WA Emissions Questions

You do not need taipipes, although the emissions folks will like you better if you do. The lady at the emissions place in South Hill gave me a hard time about it.

i had dumps on mine when i did emissions on my GT. they didnt say anything about it but im sure the guy climbing under my car wasnt happy LOL!

there is a RCW or WAC that say's your exhaust must exit behind the pass. dept.

been pulled over for that years ago

I have not personally ever heard of an exh law other than
1. passing required emissions/pollution levels
2. Passing Sound level requirements.

The emissions up here are NOT run by the state, it is a private agency that enforces the polution standards. Not anything like CA (YET). The sound issue is something a police officer will enforce, not the emissions folks..

To be a nice guy etc, just get some sort of tip out where it can be seen and be that much easier for the techs to get to and insert thier little probe...

you can access the rcw's and wac's through thewashington state homepage.having the exhaust exit behind the passenger compt. has more to do with safety(co inside the car) than with emissions.as long as you have the cats inplace and unaltered you will be fine with emmisions.

89MustangGX said:

RCW?

WAC?

Are these things I can look up somewhere? Not that I intend to drive this car on the street all that much, but I'd prefer to not have to screw around with the tailpipes just to pass emissions -- as I was thinking about just dumping the exhaust.

Althought maybe just a single little extension out one of the dumps -- what are the chances the machine wouldn't know my emissions were cut in half?

Click to expand...

RCW = Revised Code of Washington - that's where you will find what the law is on any given topic. Vehicle laws are generally Title 46. I don't think the entire set is accessable on the web without a membership in something like Westlaw. You can access the complete set by going to your county law library...it will be at the courthouse. The RCW's are the smallish green books if you can't find a librarian.

WAC = Washington Adminstrative Code. These codes govern what administrative agencies can and cannot do. You won't find any law applicable to emissions requirements here.

Nice info shared!

washington has a law saying that the car must not be modified if
it is a registered street car.so basicly aftermarket exaust systems
intakes and stuff like that is illeagel so i have been told
by many cops on the east side but then again if your not a dick
to them thell not say anything and go about there buisness.and
on the other part of the questin on emmissions i still think it is
a hell of a lot esier to register your car in another county were emissions
isnt required so you dont have to crawl under you car every 2 years

redrumracing01 said:

washington has a law saying that the car must not be modified if it is a registered street car.so basicly aftermarket exaust systems intakes and stuff like that is illeagel so i have been told
by many cops on the east side...

Click to expand...

I've searched for anything in the RCW that says anything close to this and have come up empty. The closest I've found is a restriction on lowering the car to the point where any part of the car is lower than the bottommost part of the wheel.

Next time a cop says something like that - ask him what part of the revised code of Washington he's referring to. Then you can share that with the rest of us.

In the meantime we can all just say we installed replacement aftermarket parts - which are legal.

redrumracing01 said:

i still think it is a hell of a lot esier to register your car in another county were emissions isnt required so you dont have to crawl under you car every 2 years

Click to expand...

The only way you can do that is to establish residency in another county since you have to show proof (such as your driver's license) in order to register. Sounds almost like a solution looking for a problem - don't it?

Here's everything you want to know about emissions laws and regulations. The bold type and underlining are mine. The rest is the verbatum text of the applicable statute (RCW) and regulation (WAC):

West's RCWA 46.37.390


Title 46. Motor Vehicles (Refs & Annos)
Chapter 46.37. Vehicle Lighting and Other Equipment (Refs & Annos)
46.37.390. Mufflers, prevention of noise--Smoke and air contaminants-- Standards--Definitions


(1) Every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and no person shall use a muffler cut-out, bypass, or similar device upon a motor vehicle on a highway.


(2)(a) No motor vehicle first sold and registered as a new motor vehicle on or after January 1, 1971, shall discharge into the atmosphere at elevations of less than three thousand feet any air contaminant for a period of more than ten seconds which is:


(i) As dark as or darker than the shade designated as No. 1 on the Ringelmann chart, as published by the United States bureau of mines; or


(ii) Of such opacity as to obscure an observer's view to a degree equal to or greater than does smoke described in subsection (a)(i) above.


(b) No motor vehicle first sold and registered prior to January 1, 1971, shall discharge into the atmosphere at elevations of less than three thousand feet any air contaminant for a period of more than ten seconds which is:


(i) As dark as or darker than the shade designated as No. 2 on the Ringelmann chart, as published by the United States bureau of mines; or


(ii) Of such opacity as to obscure an observer's view to a degree equal to or greater than does smoke described in subsection (b)(i) above.


(c) For the purposes of this subsection the following definitions shall apply:


(i) "Opacity" means the degree to which an emission reduces the transmission of light and obscures the view of an object in the background;


(ii) "Ringelmann chart" means the Ringelmann smoke chart with instructions for use as published by the United States bureau of mines in May 1967 and as thereafter amended, information circular 7718.


(3) No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the engine of such vehicle above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle, and it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle not equipped as required by this subsection, or which has been amplified as prohibited by this subsection so that the vehicle's exhaust noise exceeds ninety-five decibels as measured by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) test procedure J1169 (May, 1998). It is not a violation of this subsection unless proven by proper authorities that the exhaust system modification results in noise amplification in excess of ninety-five decibels under the prescribed SAE test standard. A court may dismiss an infraction notice for a violation of this subsection if there is reasonable grounds to believe that the vehicle was not operated in violation of this subsection.


This subsection (3) does not apply to vehicles twenty-five or more years old or to passenger vehicles being operated off the highways in an organized racing or competitive event conducted by a recognized sanctioning body.


CREDIT(S)

[2001 c 293 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 355 § 33; 1972 ex.s. c 135 § 1; 1967 c 232 § 3; 1961 c 12 § 46.37.390. Prior: 1955 c 269 § 39; prior: 1937 c 189 § 36; RRS § 6360-36; RCW 46.36.050; 1927 c 309 § 17; 1921 c 96 § 21; 1915 c 142 § 20; RRS § 6362-17.]

HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES

Severability--1977 ex.s. c 355: See note following RCW 46.37.010.


CROSS REFERENCES

Washington Clean Air Act, see § 70.94.011 et seq.

LIBRARY REFERENCES

2001 Main Volume

Automobiles 5(2), 115.
Westlaw Topic No. 48A.
C.J.S. Motor Vehicles §§ 26, 44, 56.

NOTES OF DECISIONS

Validity 1

1. Validity

Statute which requires cars to be equipped with muffler to prevent "excessive or unusual noise" was not unconstitutionally vague and, thus, police officer was justified in stopping defendant's vehicle for excessively loud noise emanating from vehicle's exhaust; what is loud and excessive noise for vehicle is matter of common knowledge and is as capable of ascertainment as other circumstances in which law enforcement officers must depend upon their senses to determine whether violation of law has occurred. State v. Olsson (1995) 78 Wash.App. 202, 895 P.2d 867.


These are the regulations which are applicable. The first sets forth acceptable exhaust noise levels and the second applies to the location of exhaust.


WASHINGTON ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
TITLE 173. ECOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF
CHAPTER 173-62. MOTOR VEHICLE NOISE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Current with amendments adopted through November 3, 2004
2WAD Req. by T. Hanson
Current with amendments adopted through 4-6-1999

173-62-030. Standards.

(1) No person shall operate any motor vehicle or any combination of such vehicles upon any public highway under any conditions of grade, load, acceleration or deceleration in such a manner as to exceed the maximum permissible sound levels for the category of vehicle in Table I, as measured at a distance of 50 feet (15.2 meters) from the center of the lane of travel within the speed limits specified, under procedures established by the state commission on equipment in chapter 204-56 WAC, 'procedures for measuring motor vehicle sound levels.'
Table I
IN-USE MOTOR VEHICLE NOISE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS Measured @ 50 feet (15.2 meters)

Maximum Sound
Level, dBA
Speed Zones
Vehicle Category (type) Effective 45 mph (72 Over 45 Stationary
Date kph) or less mph Test
(72
kph)
Motorcycles July 1, 78 82 N/A
1980
Automobiles, light trucks July 1, 72 78 N/A
and all other motor 1980
vehicles 10,000 pounds
(4536 kg) GVWR or less
35 mph (56 Over 35
kph) or less mph
(56
kph)
All motor vehicles over June 1, 86 Reserved 90 Rese- 86 Reserved
10,000 pounds (4536 kg) 1977 1986 rved
GVWR and after


(2) Every motor vehicle operated upon the public highways shall at all times be equipped with an exhaust system and a muffler in good working order and constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise.
(3) No person shall operate a motor vehicle in such a manner as to cause or allow to be emitted squealing, screeching or other such noise from the tires in contact with the ground because of rapid acceleration or excessive speed around corners or other such reason, except that noise resulting from emergency braking to avoid imminent danger shall be exempt from this provision.
(4) No person shall operate any motor vehicle upon any public highway if the vehicle exhaust system exceeds the maximum permissible sound levels of Table II for the category and year of vehicle, as measured at a distance of twenty inches (0.5 meter) from the exhaust outlet under procedures established by the state commission on equipment in chapter 204-56 WAC, 'procedures for measuring motor vehicle sound levels.'
(5) No person shall sell or offer for sale a new motor vehicle except an off-highway vehicle, which produces a maximum noise exceeding the noise levels in Table III at a distance of 50 feet (15.2 meters) under acceleration test procedures established by the state commission on equipment in chapter 204- 56 WAC, 'procedures for measuring motor vehicle sound levels.'
Table IIIN-USE MOTOR VEHICLE EXHAUST SYSTEM NOISE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS Measured @ 20 inches (0.5 meters)

Vehicle Category (type) Model Year Maximum Sound
Level, dBA
Motorcycles before 1986 1986 and 99 (reserved)
after
Automobiles, light trucks and all other before 1986 1986 and 95 (reserved)
motor vehicles 10,000 pounds (4536 after
kg) GVWR or less


Table IIIMAXIMUM SOUND LEVELS FOR NEW MOTOR VEHICLES Measured @ 50 feet (15.2 meters)

Vehicle Category (type) Date of Manufacture Maximum
Sound
Level,
dBA
Any motor vehicle over 10,000 before January 1, 1978 after 86 83 80
pounds (4536 kg) GVWR excluding January 1, 1978 after January
buses 1, 1982
All buses over 10,000 pounds (4536 after January 1, 1980 after 85 83 80
kg) GVWR January 1, 1983 after January
1, 1986
Motorcycles after January 1, 1976 after 83 80
January 1, 1986
Automobiles, light trucks and all after January 1, 1976 80
other motor vehicles 10,000
pounds (4536 kg) GVWR or less



Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.107 RCW. 80-14-041 (Order DE 80-29), S 173- 62-030, filed 9/30/80; Order DE 77-2, S 173-62-030, filed 6/1/77; Order DE 75- 17, S 173-62-030, filed 8/11/75; Order DE 74-33, S 173-62-030, filed 1/30/75, effective 7/1/75.
WA ADC 173-62-030

WASHINGTON ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
TITLE 204. STATE PATROL (COMMISSION ON EQUIPMENT)CHAPTER 204-90. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT OF
SPECIAL MOTOR VEHICLES--SPECIAL MOTOR VEHICLES
Current with amendments adopted through November 3, 2004
2WAD Req. by T. Hanson
Current with amendments adopted through 4-6-1999

204-90-130. Exhaust system.

A special motor vehicle shall be equipped with a leakproof exhaust system that includes the exhaust manifold(s), headers, the piping leading from the flange of the exhaust manifold(s), the muffler(s), and the tail piping.
Exhaust systems on property-carrying vehicles shall discharge the exhaust fumes to the rear of that part of the vehicle designed and normally used for carrying the driver and passengers.
Exhaust systems on passenger vehicles shall discharge the exhaust fumes at a location to the rear of the vehicle body or direct the exhaust fumes outward from the side of the vehicle body at a location rearward of any operable side windows.
No part of the exhaust system shall pass through any area of the vehicle that is used as a passenger compartment, nor in close proximity to the fuel system without being properly shielded.
Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.005. 83-11-028 (Order 83-05-01), S 204-90- 130, filed 5/13/83.
WA ADC 204-90-130

New laws have been proposed. Hold your breath. The lawmakers are not after enthusiasts per se, but we are likely to be caught up in the cleaner air laws anyway.

Washington is terribly lax on law enforcement, in general. There's the law as written (above -thanks for the trouble, Jet), interpretation, and thirdly, enforcement.

I wrote earlier this year on the renewed focus to implement the laws that would required people to show proof of residence when buying tabs. The emphasis on this law will begin anew next year. Your driver's license would have to match the address given for your tabs. You would be allowed to sign a statement that your residence is really where the tabs specified. King county may check, but no other counties would bother. This issue isn't really about enthusiasts; it's related to lost revenue for King county.

Thanks for posting that info JetBrett. I was aware of the exhaust laws. What I was commenting on was the blurb "washington has a law saying that the car must not be modified...".

By the way - are you the 'Brett' that drives a dark shadow gray GT that's blown and has a truck full of Mach 1000? If so - wazzzup! Long time no see!

Tom in Tacoma said:

Thanks for posting that info JetBrett. I was aware of the exhaust laws. What I was commenting on was the blurb "washington has a law saying that the car must not be modified...".

By the way - are you the 'Brett' that drives a dark shadow gray GT that's blown and has a truck full of Mach 1000? If so - wazzzup! Long time no see!

Click to expand...

Yea I was surprised by that too. I guess I'm running an illegal set up, but then again every fart can import on the road is as well. I've been pulled over about 4 times (no tickets yet ) since putting in my set up without any problems.

Yes that's me. I still work in Tacoma, but we moved to Sammamish last March so I don't get around as much as I used to.

Here is a link to the Washington Stage Legislature site that shows the RCW that JetBrett posted... Tons of stuff on here that may be of interest...

http://www.leg.wa.gov/rcw/index.cfm?fuseaction=title&title=46