MoCo Passes Bill Aimed At Quieting Loud Car Exhausts

ROCKVILLE, MD — The Montgomery County Council unanimously passed a bill this week designed to help enforce noise laws aimed at cars and trucks with loud exhaust systems, according to documents and a report.

Bill 14-24 creates a vehicle noise abatement monitoring pilot program that will help county authorities enforce existing motor vehicle noise requirements for vehicles with modified exhaust systems.

Under the pilot program, Montgomery County police will deploy three noise cameras within the county to measure noise levels and take images when activated. Under the new bill, the location of the cameras would be made public and signage would be posted in the areas they are placed.

The bill was prompted by complaints from residents about cars and trucks equipped with exhaust add-ons that were so loud they could be heard indoors, disturbed sleep or negatively affected their quality of life, according to a WTOP report.

On Tuesday, Montgomery County Council Vice President Kate Stewart said, “It is already illegal under state law to modify a muffler and to have the noise go above the 80 decibels that is in state law now," WTOP reported.

Stewart called the bill “one step forward to addressing the issue in our community.”

The bill would be enforced by a warning for the first offense followed by a $75 fine for the second or subsequent offense.

As required by the legislation, the pilot program will sunset at the end of June 30, 2026.