Sick of hearing loud trucks roar? Pennsylvania has laws for mufflers and vehicle noise
Few things can seem more annoying than an overly loud car or truck speeding past your home or screeching through an intersection, but does it cross the legal line in Pennsylvania?
The Keystone State offers many laws and codes that govern and advise vehicle guidelines, including restrictions on car parts and modifications like tinted windows. Noise produced by cars and trucks — plus the automotive parts that control it — are also subject to Pennsylvania law and code.
Here’s what you need to know about mufflers, noise control and more for Pennsylvania cars and trucks.
Do Pennsylvania vehicles need a muffler?
Yes. Under Pennsylvania law, every motor vehicle must be equipped with a muffler or another device that effectively suppresses noise. Mufflers, usually located at the rear or bottom of vehicles, are largely responsible for quieting the sound created by an engine’s pistons and valves by trapping exhaust gasses.
Pennsylvania law says it is unlawful for a vehicle to have a muffler with a cutout or bypass, which effectively allow drivers to control a vehicle’s exhaust sound. Additionally, vehicles may not be modified to amplify or increase the noise they produce. However, headers and side exhausts for mufflers are permitted so long as vehicles meet all other requirements prescribed by law.
The commonwealth also requires motor vehicles to operate without exceeding sound levels prescribed in Pennsylvania’s code.
According to Pennsylvania’s vehicle code, noise from motor vehicles traveling at or below 35 miles per hour must not exceed 88 decibels. That maximum limit jumps to 92 decibels for vehicles traveling faster than 35 mph. These limits do not apply to snow plows, emergency vehicles and a few other sounds created in specific scenarios, including warning devices.
For reference, a moving freight train will produce noise at about 80 decibels from 100 feet away, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. A working boiler room is estimated at around 90 decibels, and an active construction site sits at around 100 decibels.
Staying safe on Pennsylvania’s roads
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation maintains an array of guides and brochures offering safety tips for Pennsylvania drivers, all available online at no cost.
Simply put, the agency encourages drivers to “Start SMART” and “Stay SMART” — a series of acronyms offering straightforward safety tips.
Start SMART
- S — Seat belt on, seat adjusted
- M — Mirrors adjusted and clear
- A — Air conditioning, heating and defrost panels set
- R — Radio and audio panel set
- T — Thoroughly check the area for traffic, people and objects
Stay SMART
- S — Watch your speed
- M — Frequently check your mirrors
- A — Avoid distractions
- R — Remember the rules of the road
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