S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
S. 3528 A. 3033
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
S E N A T E - A S S E M B L Y
January 24, 2017
___________
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered print-
ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transporta-
tion
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred
to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to motor vehi-
cle sound level limits for motorcycles
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 386 of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by
chapter 543 of the laws of 1976, paragraphs c and d of subdivision 3 as
added and subdivision 5 as amended by chapter 315 of the laws of 1980,
is amended to read as follows:
§ 386. Motor vehicle sound level limits. 1. As used in this section;
a. A-weighted sound level shall mean the sound pressure level measured
by the use of an instrument with the metering characteristics and
A-weighting frequency response prescribed for sound level meters.
b. Combination of vehicles shall mean any device consisting of a motor
vehicle and one or more trailers drawn by such motor vehicle.
c. Sound pressure level shall mean twenty times the logarithm to the
base ten of the ratio of the root mean squared pressure of a sound to a
reference pressure of twenty micropascals. The unit applied to this
measure shall be the decibel (dB).
2. This section shall apply to the total sound level emitted from a
motor vehicle or a combination of vehicles.
3. Unlawful acts.
a. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or cause to be oper-
ated on a public highway any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles
with a maximum gross weight in excess of ten thousand pounds, at any
time, under any condition of grade, load, acceleration or deceleration
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06765-01-7
S. 3528 2 A. 3033
in such a manner as to exceed the applicable A-weighted sound level set
forth in table I. The maximum allowable sound levels in table I are
based on a sound level measured at, or adjusted to, a distance of fifty
feet from the center of the lane in which the motor vehicle is travel-
ing.
TABLE I
MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE
A-WEIGHTED SOUND LEVELS
Maximum Speed Limit
35 miles
per hour over 35
or less miles per hour
86dB (A) 90 dB (A)
b. In addition, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate or
cause to be operated on a public highway any motor vehicle or combina-
tion of vehicles with a maximum gross weight in excess of ten thousand
pounds and equipped with an engine speed governor, which generates an
A-weighted sound level in excess of eighty-eight dB(A) measured at, or
adjusted to, a distance of fifty feet from the longitudinal centerline
of the vehicle, when the engine of such vehicle is accelerated from idle
with a wide open throttle to governed speed with the vehicle stationary,
transmission in neutral and clutch engaged.
c. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or cause to be oper-
ated on a public highway any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles,
except motorcycles, with a maximum gross weight of ten thousand pounds
or less, at any time, under any condition of grade, load, acceleration
or deceleration in such a manner as to exceed the applicable A-weighted
sound level set forth in table II. The maximum allowable sound levels in
table II are based on a sound level measured at, or adjusted to, a
distance of fifty feet from the center of the lane in which the motor
vehicle is traveling:
TABLE II
MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE
A-WEIGHTED SOUND LEVELS
Maximum Speed Limit
35 miles
per hour over 35
or less miles per hour
76 dB(A) 82 dB(A)
d. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or cause to be oper-
ated on a public highway any motorcycle, at any time, under any condi-
tion of grade, load, acceleration or deceleration in such a manner as to
exceed the applicable A-weighted sound level set forth in table III. The
maximum allowable sound levels in table III are based on a sound level
measured at, or adjusted to, a distance of fifty feet from the center of
the lane in which the motorcycle is traveling.
TABLE III
MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE
A-WEIGHTED SOUND LEVELS
Maximum Speed Limit
35 miles
per hour over 35
or less miles per hour
[82] 74 dB(A) [86] 81 dB(A)
S. 3528 3 A. 3033
4. The commissioner of environmental conservation shall promulgate
regulations establishing the measurement procedures and instrumentation
to be utilized in the enforcement of this section.
a. These procedures shall allow, to the extent feasible, motor vehicle
sound measurements to be accomplished in reasonably confined areas such
as residential areas of urban cities, and may provide for sound measure-
ment at distances other than fifty feet and in the vicinity of sound
reflecting surfaces.
b. The regulations shall take into consideration recognized scientific
and professional standards for the measurement of vehicular sound
levels.
5. The provisions of this section shall not apply to vehicles and
implements or combinations thereof used solely for farm purposes, nor to
authorized emergency vehicles.
6. Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting or preclud-
ing the enforcement of equipment requirements or any other provisions of
law relating to motor vehicle noise.
7. At intervals of not more than two years, the commissioner of envi-
ronmental conservation shall report to the governor and the legislature
on the current state of the art of motor vehicle sound level limitations
and recommend changes as necessary.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.