Loud Exhaust Strictly Enforced

The City of Rancho Palos Verdes contracts with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and is served by the Lomita Sheriff’s Station. The Sheriff’s Department will be strictly enforcing loud vehicle exhaust until further notice. During this time, there will be additional deputies on patrol looking for vehicles with loud or modified exhausts that are not in compliance with California Vehicle Code (CVC) regulations.

VIOLATORS WILL BE CITED

The Sheriff’s Department will be strictly enforcing CVC sections 27150(a) and 27151(a), pertaining to loud exhaust.

California Vehicle Code

27150(a): Every motor vehicle subject to registration shall at all times be equipped with an adequate muffler in constant operation and properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise, and no muffler or exhaust system shall be equipped with a cutout, bypass, or similar device.

27151(a): A person shall not modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor of the vehicle so that the vehicle is not in compliance with the provisions of Section 27150 or exceeds the noise limits established for the type of vehicle in Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 27200). A person shall not operate a motor vehicle with an exhaust system so modified.

How Loud is Too Loud?

CVC 27151 states that a vehicle weighing 6,000 pounds or less, or anything smaller than a light truck or van, shall have a sound level of 95 decibels or less, which is the same as an average gas-powered lawn mower. 

The State of California requires that vehicles have an adequately working muffler, which means you cannot remove or make adjustments to your muffler that intentionally increase the noise of the vehicle.

Reporting Violators

While the Sheriff’s Department will be conducting additional patrols, you can help too! If you notice a pattern with certain locations at certain times of the day or week with loud exhaust violators, report it to the Sheriff’s Station at 310-539-1661.