Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research		 BILL
ANALYSIS
Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks Committee

HB 1455

Brief Description: Limiting nuisance noise from off-road vehicles.

Sponsors: Representatives Haigh, Wallace, Kagi, Dickerson and Chase.

Brief Summary of Bill
  • Lowers the maximum allowable noise from an ORV from 105 decibels to 96 decibels.
  • States that it is a traffic infraction to operate a non-highway vehicle in a repetitive manner or on a track on any lands zoned as residential if the vehicle is operated within 600 feet of another property owner' s residence, barn, stable, or similar penned area for keeping livestock.

Hearing Date: 2/11/05

Staff: Jason Callahan (786-7117).

Background:

The operators of a non-highway vehicle can be cited for a traffic violation for a number of reasons These reasons include operating a vehicle in a manner that endangers another' s property, not having proper lighting when on property not belonging to the owner, running the vehicle without a spark arrester, and driving in a manner that injures or destroys trees or other vegetation (RCW 46.03.120).

An operator can also be cited for a traffic violation if the muffler on the non-highway vehicle does not meet set standards. Mufflers for these vehicles must operate at a noise level of less than 87 decibels as measured on a scale set by the Society of Automotive engineers (SAE). If an SAE test is not available, then the muffler must not emit a noise louder than 105 decibels when measured at a 45-degree angle and 20 inches away from the exhaust pipe of a stationary non-highway vehicle running at one half of the vehicle's maximum allowable engine speed (RCW 46.03.120).

Traffic infractions for non-highway vehicles are punishable by a fine of not less than $25 (RCW 46.09.190).

Summary of Bill:

The maximum noise level allowed to be omitted by the muffler of a non-highway vehicle is reduced from 105 decibels to 96 decibels when an SAE test is not available.

It is a traffic infraction to operate a non-highway vehicle in a repetitive manner or on a track on any lands zoned as residential if the vehicle is operated within 600 feet of another property owner' s residence, barn, stable, or similar penned area for keeping livestock.

Violations of this traffic infraction are subject to a fine of at least $100 for the first offense. Multiple offenses are subject to a fine of twice the previous offense.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.