Guys does anyone know what the actual law is for sound of sleds?? I know there is a decibel limit, but what is it and is it ever enforced?? Will running a quiet can be enough to get me a ticket?? I dont like loud sleds by any means, in fact I hate them, but I dont mind a can if it is quiet.........
thanks
TR

I wouldn't expect anyone to bug you if you are running a reasonable sounding can. Sound laws are all over the place in NH. Street bikes can be as loud as 106 dbs. That is ungodly loud. dirtbikes and quads are supoose to be no louder than 96dbs. Thats a little loud but not really bad. However my dirtbike is street registered so is 106 or 96??? The AMA has a sound limit of 99 dbs for motocross bikes at ama events. Technically i think sleds are suppose to be part of the 96 db limit. I have never heard of anyone being hassled about it, but i'm not out there a ton either. A stock 4 stroke xr 400 dirtbike blows about 86 i think just for a baseline.

From an earlier thread on the same subject:

Thought this would help out, I have attached below several of the RSAs pertinent to this discussion. I have highlighted in bold black the particular passages pertaining to snowmobiles.

Its really simple, do what you want to your sled's exhaust as long as you don't increase its noise level over that of stock. The question of ceramic coating is a good example of an allowable upgrade.

And yes, depending on the extent of an illegal modification, a F&G officer can immediately remove the sled from the trail at your expense, and also order you to a reasonable place and time (again at your own expense) to submit to a decibel test under a controlled environment.

Hope this clafies a few things.....Skip

TITLE XVIII
FISH AND GAME
CHAPTER 215-A
OFF HIGHWAY RECREATIONAL VEHICLES AND TRAILS
Section 215-A:12
215-A:12 Manufacturing Specification Requirements. –
I. No person shall sell, offer to sell or operate in this state, a snow traveling vehicle manufactured after July 1, 1981, unless it meets the minimum safety standards for snowmobile product certification of the Snowmobile Safety and Certification Committee in effect at the time of its manufacture, including the standards covering seats, controls, brake systems, fuel systems, shields and guards, electrical systems and lighting, reflectors, handgrips and general hazard requirements. Proof of compliance with the requirements of this section shall be in the form of certification by a qualified independent testing company which is not affiliated with the manufacturer and is approved by the executive director.
II. No person shall sell, offer to sell or operate in this state a snow traveling vehicle manufactured after January 1, 1973, which produces a sound level:
(a) If manufactured between January 2, 1973, and June 30, 1978, inclusive, of 82 decibels or more on the "A" scale when measured in accordance with the provisions of the Society of Automotive Engineers Recommended Practice, J-192a, "Exterior Sound Level for Snowmobiles";
(b) If manufactured on or after July 1, 1978, of 73 decibels or more on the "A" scale when measured in accordance with the Society of Automotive Engineers Recommended Practice, J-1161, "Operational Sound Level Measurement Procedure for Snow Vehicles."
III. No person shall sell or offer for sale in this state any trail bike manufactured on or after January 1, 1973, or before January 1, 1983, which produces a sound level in excess of the following limits, when measured in accordance with the provisions of the Society of Automotive Engineers Recommended Practice J-331a, "Sound Levels for Motorcycles":
(a) If manufactured between January 1, 1973, and December 31, 1974, inclusive, of 88 decibels on the A scale.
(b) If manufactured between January 1, 1975, and December 31, 1982, inclusive, 86 decibels on the A scale.
© On or after January 1, 1983, newly manufactured trail bikes and exhaust systems and exhaust system components for trail bikes shall comply with the federal noise emission standards and testing procedures required by Title 40 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations, Part 225, as follows:
(1) Effective January 1, 1983: Displacement of 170 cc and below, not to exceed 83 decibels on the A scale. Displacement of more than 170 cc, not to exceed 86 decibels on the A scale.
(2) Effective January 1, 1986: Displacement of 170 cc and below, not to exceed 80 decibels on the A scale. Displacement of more than 170 cc, not to exceed 82 decibels on the A scale.
(d) Each federally regulated trail bike and exhaust system newly manufactured on or after January 1, 1983, sold or offered for sale within the state, shall display noise emission control information labels in accordance with the above referenced federal noise emission regulation, to indicate that the vehicle and exhaust system meets United States Environmental Protection Agency noise emission requirements by the federal test procedure for that particular model product.
(e) The labeling of newly manufactured trail bikes and exhaust systems or exhaust components, with the appropriate noise emission control information labels as prescribed in this chapter, constitutes a certification by the manufacturer of such vehicles and products sold within the state that they comply with federal regulations and the sound levels established in this section.
(f) Vehicles designed, constructed, and sold solely for use as racing vehicles at facilities constructed for closed-course racing are exempt from the provisions of this section, but only when used at such racing facilities.
(1) Each trail bike and exhaust system or exhaust system component newly manufactured on or after January 1, 1983, that is designed, constructed and sold solely for competition shall be labeled, as required by the above referenced federal noise emission regulation, that the vehicle and exhaust system or exhaust system component is designed for closed-course competition only.
(2) The labeling of such products by the manufacturer in accordance with the federal regulation constitutes a certification by the manufacturer that they do not conform to federal noise standards or New Hampshire sound levels established in this section.
IV. No person shall operate in this state a trail bike or all terrain vehicle which produces a sound level in excess of 96 decibels on the A scale, when measured in accordance with the provisions of the Society of Automotive Engineers Recommended Practice ANSI/SAE, J-1287, Mar 82, "Measurement of Exhaust Sound Levels of Stationary Motorcycles".
V. No person shall operate in this state any trail bike or other OHRV which is designed, constructed, and sold solely for closed-course competition and is without a headlight and a taillight. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to trail bikes or OHRVs operated at approved OHRV competitions, or when the exhaust system is modified to comply with the provisions of RSA 215-A:12, IV and RSA 227-L:20.
VI. Sound pressure levels in decibels shall be measured on the "A" scale of a sound level meter having characteristics defined by American National Standards Institute S1.4-1971, "Specification for Sound Level Meters."
VII. No person shall modify the manufacturer's specified exhaust system of any OHRV in any manner which will increase or amplify the noise emitted above that emitted by the original muffler.
VIII. No person shall operate, sell, or offer for sale in this state any ATV manufactured after January 1, 1990, which does not have a working headlight, except that an ATV with an engine size of 90 cubic centimeters or less, having 3 or more tires designed to hold not more than 10 pounds per square inch of air pressure, shall not be required to be equipped with a headlight.
IX. [Repealed.]
X. No person shall operate, sell or offer for sale in this state any ATV manufactured after January 1, 1990, which is not equipped with a location on the front and rear of the ATV specifically for the placement of registration plates or decals, which measure 3- 1/2 inches by 6 inches.
Source. 1981, 538:3. 1982, 12:6. 1983, 449:7. 1985, 261:3, 4. 1987, 56:1. 1988, 208:4. 1993, 320:2. 1994, 124:1. 1995, 55:1, 2, eff. July 8, 1995; 299:10, eff. Jan. 1, 1996. 2003, 295:2, eff. July 1, 2003.

TITLE XVIII
FISH AND GAME
CHAPTER 215-A
OFF HIGHWAY RECREATIONAL VEHICLES AND TRAILS
Section 215-A:13
215-A:13 OHRVs Must be Submitted to Sound Tests. –
I. The operator or owner of any snow traveling vehicle, trail bike, or other OHRV shall, when required by any law enforcement officer, submit his vehicle to a sound test conducted according to the applicable provisions of RSA 215-A:12.
II. The executive director may adopt sound level limits and test procedures to regulate sound emissions of OHRVs not otherwise regulated in this chapter.
Source. 1981, 538:3. 1982, 12:7. 1983, 449:8. 1985, 261:5, eff. Oct. 1, 1985

Skip,

Great job in doing the research. I can't see where all the questions about all of the decibels etc. are coming from.

If the people would just read the RSA's that you have put out there then there would be no questions.

The number one reason for landowner complaints is NOISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

People complaining about Harleys , Riceburners, and street cars have aright to complain.

Don't use the noise from these vehicles to justify that you can do same on sled.
Over ninety percent of trails are on PRIVATE property. These landowners get nothing in return for letting us use there land. Smarten up people! Do you want the trail base to revert back to just State Parks? If it does you still won't be able to run your loud exhaust. Just think of how easy law enforcement would be. Say 6 State Parks with the whole Fish and Game dept. divided among them. Each Park would have say 6 to 8 officers. That still won't stop the Harleys etc. but it will stop you the sledder!

I would think that people who run loud pipes would have the smarts to realise that the Fish and Game plus various Law Oficers can hear you coming from a great distance. You are probably the ones who bitch they got a ticket for speeding also.
If you stop and think about it. The only one who can protect you from stupidity is yourself.

Just my two cents worth,

Freedom Rider