Q: Is it legal in Florida to straight pipe a motorcycle?
In a previous accident, I was told by the driver that caused the accident that the reason she pulled out was because she couldn’t hear me and it looked like I was farther away. My new motorcycle is decently quiet for it size, so I wanna make sure that people hear me so that they can be aware of me even if I’m in a blind spot or something like that.
A:
Sorry to hear about your accident I'm not familiar with straight piping, but for guidance, see Fla. Statutes Section 316.293, which you can find online. Subsection (5) thereof states:
(5) NOISE ABATEMENT EQUIPMENT MODIFICATIONS.—
(a) No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle or any other noise-abatement device of a motor vehicle operated or to be operated upon the highways of this state in such a manner that the noise emitted by the motor vehicle is above that emitted by the vehicle as originally manufactured.
(b) No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon the highways of the state with an exhaust system or noise-abatement device so modified.
The term "motor vehicle" above includes motorcycles (in definitions section at Sec. 316.003).
Also, Sec. 316.293 at Subsection (2) has decibel limits for motorcycles.
If it turns out that your idea is legally prohibited, consider other ways of bringing attention to yourself, such as keeping the headlight on and a loud radio.
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