Hawthorne enforces on- and off-highway vehicle noise under the California Vehicle Code, but its Noise Regulations (Ordinance No. 2138) separately prohibit noisy off-street engine racing, willful backfiring, tire screeching, and repairing or testing vehicles in a disturbing way. State law caps modified exhaust at 95 dBA (CVC 27150-27151) and bars sound systems audible 50 feet away (CVC 27007).
Hawthorne's re-enacted Noise Regulations chapter (Ordinance No. 2138) handles motor-vehicle noise in layers. For vehicles operated on or off public streets or highways, the ordinance expressly states that violations for exceeding noise limits are prosecuted under California Vehicle Code provisions, deferring to state law for moving-vehicle noise. The state standards include CVC 27150-27151 (every vehicle must have an adequate muffler; modified exhaust may not exceed 95 dBA and cutouts/bypasses are illegal) and CVC 27007 (no operating a vehicle sound system audible 50 feet or more away). The city ordinance then adds its own prohibitions that are not preempted: it is unlawful to repair, rebuild, or test any motor vehicle so as to cause disturbing, excessive, or offensive noise; and disturbing or raucous off-street noise from racing or accelerating an engine (moving or not), willful backfiring of an engine and exhaust, or screeching of tires is prohibited. Authorized emergency vehicles used in emergencies are exempt. As an incorporated city, Hawthorne applies these rules within its limits, layering local repair/racing prohibitions on top of statewide CVC enforcement.
Moving-vehicle noise is cited under the California Vehicle Code (fix-it tickets and fines for exhaust/sound-system violations). Off-street racing, backfiring, tire-screeching, and noisy vehicle repair are enforced under the Hawthorne Municipal Code penalty provisions by the Police Department and Code Enforcement.
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