HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	52
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

Requesting the study and adoption of a 95-decibel limit to measure muffler and vehicular noise.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, there is a growing number of automobiles and other vehicles traveling in urban neighborhoods and our roads; and

 

     WHEREAS, while many of these vehicles operate efficiently, some contribute to noise pollution with noisy mufflers and other vehicular noise; and

 

     WHEREAS, in trying to address the many complaints from urban Honolulu residents about noisy mufflers, the State faces challenges in establishing rules to measure muffler noise, and regulating noisy vehicle mufflers; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation (DOT) currently does not have rules to measure muffler noise; and

 

     WHEREAS, in preparation of adopting noise regulations for vehicles, DOT can study California's decibel standard from the Society of Automotive Engineers International, which is a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in such fields as automotive and commercial-vehicle industries; and

 

     WHEREAS, California has adopted the Society of Automotive Engineers standard of a 95-decibel limit, which is a loudness  comparable to a subway train from 200 feet away; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, the Senate concurring, that DOT is requested to study and adopt the Society of Automotive Engineers standard of a 95-decibel limit to measure muffler and other vehicular noise; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOT report to the Legislature its findings and recommendations and progress in adopting noise regulations for vehicles no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation, the Chief of Police of the Honolulu Police Department, and the President of the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Department of Transportation; Muffler Resolution