MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                                 1021

No person shall operate a motor vehicle on or off a
highway in any intentional improper manner so as to cause
skidding, spinning of wheels, or excessive noise, NOISE
LEVELS IN EXCESS OF THOSE PROMULGATED BY THE
ADMINISTRATOR UNDER SECTION 12-701(B) OF THIS ARTICLE
SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE EXCESSIVE.

12-402.

(a) Every motor vehicle [at all times] HAVING AN
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE shall be equipped with [a] AN
EXHAUST muffler SYSTEM in good working order and in
constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise,
and no person shall use a muffler cutout, bypass, or
similar device upon a motor vehicle on a highway. NOISE
LEVELS IN EXCESS OF THOSE PROMULGATED BY THE
ADMINISTRATOR UNDER SECTION 12-701(B) OF THIS ARTICLE
SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE EXCESSIVE.

(d) A muffler as used herein is defined as a
device (consisting of a series of chambers or baffle
plates, or other mechanical design for the purpose of
receiving exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine]
DESIGNED FOR, and effective in reducing noise WHILE
PERMITTING THE FLOW OF GASES.

SECTION 9. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That new
Sections 12—701 through 12—704 to be under the new
subheading "Part VII. Noise Abatement Program" be and
they are hereby added to Article 66-1/2 - Vehicle Laws,
of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1970 Replacement
Volume and 1973 Supplement) to read as follows:

Article 66-1/2 - Vehicle Laws
PART VII. NOISE ABATEMENT PROGRAM
12-701.

(A)    NO PERSON SHALL OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE OR
COMBINATION OF VEHICLES OF A TYPE SUBJECT TO REGISTRATION
UNDER THIS ARTICLE, NOR SHALL THE OWNER OR LESSEE PERMIT
THE OPERATION OF SUCH MOTOR VEHICLE OR COMBINATION OF
VEHICLES UPON THE HIGHWAYS OF THIS STATE AT ANY TIME, AT
ANY SPEED UNDER ANY CONDITION OF GRADE, LOAD,
ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO
EXCEED THE MAXIMUM SOUND LEVEL LIMITS ESTABLISHED UNDER
THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBTITLE FOR VARIOUS CLASSES OF
MOTOR VEHICLES, AND CONDITIONS OF OPERATION.

(B)    THE ADMINISTRATOR SHALL, WITH THE ENDORSEMENT
OF THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION AND SECRETARY OF
HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE, AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING