Alexandria residents have mostly had to suffer through the noise from modified vehicles — but starting Friday, the police can do something to help.
A Virginia law passed during Gov. Ralph Northam's term meant that police could not pull over vehicles for minor equipment violations, such as broken brake lights or faulty exhaust systems. “A disproportionate number of people pulled over for minor traffic offenses tend to be people of color, this is a contributor to the higher incarceration rate among minorities,” Del. Patrick Hope, D-Arlington, told the Virginia Mercury when the law was passed in 2020.
A change in Virginia law starting July 1 makes it legal, again, for police to stop vehicles for excessive noise, but not necessarily for other minor violations like busted headlights. The new law states: "No person shall operate any motor vehicle with a gross weight of 6,500 pounds or less with an exhaust system that emits noise in excess of 85 decibels. Such noise level shall be measured from a distance of at least 50 feet."
Alexandria area Delegates Charniele Herring and Kaye Kory voted against the bill. Del. Mark Sickles voted in favor of the bill. On the Senate side, George Barker, Adam Ebbin and Dick Saslaw also voted in favor of the bill.
Fairfax County's Board of Supervisors has already adjusted its local laws to allow police to start enforcing this immediately. In an email to constituents, Supervisor Dan Storck wrote:
"I am pleased that the Board approved a change in County Code to implement the new state law permitting police to, again, pull over vehicles with improperly working exhaust systems that create excessive noise. This means no one is permitted to operate a vehicle that is equipped with an exhaust system not in proper working order or produces excessive or unusual levels of noise. I have heard, for many years, from many of you disturbed by the level of noise generated by an improperly operating exhaust. This disrupts the quality of life in your neighborhoods. We all realize enforcement will be difficult. We had hoped the General Assembly would include muffler inspection requirements as part of the annual vehicle inspection process, and will continue to press state legislators to add this requirement to enable us to enforce improper mufflers during the inspection process. I also requested that we have a more detailed discussion at a Public Safety Committee meeting as to how officers will enforce this new law and what outcomes residents can expect to see."
