STAND. COM. REP. NO. 668

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 376

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 376 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NOISE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit the use, sale, alteration, or installation of motor vehicle mufflers that emit more than ninety-five decibels of sound.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee finds that motor vehicles with modified exhaust systems that emit or amplify loud noises are a major source of noise pollution. Currently, all vehicles from the manufacturer are equipped with mufflers that emit noise at reasonable levels. Therefore, if a person modifies the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner that amplifies or increases the noise emitted by the motor of the vehicle, this measure requires the individual to replace their muffler with an option that would not emit more than ninety-five decibels of sound so as not to contribute to excess noise pollution.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 376 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair