New York City Administrative Code § 24-236 Motor Vehicles (Loud Exhaust)

(sometimes charged as § 24-227)

(a) Motor vehicles (cars), other than motorcycles, with a maximum gross weight of 10,000 lbs. or less. No person shall cause or permit any motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, with a maximum gross weight of 10,000 lbs. or less to operate on a public right-of-way where the muffler or exhaust generates a sound that is plainly audible to another individual at a distance of 150 feet or more from the motor vehicle.

(b) Motorcycles. No person shall cause or permit any motorcycle to operate on a public right-of-way where the muffler or exhaust generates a sound that is plainly audible to another individual at a distance of 200 feet or more from the motorcycle.

In New York City, the public has complained that they are being disturbed by cars and motorcycles with noisy exhaust and governor Hochul recently signed the SLEEP act in response which hikes penalties for noisy exhaust and even provides penalties for shops that install noisy mufflers. Regardless of whether the driver modified their car or motorcycle to generate excessive noise, or there's a mechanical defect, or the driver simply bought it that way, enforcement against excessive noise in NYC has never been stronger. The NYPD, under pressure from the new law and public outrage, will listen for cars and motorcycles that seem too noisy and hand out pink criminal court summonses charging a violation of AC 24-236 which prohibits excessively noisy exhaust. The NYPD is also using new sound meters to catch violators.

Generally, Exhaust is too noisy if:

• The cop can easily hear it 150 feet away (cars)
• The cop can easily hear it 200 feet away (motorcycles)
• Must be on a street where the speed limit is 35 or less
• Total sound coming from vehicle including music and exhaust is also limited by VTL 386

If you or a loved one was pulled over and given a pink criminal court summons, contact us for a consultation. We've had success at getting pink summonses for excessive noise dismissed or reduced.