A local lawmaker believes legislation providing a tool to regulate excessive vehicle noise will become law this year after falling short in 2025.
The measure currently sits on the desk of Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D), having passed both houses of the General Assembly earlier this year.
“I suspect she’s going to sign it, and I suspect the Board of Supervisors is going to implement it,” Del. Rip Sullivan (D-6) said at a post-General Assembly session town hall on Tuesday (March 31) sponsored by the McLean Citizens Association (MCA).
The measure sets up a two-year pilot program allowing participating localities in some parts of the state to use electronic noise monitoring to detect vehicles with adapted mufflers that emit more than 95 decibels of noise.
Owners of vehicles recorded in excess of the noise limit would face $100 civil penalties.
Sullivan’s 2026 measure was amended and faced wrangling between the House of Delegates and Senate during the 60-day session, but ultimately won passage on largely party-line votes.
A year before, similar legislation passed but was vetoed by then-Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican. Spanberger, a Democrat who was elected last November, has until April 13 to act on all bills before her.
Fairfax County officials supported Sullivan’s legislation both years, identifying it as one of their top legislative priorities.
Speaking to MCA members at the March 31 forum, which also included plenty of discussion on the more contentious legislation to make Fairfax County eligible for a casino, Sullivan said his bill provides safeguards against excessive efforts by localities and is simply another tool that can be used.
“This does not make loud mufflers illegal, as they’re already illegal,” he said.
Sullivan was joined by Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-38) at the March 31 meeting, which attracted about 100 people to the McLean Community Center.
