Broome County, NY Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- county-owned buildings and grounds only
- Muffler standard
- must be in good working order at all times
- Banned devices
- muffler cutouts, bypass pipes, similar devices
- Maximum penalty
- $500 fine and/or 30 days jail
- Enforcement
- County security, park rangers, police
- Adopted
- 8-15-1980, L.L. No. 8-1980
Summary
Broome County requires every motor vehicle operated on county-owned buildings and grounds to carry a muffler in good working order at all times, and bans muffler cutouts, bypass pipes or similar noise-defeat devices, under County Code Chapter 222. The rule covers only county property, such as the Office Building lot, courthouse grounds and county parks, not town, village or city streets.
Every motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine shall at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working condition and in constant operation, and no person shall use a muffler cutout, bypass or similar device upon a motor vehicle in buildings and grounds.
Full Breakdown
L. No. " Section 222-4(V), titled "Traffic," lists sixteen numbered vehicle rules covering everything from parking meters to unlicensed drivers; the last, § 222-4(V)(16), "Mufflers," requires every motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine to be equipped with a working muffler at all times and prohibits any muffler cutout, bypass or similar device while the vehicle is within buildings and grounds. Because the chapter's own definitions and purpose clause tie every rule to county-owned property, this muffler standard does not reach vehicles on ordinary public roads in the Town of Vestal, Union, Conklin or Dickinson, or on Binghamton, Johnson City or Endicott streets; those roads are policed by their own local governments, not by this chapter.
Violations of § 222-4(V)(16) fall under the general penalty in § 222-5(A): a fine not to exceed $500 or imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, or both, with each day's violation a separate offense. Enforcement under § 222-6 is assigned to the County Executive, Commissioner, Administrator, County security officers, County park rangers, animal control officers, and local, County and state police, who may issue tickets returnable before a Justice. Under § 222-4(C), the County Executive, Commissioner or Administrator may also ban a violator from county buildings and grounds in writing for a specified period.
Violations & Fines
A first muffler violation on county buildings and grounds is a violation under § 222-5(A): a fine up to $500, imprisonment up to 30 days, or both, and each day of noncompliance counts as a separate offense. County security officers, park rangers, animal control officers or police can issue a ticket returnable before a Justice, and the County Executive, Commissioner or Administrator may separately ban the vehicle's operator from county buildings and grounds in writing under § 222-4(C).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule apply to my car on a town road in Broome County?
What counts as county buildings and grounds under this chapter?
What happens if I get caught with a cutout muffler on county property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Broome County
New York rules heatmap·Compare Broome County to another location·View the New York noise ordinances overview
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