, etc. My neighbor across the street has 4 hogs from 1951 to 1996 and only the 51 is loud but he's very considerate about it. On the rare occasion he starts it, it's always in broad daylight when the world is already awake. If he comes home at night he kills it at his driveway and coast in instead of throttling into the the garage. On the converse, another of our neighbors is what my neighbor calls a "trendy" bike rider(he has some other names for him). The guy never had a bike but when all of the custom bike shows started, he ran out and plopped down $20k on a full custom chopper from some place in Texas. The thing makes chambered exhaust sound like a fleas breath and he pops it off every chance he gets.

Please, I don't want to have to choke my friggin truck again!

- Eric

 

[GS Diva]

Forget the LOUD ones, I'm seeing that something like this could be taken to the extreme and effect peoples pocketbooks in ways no one has hit on yet. Case in point, I just replaced the entire exhaust system on my 20 year old Chevy truck. How would such a law effect what I just did? For those who have replaced twenty+ year old cats, you know very little airflow occurs in them, simply because of the technology in place then. Since technology has improved to the point where a higher flow cat allows more efficient engine operation on the older emission systems like mine, I am getting better gas mileage and seeing a much more smooth running engine. And the truck just went through emissions testing and passed better than with the original exhaust. I could see this legislation requiring me to put the clog-box back on and begin burning more gas. And by the way, my exhaust is very quiet.

This is precisely the problem all automobile enthusiasts are going to face if this legislation passes in MA. One of the strongest arguments against this proposed bill is...more efficient exhaust systems today, plus cleaner emission.

I know I'm on a bandwagon, but if you live in MA and don't want your automobile hobby/interest affected by this legislation, write, call, email your State senators and representatives to stop this bill from passing!!

Elaine