EPA Approved Motorcycle Exhaust System Could Be Mandatory

Motorcycle riders caught riding model year 2011 or newer motorcycles without a federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) label certifying the exhaust system meets sound emission standards could be severely fined. The proposal has been amended to authorize police officers to fine bikers who have removed catalytic converters, instead of requiring the emission testing.

Senate Bill 435, which requires motorcyclists to have EPA-compliant exhaust systems on their model year 2011 and newer motorcycles, has been approved and now goes to the state assembly for further consideration.

"Many EPA labels are very difficult to locate on motorcycles," said AMA Western States Representative Nick Harris. “This proposed law could lead to a flurry of tickets for motorcyclists who have legal exhaust systems on their machines with EPA labels that can't be easily seen.”

“It's unreasonable to expect a law enforcement officer to easily locate an EPA label, and it's simply unfair to expect a motorcycle owner to partially dismantle an exhaust system alongside the road to prove the label exists," said Harris.

Two key elements of the label match-up are contained in the federal regulations. These are noise emission testing, and labeling. Currently the maximum noise emissions are set for 80dba for street motorcycles.

"Requiring that a motorcycle display a readily visible EPA label isn't the correct way to address concerns about excessive motorcycle sound," Harris added. “The only objective way to determine whether a motorcycle complies with sound laws is for properly trained personnel to conduct sound level tests using calibrated meters and an agreed-upon testing procedure."