MI Noise Limit FYI

[DIwarrior]

MI DNR REMINDS SNOWMOBILERS OF SOUND DECIBEL LIMITS

Noncompliance could damage Michigan's nationally recognized trail program
Conservation officers with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources remind snowmobilers that state law does have decibel limits for snowmobiles. Officers in the western Upper Peninsula have been working patrols targeting sound violations in response to numerous complaints from landowners and others who live near snowmobile trails.

Under Michigan law, the muffler on a snowmobile must be in good working order and when in constant operation noise emission cannot exceed the following levels:

For snowmobiles manufactured after July 1, 1977 and sold or offered for sale in Michigan, 78 decibels at 50 feet, as measured using the 2003 Society of Automotive Engineers standard J192.
For a stationary snowmobile manufactured after July 1, 1980 and sold or offered for sale in Michigan, 88 decibels at 13.1 feet, as measured using the 2004 Society of Automotive Engineers standard J2567.
The penalty for violating the sound levels for snowmobiles is a civil infraction, with fines up to $250.

This season, conservation officers on patrols in the western U.P. have issued tickets to numerous snowmobile operators whose sleds have well exceeded the 88-decibel limit, said the DNR's Sgt. Ryan Aho.
"As a point of comparison, a train whistle at 500 feet is 90 decibels and sustained exposure at that level may result in hearing loss," Aho said. "We encourage snowmobile operators to properly maintain their machines, and also discourage them from modifications that make sleds louder."

Snowmobiles that do not comply with Michigan law for noise emission also can hurt the state’s trails program, said Ron Yesney, a recreation specialist with the DNR.

"Half of our snowmobile trails are on private lands and are there at the sole discretion of the landowner, and many pass through communities and very near to homes," Yesney said. "Snowmobiles that exceed the noise emission levels are often a reason why we lose trail permissions on private land. Riders who modify their machines to make them extra loud jeopardize the enjoyment of our nationally recognized trails for all riders."

 

[tomanytoyz]

I also believe that they hold RPM at 3000 and check. ?

Its for off-road use only,now its for closed course only... i measured my machine 2 yrs ago with my sound meter directly behind at idle at hip level in my open back yard with about a foot on the ground from 50ft and i was at 82 decibel..need to check and see 13.1 feet now..

 

[tomanytoyz]

Ok so I just called MI DNR and they told me at 4000 RPM +- 25 RPM they check the decibels !! What about my belt I said ! He said I don't know sorry ! WTF . I running mine ,sorry.

 

[sgauthier]

ya so what about the loud frickn harley's in the summer with open pipes. no one ever bitches about those and yet you have your windows open in the summer. just a money grab.

 

[tomanytoyz]

ya so what about the loud frickn harley's in the summer with open pipes. no one ever bitches about those and yet you have your windows open in the summer. just a money grab.

Oh I'm sure people bitch about that too lol everything I have is loud and the sled is something I may have to quiet ?? In the middle of nowhere ! Not happening!

 

[blueironranger]

Just for referance, I got checked last year while out in the UP and my Phazer with a Skinz Ultra Q just barely passed at 87db, same reading I get with my Radio Shack DB meter at 13.1 ft. I know I heard many sleds a lot louder than mine while I was out there.

 

[superfan75]

Vt is also clamping down on loud pipes. Their laws state that they will ticket modified exhaust. The fine is $600 so its really not worth the risk. I had a 02' Viper before this sled that had Bender Triple Pipes on it. I was nervous about getting a ticket with it, but I got checked twice on the trail and they didn't bother me. I see their point about the sound limits because loud pipes are the major reason for trail closers. I would rather run a stock exhaust and be able to ride than run loud pipes and loose trails.

 

[tomanytoyz]

What gets me is the 13.1feet ! 13.1 feet . i understand these land owners allow us to pass thru there property ,but 13.1 feet ? come on really ! im not riding thru there bedroom .

 

[subaru2006]

I believe all measurements and distance are based off the nice little book those guys carry. There are multiple ways to check sound. If at the rpm the book says will cause clutch engagement they will do the other test. No way around it. Obey the law simple as that..

Subaru2006

 

[smokingcrater]

What gets me is the 13.1feet ! 13.1 feet . i understand these land owners allow us to pass thru there property ,but 13.1 feet ? come on really ! im not riding thru there bedroom .

13.1 feet = 4 meters... Aka they borrowed someone else's standard, most likely in Canada, that happened to be written in meters. In any case, the distance doesn't really matter. You can adjust the dB's to match whatever distance you want, all works out in the end. 88 dB at 13.1 feet is the exact same as 76 dB at 50 feet. (or 82 dB at 25 feet)

The thing to watch out for is how the officer is holding the meter and what is around him. Reflecting off a person can add 1+ dB. Reflecting off another sled or a wall/embankment could add almost 3 dB to it. For the most accurate measurement, the meter must be mounted on a tripod with nothing around it to reflect off of. The other trick is to flip the meter in "C" weighted mode. The spec calls for "A" weighting, which reflects how the human ear works. C weighting is much more sensitive to the low end frequencies, like exhaust, and can add 20+ dB to an exhaust reading.

 

[smokingcrater]

Its for off-road use only,now its for closed course only... i measured my machine 2 yrs ago with my sound meter directly behind at idle at hip level in my open back yard with about a foot on the ground from 50ft and i was at 82 decibel..need to check and see 13.1 feet now..

No need to measure... You will be at 93.6 dB. Easy calculation, sound is pretty predictable!

 

[MNBlizzard]

I love snowmobiling, but this is a real problem and I have no sympathy for those getting tickets. Loud sleds are hurting the image of our sport. It definitely needs to be policed more and we need to pressure our riding buddies into being more responsible and respectful.

The state trail is at least 1/2 mile, probably more straight west of my house thru the woods; I cannot see it or any sleds on it in the darkest of nights. Most weekends, I can hear at least a few of the obnoxiously loud sleds roaring down the trail. When I am at a gas station filling up and a loud sled comes roaring in, purposely flipping the throttle, (ringing the douche bag bell) I fully understand how the non-snowmobiling public can have such jaded views of us snowmobilers. I would like to see the authorities step up their enforcement. When caught, the riders of the loud sleds should be told that their sled cannot be operated any further, have a steep fine ($1000) stuffed into their pocket, and have their trail permit revoked until their sled passes the test.

I do not have a stock exhaust but it is rated at 87db and know once I crest the hill, you cannot hear my sled anymore. It is my opinion that a "race" can has no place being operated outside of private property or closed race events.

 

[MNBlizzard]

I just read that a section of Trail 2 in the Western UP will be shut down on April 1 for good due to a land owner sick of the noise from loud cans. We need to join to together and "ban the loud can".

 

[buddah]

....... We need to join to together and "ban the loud can".

A couple holes in that logic..........#1 - who determines "loud"? I know, we have a quantifiable test already stated but that brings me to point #2 - the old slippery slope argument........the people that want to "ban the can" think it should be illegal for anything other than stock exhaust.......Yeah, like manufacturers ALWAYS have the best interests of the performance riders and performance sleds as a goal........SURE they do.........

 

[Notenoughtoys]

Saw them checking Friday on trail 8 in munising. Two DNR officers on sleds, one off on the side of the main road in a truck. They where also checking trail permits and registration.