Are vehicles with altered exhausts or loud mufflers legal to drive on Kentucky roads?
It’s something you might find unpleasant but also accept as part of everyday life.
Maybe you’re out for a peaceful walk or enjoying brunch with some friends, when the peal of an obnoxiously loud motorcycle or pickup truck flies by, drowning out whatever you happened to be saying or thinking.
You may wonder if modifications to vehicles to make the exhaust louder are even legal. Here’s what Kentucky law has to say about that question, including why it’s often tricky to enforce.
Can you drive a car or motorcycle without a muffler in Kentucky?
Kentucky law, specifically Kentucky Revised Statute 189.140, is pretty clear and requires “every motor vehicle with an internal combustion, steam or air motor shall be equipped with a suitable and efficient muffler.”
The law further states “no person while on a highway shall operate a motor vehicle with the muffler cut out or removed.”
KRS 189.140 also prohibits modifying the exhaust system of a motor vehicle or an off-highway vehicle “in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor of such a vehicle above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle.”
This seems to preclude both removing the muffler and altering it in a way that amplifies noise, such as with a muffler cutout. The cutout offers control over how loud or quiet the vehicle’s exhaust system gets by enabling the driver to determine whether the exhaust bypasses or exits the muffler as usual. This can be controlled by the driver with the click of a button.
Do inspectors check your muffler during a vehicle check in Kentucky?
In Kentucky, vehicle inspections are only required under specific circumstances, perhaps most commonly when a vehicle is purchased or brought in from out of state.
The check-off form inspectors fill out when they’re looking over your vehicle prompts them to examine your muffler and determine if it passes or fails.
Typically, these types of inspections are conducted by your local sheriff’s office, and the goal of the inspection is to determine if the vehicle is roadworthy. Given that Kentucky law generally prohibits removing or modifying exhaust systems to make them louder, it’s possible you could be required to fix the issue before you can put a Kentucky license plate on the vehicle.
What’s the penalty for driving without a muffler in Kentucky?
The state law is on the books, but as is often the case, laws made by local governments are easier to enforce. Cities and towns often have ordinances in place to limit noise pollution.
In Lexington, violators face escalating fines between $50 and up to $500. Alternatively, they can be issued an abatement order to cease the noise disturbance.
Lexington’s ordinance includes “repairing, rebuilding, modifying, testing or operating any motor vehicle, motorcycle, motor bicycle or motorboat in such a manner as to cause a noise disturbance across a dwelling unit boundary.”
The Herald-Leader has reached out to the Lexington Police Department for comment about how often drivers are ticketed for such offenses.
There are a couple ways to make a noise complaint in Lexington, including by calling the department’s non-emergency line at 859-258-3600. LexCall 311 is the city’s centralized service and information center that can also offer instructions on how to make a noise complaint.
This story was reported in response to a reader question from our Know Your Kentucky project. If you have a question about Kentucky, we’d like to hear from you. Fill out the form below or email ask@herald-leader.com.