Vehicles: sound-activated enforcement devices.

Existing law requires every motor vehicle subject to registration to be equipped with an adequate muffler in constant operation and properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise and prohibits a muffler or exhaust system from being equipped with a cutout, bypass, or similar device. Existing law further prohibits the modification of an exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner that will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor of the vehicle so that the vehicle exceeds existing noise limits when tested in accordance with specified standards. This bill would require the Department of the California Highway Patrol to evaluate the efficacy of sound-activated enforcement devices by evaluating devices from at least 3 different companies, and would require the department, on or before January 1, 2025, to prepare and submit its findings and recommendations from the evaluation in a report to the Legislature, as specified. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.