Traffic Offences
Excessive Noise & Muffler Offences in Ontario
A modified exhaust and unnecessary vehicle noise are two separate things an officer can ticket — and neither requires a decibel reading to enforce.
Quick answer: Section 75 of the Highway Traffic Act requires a muffler in good working order that prevents excessive noise, and separately bars a driver from causing any unnecessary noise with the vehicle. No decibel reading is required — an officer can issue a ticket based on what they directly hear.
Key Takeaways
- Section 75 bans muffler cut-outs, straight exhausts, and similar modifications.
- A separate provision bars unnecessary noise from the vehicle generally, beyond just the exhaust.
- No decibel meter reading is required -- an officer's direct observation is enough.
- Electric vehicles are exempt from the muffler and smoke requirements.
What section 75 requires
Section 75 of the Highway Traffic Act requires every motor vehicle to have a muffler in good working order that prevents excessive or unusual noise and smoke. It specifically prohibits muffler cut-outs, straight exhausts, gutted mufflers, so-called "Hollywood" mufflers, and similar by-pass devices — modifications that remove or reduce the muffler’s noise-dampening function rather than simply changing its sound.
Unnecessary noise is a separate rule
Beyond the muffler-specific requirement, a separate provision bars a driver from causing a vehicle to make unnecessary noise more generally, along with unreasonable horn use and unreasonable smoke. This means a vehicle with a technically compliant muffler can still be ticketed if it’s driven in a way that produces unnecessary noise, such as deliberately revving the engine excessively.
No decibel reading required
Unlike some noise bylaws that rely on a specific decibel threshold measured with equipment, this offence doesn’t require a decibel reading to enforce. An officer can issue a ticket based on directly seeing and hearing the vehicle, which means enforcement involves a degree of judgment about what counts as excessive or unnecessary in a given situation.
Buying aftermarket parts isn’t itself illegal
Purchasing aftermarket exhaust components isn’t itself against the law — the offence is about driving a vehicle on the road with a non-compliant exhaust system, not about buying or owning the parts. Electric vehicles, and motor-assisted bicycles driven entirely by electricity, are generally exempt from the muffler and smoke requirements in section 75.
Reported penalties
Reported fine figures for both the muffler-specific offence and the general unnecessary-noise offence vary by source, generally described in roughly the $85 to $110 range. Because figures differ and can change, the amount printed on your own ticket is the reliable number for your specific case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do officers need a decibel meter to issue this ticket?
No. An officer can issue a ticket based on directly seeing and hearing the vehicle, without a specific decibel reading.
Is it illegal to buy an aftermarket exhaust?
No, buying the parts isn't itself illegal. The offence is about driving the vehicle on the road with a non-compliant exhaust system installed.
Does this apply to electric vehicles?
Generally no -- vehicles driven entirely by electricity are exempt from the muffler and smoke requirements under section 75.
Sources
Charged With a Noise or Muffler Violation?
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