Q: One of those morons with nothing better to do than to make their car engines loud enough to shatter glass drove through my neighborhood. He honked his horn on the way through. This wasn't a normal-sounding horn. It sounded like a civil defense siren. Is this legal? It’s hard to enforce rules
against loud car noises
Q: Is there a law regarding the decibel level on a car or motorcycle?
The answer to these two questions can be summed up this way: Yes, there are regulations about "excessive" or "unusually loud" noise and requirements for mufflers in the Traffic Code. But the problem is subduing these noise warriors.We checked with the state Department of Transportation's motor vehicle safety office, the city Motor Vehicle Licensing and Control office and the state Department of Health's Noise and Radiation Branch.
It came down to calling 911.
"Police enforce vehicular noise complaints," explained Jerry Haruno, chief of the Noise and Radiation Branch.
But HPD Maj. Gary Dias, head of the Traffic Division, outlined the problem: "Let's assume a car doesn't have a muffler and you call 911. By the time we can get out, the car is gone. More often than not, it's a person just passing by, so enforcement is a problem."
However, if you can provide a "viable lead," such as a license plate number, "then we can follow up," Dias said.
Ideally, noisy vehicles or over-loud horns would be noted during safety inspections, but that doesn't prevent drivers from making alterations or simply not getting a safety check.
"If (vehicles) are too loud, they may be referred to the (city) reconstruction station," said David Mau, assistant motor vehicle licensing administrator. "But we don't go out and look for them."
More Kokua Line
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- How to replace lost license
- Aina Haina update
- Free piano
- Mahalo
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