An Act To Reduce Road Noise within Posted Areas ,
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1642
Committee Amendment CA_A_H672 (House)
Amends: 29-A MRSA §1912

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to H.P. 1170, L.D. 1642, Bill, "An Act To 
Reduce Road Noise within Posted Areas" 
, 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act Relating to Road Noise' 
Amend the bill by striking out evelything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inseliing the following: 
'Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §1912, sub-§l, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read: 
1. Muffle ... "equired. 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 norse" 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 pl"Ohibited. 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. Worldng 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 Depaliment of TranspOliation, the Maine 
Turnpike Authority and a neighborhood or neighborhood associati,on affected by highway 
noise. 
The working group shall 
submit a repOli, 
including findings 
and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,·ft" to I-J.P. 1170, L.D. 1642 
recommendations, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over transportation matters no later than January 15,2011.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment defines "excessive or unusual noise" as it relates to exhaust systems 
that are improperly installed or maintained or modified in a way that increases the noise 
emitted by a motor vehicle. The amendment also directs the Department of Public 
Safety, Bureau of State Police to 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. 
FISCAL .\OT£ REQUIRED 
1~ee at!~~~ed), 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Approved: 02/26/10 Mar::.. 
LD 1642 
LR 2334(02) 
An Act To Reduce Road Noise within Posted Areas 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "Il" 
Committee: Transportation 
H 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential current biennium cost increase - General Fund 
Potential current biennium cost increase - Highway Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
The State Police within the Department of Public Safety may see increases in violations as a result of this legislation. 
More violations would result in more court time for State Police troopers. If the court time falls on a scheduled day 
off the trooper would be paid ovel1ime for at least 4 hours, potentially increasing both General Fund and Highway 
Fund costs to the DepaJ1ment of Public Safety. 
Additional costs to the Department of Public safety and Department of Transp0l1ation related to the working group 
can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR2334(02) - Fiscal Note ~ Page I of I