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The Lunenburg County Board of Supervisors (BOS) voted this month to put a stop to vehicles with loud exhaust systems driving throughout the county. 

The decision came following a public hearing of a proposed ordinance (Sec. 73-3 Vehicle Exhaust/Excessive Noise Ordinance) into the County Code. 

According to county documents, those who violate the new ordinance will be guilty of a class 4 misdemeanor.

The new ordinance states: No person may drive and no owner of a vehicle may permit or allow the operation of any vehicle on a highway or road in Lunenburg County 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 must be of a type installed as standard factory equipment.

In addition, Chambered pipes are not an effective muffling device to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and any vehicle equipped with chambered pipes or any person driving such vehicle is in violation of the ordinance.

If you are selling a vehicle, this new ordinance also applies.

It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale any muffler without interior baffle plates or other effective muffling device, or gutted muffler, muffler cutout, or straight exhaust.

It is unlawful for any person to operate on the highways or roads in the county a motor vehicle, motorcycle, moped, or motorized skateboard or foot-scooter equipped with a gutted muffler, muffler cutout, or straight exhaust. 

The code does not include antique motor vehicles licensed, provided that the engine is comparable to that designed as standard factory equipment for use on that particular vehicle, and the exhaust system is in good working order or converted electric vehicles. 

Following the BOS approval, Town of Victoria officials are also looking to apply the same ordinance town wide. 

A public hearing for a Vehicle Exhaust/Excessive Noise Ordinance in the Town of Victoria is scheduled for Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.