Committee defers motorcycle noise and license‑plate covering changes for further review

The House Transportation Committee on May 7 deferred final action on the motorcycle excessive‑noise section and asked staff to circulate revised language for committee review before a planned reconvening the next morning.

Chair (S3) described Section 29 as addressing excessive noise in motorcycles and said Representative Keyser worked with counsel on potential changes; the committee agreed to email the amendment so members could discuss it at the next meeting. "Representative Keyser worked with counsel on potential change," the chair said, urging staff to distribute the language for tomorrow's review.

Committee members questioned a proposed stamp‑based system for muffler compliance and recounted testimony from industry that tougher visual checks could add time and cost. One committee member relayed industry testimony that more detailed inspection steps could add "1 to 2 hours" of work and increase inspection costs "by anywhere from 70 to a $150." Members discussed replacing or supplementing a stamp requirement with a visual inspection that checks for intact baffles and prohibits cutouts and straight pipes; staff clarified the draft would not require a stamp but would require intact baffles and would capture removed or drilled‑out baffles during inspection.

The committee also reviewed license‑plate language. Staff said language was added to clarify that 'Vermont Strong' plates remain permitted and that Representative Boutin's temporary dealer‑issued plate language (previously struck) was restored. The chair asked the committee to consider whether changes to tinting or plate covers were acceptable; members signaled no major objections but asked staff to confirm the exact text.

Next steps: The motorcycle noise language is the last unresolved section; staff will circulate revised text and the committee plans to reconvene the following morning to settle that language and proceed to a committee vote on the bill. The chair asked members to arrive early to prepare for a 9:30 a.m. session.