In unincorporated San Diego County, County Code Section 36.414(c)(8) prohibits using a motor vehicle to knowingly cause annoying noise by backfiring, tire-screeching, or operating without/with an altered muffler. Off-road recreational vehicles on private property are capped at 82 dBA daytime, dropping to 55 dBA at night (Sec. 36.416).
Several sections of the County's noise ordinance address vehicles. Section 36.414(c)(8) makes it unlawful to knowingly use a motor vehicle to produce noise annoying a person of normal sensitivity by backfiring the engine, screeching tires, operating without a muffler, or altering the muffler. Section 36.405 separately bars repairing, rebuilding, or testing any motor vehicle in a way that causes 'disturbing, excessive or offensive noise.' Section 36.414(c)(1) prohibits unnecessary use of a vehicle horn or signaling device beyond what the Vehicle Code allows. For off-highway use, Section 36.416 limits off-road recreational vehicles (motorcycles, go-carts, dune buggies, ATVs, etc.) operated on private property to maximum sound levels measured at the property line or any occupied receiving property: 82 dBA between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., 77 dBA between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., and 55 dBA between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Note that on-road vehicle noise standards (e.g., exhaust and muffler equipment requirements) are primarily set by the California Vehicle Code and enforced by law enforcement statewide; the County ordinance supplements those rules for nuisance-type and off-road situations. Section 36.415 also requires motor-vehicle alarms to have an automatic cutoff that silences the alarm within 15 minutes.
Vehicle noise provisions are enforced by the Sheriff (Sec. 36.405, 36.414, 36.415 listed in Sec. 36.418), with the noise control officer enforcing Section 36.416's measured off-road limits. Statewide muffler and exhaust violations are citable under the California Vehicle Code by any peace officer. County violations are abatable as a public nuisance under Section 36.419, and Penal Code Section 836.5 allows warrantless misdemeanor enforcement.
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