MOTION-- Throughout the city, a small number of people cause disproportionate disturbance through vehicle exhaust sound enhancements [otherwise known as modified mufflers). Modified mufflers on vehicles of all types can disrupt quality of life, especially in residential neighborhoods, due to their excessively loud noise. Sometimes these modified mufflers allow "backfires" and other loud noises that residents mistake for gunfire or explosions that lead to unnecessary calls for police response. Additionally, these loud noises can have particularly damaging implications for those with special sensitivities to loud noise, such as victims of PTSD. Presently, there are existing laws that govern noises emitted by vehicles by both the City and the State.LA City Municipal Code 114.02 and California State Vehicle Codes 27150[a) and 27151(a) detail the laws surrounding appropriate muffler infrastructure, and neighborhood noise levels. More recently, the state adopted AB1824 which requires officers to issue tickets to people that violate state exhaust noise laws; previously, the tickets issued for this citation merited only a "fix it" warning.
The regulations for modified mufflers should be more heavily enforced and the council should consider whether the current local laws are sufficiently strong enough to address the public safety and quality-of-life issues that modified mufflers pose for our communities and users of the right-of-way.
I THEREFORE MOVE that the City Council INSTRUCT the Chief Legislative Analyst, in concert with the Los Angeles Police Department and the Office of the City Attorney to report on possible ways to more effectively limit the use of modified mufflers, especially in noise-sensitive areas.