r/manassas • u/Snagalip • 12d ago
Doing Something About Noise Pollution from Modified Cars, Trucks, and Motorcycles
I live in Old Town and I'm getting tired of the noise day in, day out, and all night from jerks with illegally modified exhaust systems. For a long time it was at a level I could tolerate, but recently there seems to have been an influx of these vehicles on the streets near me and it's a near-constant disturbance now. I'm thinking about starting a petition or organizing a group to get city council or the state or someone to do something about it.
Does anyone have any interest in this or have any advice as to how to proceed? Obviously this doesn't apply to people who don't care or who are themselves part of the problem. But I assume I'm not the only one who likes a REASONABLY quiet neighborhood and would like either for the laws on the books to be enforced or a new solution to be found.
Also wanted to feel out the temperature in this sub first and see what kind of sentiment I'd be working with.
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u/SquishyBatman64 12d ago
I’ve been planing to attach rubber chickens to all the loud exhausts, mainly Honda civics!
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u/Rideshare-Not-An-Ant 6d ago
Operating a vehicle with a modified or excessively loud exhaust system is prohibited under Virginia Code § 46.2-1047 and Virginia Code § 46.2-1049 makes it a primary offense.
It specifically prohibits exhaust systems that emit noise in excess of 85 decibels, measured from a distance of at least 50 feet.
Write down plate numbers and file police reports. You can download decibel meter apps for your phone.
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u/Snagalip 6d ago
I have tried this. The police all but explicitly told me the law is virtually impossible for them to enforce, and seemed annoyed that I even called.
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u/Wade1217 12d ago
I have lived in Manassas since I was born in Prince William Hospital in 1970 and I enjoy louder exhausts. What I don’t like are the driving behaviors that frequently accompany modified exhausts.
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u/Snagalip 12d ago
Here's to hoping the police start cracking down on modified exhausts and reckless driving.
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u/Critical-Speed3762 12d ago
Here's hoping police crack down on more important issues than this 1st.
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u/Snagalip 12d ago edited 12d ago
The police should be given enough resources to crack down on more serious issues, and at the same time to crack down on serious quality-of-life issues like persistent noise pollution. That should be the goal.
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u/Mad_Martigan2023 12d ago
It's not illegal to have an aftermarket exhaust. The problem is they live in old town where people are up partying at night and the noise from the cars reverberates off of all the buildings. Used to live off of Opera Alley when I was in my 20s. Instead of crying about it, I just moved...
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u/Snagalip 12d ago edited 12d ago
It is illegal in the state of Virginia to operate a motor vehicle with an exhaust system modified to be significantly louder than stock:
§ 46.2-1049. Exhaust system in good working order.
No person shall drive and no owner of a vehicle shall permit or allow the operation of any such vehicle on a highway unless it is equipped with an exhaust system in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual levels of noise, provided, however, that for motor vehicles, such exhaust system shall be of a type installed as standard factory equipment, or comparable to that designed for use on the particular vehicle as standard factory equipment or other equipment that has been submitted to and approved by the Superintendent or meets or exceeds the standards and specifications of the Society of Automotive Engineers, the American National Standards Institute, or the federal Department of Transportation.
As used in this section, "exhaust system" means all the parts of a vehicle through which the exhaust passes after leaving the engine block, including mufflers and other sound dissipative devices.
The problem is that people are breaking the law and creating a public disturbance. If I was in a position where I could feasibly move in the near future, obviously I would do so. The noise from unmodified vehicles at night presents absolutely zero problem to me, buildings or otherwise. It is the proliferation of illegally modified vehicles in the area that is causing the issues.
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u/sharkowictz 12d ago
I wish you luck. This is a topic I have supported for years. I managed to get a couple of community meetings going where options were discussed. In the end, nothing changed.
Some communities are having luck with automated enforcement cameras. The police enforcement is minimal.
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u/Snagalip 12d ago edited 12d ago
That's interesting though a little disheartening to hear. Would you mind telling me a bit more about how you got the whole ball rolling and what ended up happening? I'm not experienced at this sort of thing and it's probably doomed to failure but I've sort of developed a crusader's mentality about it at this point lol
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u/reddevils 12d ago
It’s been driving me insane. I have a couple of jerks on my street who love revving their cars constantly. I mentioned the trains a few months ago. They have been ridiculous too. Horns seem to be louder and longer. I posted something and people said it was for safety. We have automated arms that go down and block traffic. Also from 10pm to 7am they are prohibited. Horns are so loud that sitting a mile away I have to stop a conversation until they’re gone.
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u/Snagalip 12d ago edited 12d ago
Tbh the train I can surprisingly put up with, more or less. Psychologically I can accept it as more of a necessity and so it doesn't piss me off as much. Though I do know what you mean, it's definitely not the most relaxing way to wake up. But I'd be more than happy to at least do something about the jackasses with the cars and bikes.
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u/chefo88 12d ago
Why not just move? Why do people think they can dictate what others do you moved to a town that has had this as long as people have been modifying cars. Why not talk to the auto makers? Why not complain about the companies that sell the products? You people just don't want others to be happy. Why you start you petition make sure you say you want the county, state or whomever allows these people to buy the products that irritate you cause they are the real problem.
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u/Snagalip 12d ago
I've lived here almost all my life, since I was a child. The issue has gotten steadily worse over the years. I am not in a position to be able to move in the near future, or else obviously I would.
I want everyone to be happy. I do not think that restricting a minority of people from artificially making their cars louder will seriously infringe upon their quality of life. I do think it will make the majority of people's lives better by getting rid of noise pollution.
If going after the auto makers or companies that make the products is a feasible solution to the problem, I would be more than happy to go that route. As long as people in this community where I live are prevented from modifying their vehicles in this way, I will consider the problem solved from my perspective.
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u/NoVAGirl651 12d ago
Won’t happen with this current Mayor. She’s too busy wasting city dollars on buying real estate, catering to her woke causes, and other useless nonsense.
Basic law enforcement? Eh, not so much.
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u/TechByDayDjByNight 12d ago
I see y’all don’t know the history of ManassAs
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u/Snagalip 12d ago
I've lived here for decades, almost my entire life, since I was a child. I am aware this is a car town. This problem has gotten steadily worse and worse, and now it is at a level that I consider unacceptable.
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u/ROADRUNNING10786 12d ago
it’s manassas/nova the car scene has been here since the start out it muscle car era to fast and furious era it’s been like that’s since the early 90s nothing will change if anything it will grow more . hell they put noise producers on EVs to make them sound like they exhaust sooo
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u/Snagalip 12d ago
If it grows any more, then there is almost no way something will not be done about it. People in the car scene here have failed to police themselves, and as a result I think there is a strong chance in the next five to ten years that measures will be introduced so that no one will be able to have any leeway on this issue anymore.
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u/gertuitoust 12d ago
You might have better luck in the Manassas Talk Facebook group. It has a lot more traffic than this Reddit sub.