TELEPHONE (714) 536-5553
City of Huntington Beach
2000 MAIN STREET CALIFORNIA 92648
Barbara Delgleize
Mayor
September 8, 2022
The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor, State of California
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Signature Request - AB 2496 (Petrie-Norris): Illegally Modified Exhaust
Dear Governor Newsom:
On behalf of the City of Huntington Beach I am writing to respectfully request your signature on AB 2496 which will help address illegal and loud vehicle noise in our community.
Inconsistencies in law and a lack of meaningful enforcement mechanisms in current statute contribute t o the serious problem of loud vehicle noise. AB 2496 proposes that the court system require certificates of compliance from Bureau of Automotive Repair regulated facilities for violations of loud vehicle noise in existing statute. If the certificate of compliance is not received within three months the violation, the courts shall notify the Department of Motor Vehicles to place a hold on their next registration.
Furthermore, as a result of discussions with the Department of Motor Vehicles, the bill’s implementation date is delayed until January 1, 2027 in order to coincide with the current information technology and data modernization project currently underway.
Most loud vehicle noise issues come from willful violations of existing Vehicle Code that make it a crime to modify the exhaust system of a vehicle for the purpose of increasing or amplifying noise emitted by the vehicle. However, loopholes exist to allow violators to continuously violate these sections of the Vehicle Code without ramifications or compulsory correction. By requiring certificates of compliance to register the vehicle once cited, AB 2496 will close that gap and incentivize violators to address the problem.
For these reasons, the City of Huntington Beach is proud to support AB 2496 a nd request your signature on this important bill to address loud vehicle noise.
Sincerely,
Barbara Delgleize
Mayor
City of Huntington Beach