Bismarck Police to Target Loud Mufflers

The Bismarck Police Department announced today it will increase enforcement activity against operators of vehicles with loud mufflers beginning August 1st. Enforcement action will include selective enforcement and increased emphasis on these violations by patrol/traffic officers while on normal patrol. The Department recently purchased additional sound meters for use in enforcing muffler/exhaust noise violations and each squad car should have a sound meter in it.

Department personnel continue to receive complaints about excessively loud vehicle muffler/exhaust noises. These complaints increase during the warmer months when residents spend more time outside and when they are more likely to sleep with windows open.

There are several ordinances that apply to loud mufflers. The legal level of muffler noise for vehicles with a gross weight rating of ten thousand (10,000) pounds or less and motorcycles to be operated on streets and highways in Bismarck is 80 dB (A).

Bismarck City Ordinance 8-10-04 establishes the noise level of passenger vehicles and motorcycles at 80dB (A) measured at 25 feet (vehicles with a gross weight rating of ten thousand pounds or more are 88 dB (A).)

Motorcycles are governed by City Ordinance 12-14-02. This ordinance references Century Code 39-27 which is the motorcycle chapter. Chapter 39-27 says that motorcycles operated on the streets and highways must meet the noise decibel limitations as established by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA limit is 80 dB (A) for street motorcycles manufactured after 1986.



If you come to the PD to have your muffler/exhaust noise measured, and it fails, you will be issued a warning ticket with 20 days to comply.

The penalty for loud mufflers on cars/motorcycles is a $40 fine, and two points if the vehicle was moving.

Bismarck Police will precede the enforcement efforts with an educational campaign to inform the public of the noise restrictions with a goal of achieving voluntary compliance with the muffler ordinance. | save this article / add to your favorites list