Police in Beverly Hills are focusing on vehicles with loud exhaust pipes that cause excessive noise on city streets. (photo by Edwin Folven)

Vehicles with loud exhaust pipes can be heard everywhere, with the echoes of powerful engines reverberating across neighborhoods throughout the L.A. area

In Beverly Hills, drivers have been seen in Ferraris and Lamborghinis flocking to the Golden Triangle to show off exotic supercars, often filming for social media as they drive along Rodeo Drive revving their engines. In West Hollywood, the cars can be heard cruising the Sunset Strip, revving to gain the attention of restaurant patrons and people standing in lines outside nightclubs. In L.A., souped-up modified sports cars with ear-shattering exhaust pipes are a mainstay at illegal street takeovers, where drivers break the law with a sense of impunity. Bellowing exhaust pipes have become a ubiquitous sound in the cacophony of the city, which many people said is having a detrimental impact on quality of life.

Loud exhausts have become so much of an issue in Beverly Hills that the police department is purchasing two devices to measure decibels and plans to attach them to BHPD motorcycles. Having a modified exhaust on a vehicle is illegal per California Vehicle Code 27151, which prohibits exhaust systems that emit noise above 95 decibels. Citations carry a $1,000 fine. BHPD Chief Mark Stainbrook addressed the issue at a recent community meeting where residents also expressed concerns about loud exhaust pipes.

“I don’t know about you guys, but after COVID, people drive crazy – it seems completely different. They are coming in in the supercars and with social media and everything, they like to come here where they can film and do loud racing through the city,” Stainbrook said. “I get calls or texts every day about speed and loud vehicles, so I understand your frustration, and we are working on that.”

BHPD Lt. Kevin Orth said details are still being worked out on when the new sound measuring devices will be operational and said the police department will announce more details soon. He said the devices will simplify enforcement, allowing officers to document decibel levels at the scene. In the absence of the devices, officers issue citations for modified exhaust and drivers are required to have vehicles inspected and tested at a licensed facility. To have the citation resolved, drivers must remove modifications and revert to a system under 95 decibels. Previously, vehicle owners were issued “fix-it” tickets that allowed them to avoid a fine if they modified their vehicle back to legal noise standards, but that changed in 2018 with the passage of Assembly Bill 1824. Under current state law, the citations automatically carry a $1,000 and drivers are required to fix their vehicles.

Orth added that excessive vehicle noise is taken seriously in Beverly Hills, with officers actively looking for people driving vehicles and revving engines, and deploying motorcycle officers to areas where complaints have been received. The goal is to remain proactive, he said.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles Police Department and California Highway Patrol also reported that modified exhaust is a rapidly burgeoning problem across the greater Los Angeles area, and efforts are being made to address the issue.

“I’ve cited [drivers] for it myself,” said CHP spokeswoman Katherine Hendry, adding that modified exhaust is often added to the ticket when a motorist is cited for another infraction such as reckless driving or speeding. “It depends on the officer, but it is something we look for and we will issue citations.”

Deputies at the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station conducted a citywide traffic safety operation on March 23. Modified exhausts are among the traffic issues authorities are addressing, authorities said.

“We do get complaints out there. Some of these cars definitely have modified exhausts, and we have done traffic enforcement,” said Sgt. Omar Luevano, with the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station.

Luevano and Sgt. Ryan Klepper, with the LAPD’s West Traffic Division, said the LASD and LAPD do not have decibel measuring devices similar to those planned in Beverly Hills, citing the sheer size of the agencies and logistics in securing the number of devices needed. Klepper added, however, that officers issue citations on a case-by-case basis and the devices may be a valuable tool for future enforcement.

“As far as loud exhaust, it’s quality of life. We do get complaints and we do try to address them,” he said. “We are not equipped with decibel meters, but we do have a street racing task force that addresses this. The task force goes out looking for these vehicles. They check social media and try to see where [street takeovers] are going to happen, and then they conduct enforcement on these. It’s part of the larger effort to address it.”   

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office stated that citations for modified exhaust sometimes rise to the level of misdemeanors, depending if they are coupled with other offenses.

“We will prosecute misdemeanors brought to us by law enforcement or investigative agencies if there is sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to prove that a crime was committed,” City Attorney’s Office public information officer Ivor Pine said. “Therefore, our office has prosecuted V.C. 27151 offenses when they are included with other misdemeanor charges.”

Loud modified exhaust pipes have become a nuisance for residents throughout Los Angeles County. (photo by Edwin Folven)