1(1) 2DEFINITIONS.3-4The following words and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in this subsection, except where the context otherwise requires:
31(a) 32“dB A” means the composite abbreviation for the A-weighted sound level and the unit of sound level, the decibel.
51(b) 52“Gross combination weight rating” or “GCWR” means the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a combination vehicle.
73(c) 74“Gross vehicle weight rating” or “GVWR” means the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a single vehicle.
95(d) 96“Sound level” means the A-weighted sound pressure level measured with fast response using an instrument complying with the specification for sound level meters of the American National Standards Institute, Inc., or its successor bodies, except that only A-weighting and fast dynamic response need be provided.
141(e) 142“Department” means the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
152(2) 153OPERATING NOISE LIMITS.156-157No person shall operate or be permitted to operate a vehicle at any time or under any condition of roadway grade, load, acceleration, or deceleration in such a manner as to generate a sound level in excess of the following limit for the category of motor vehicle and applicable speed limit at a distance of 50 feet from the center of the lane of travel under measurement procedures established under subsection (3).
229(a) 230For motorcycles other than motor-driven cycles:
236Sound level limit
239Speed limit 24135 mph or less
245Speed limit 247over 35 mph
250Before January 1, 1979
25482 dB A
25786 dB A
260On or after 263January 1, 1979
26678 dB A
26982 dB A
272(b) 273For any motor vehicle with a GVWR or GCWR of 10,000 pounds or more:
288Sound level limit
291Speed limit 29335 mph or less
297Speed limit 299over 35 mph
302On or after 305January 1, 1975
30886 dB A
31190 dB A
314(c) 315For motor-driven cycles and any other motor vehicle not included in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b):
331Sound level limit
334Speed limit 33635 mph or less
340Speed limit 342over 35 mph
345Before January 1, 1979
34976 dB A
35282 dB A
355On or after 358January 1, 1979
36172 dB A
36479 dB A
367(3) 368MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES.370-371The measurement procedures for determining compliance with this section shall be established by regulation of the Department of Environmental Protection as provided in s. 395403.415(9), 396in cooperation with the department. Such regulations shall include the selection of measurement sites and measurement procedures and shall take into consideration accepted scientific and professional methods for the measurement of vehicular sound levels. The measurement procedures may include adjustment factors to be applied to the noise limit for measurement distances of other than 50 feet from the center of the lane of travel.
460(4) 461APPLICABILITY.462-463This section applies to the total noise from a vehicle and shall not be construed as limiting or precluding the enforcement of any other provisions of this chapter relating to motor vehicle mufflers for noise control.
505(a) 506No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle or any other noise-abatement device of a motor vehicle operated or to be operated upon the highways of this state in such a manner that the noise emitted by the motor vehicle is above that emitted by the vehicle as originally manufactured.
559(b) 560No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon the highways of the state with an exhaust system or noise-abatement device so modified.
582(6) 583EXEMPT VEHICLES.585-586The following are exempt from the operation of this act:
596(a) 597Emergency vehicles operating as specified in s. 604316.072(5)(a)605.
606(b) 607Any motor vehicle engaged in a professional or amateur sanctioned, competitive sports event for which admission or entry fee is charged, or practice or time trials for such event.
636(c) 637Any motor vehicle engaged in a manufacturer’s engineering, design, or equipment test.
649(d) 650Construction or agricultural equipment either on a job site or traveling on the highways.
664(7) 665VIOLATIONS.666-667A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.
History.-s. 4, ch. 74-110; s. 32, ch. 76-31; s. 2, ch. 78-280; s. 28, ch. 79-65; s. 136, ch. 94-356; s. 16, ch. 97-300; s. 205, ch. 99-248.
