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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 19. Public Safety
Agency 30. Department of State Police
Chapter 70. Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Regulations
12/31/2024

19VAC30-70-670. Muffler, exhaust system, and trailer venting.

A. Flexible tubing may be used anywhere in the exhaust system.

B. Inspection of exhaust system does not concern noise level.

C. Inspect for and reject if:

1. There is any leakage of exhaust gases at any point in the system. Do not reject "built-in" drain holes in muffler or tailpipe.

2. A muffler or catalytic converter has been repaired in any manner. The exhaust pipe may be welded to the muffler or catalytic converter. Holes or cracks in the exhaust line have been repaired with a patch or caulking.

3. Tailpipe opening is mashed or pinched.

4. Brackets are loose, broken, or missing.

5. Discharge of exhaust:

a. The exhaust system fails to discharge the exhaust to the rear or sides of that part of a property-carrying vehicle which is designed for and normally used for the driver and passengers, and to the rear or sides of the passenger and trunk compartment of passenger vehicles, unless such design is consistent with the original vehicle manufacturer exhaust system.

b. The exhaust system of a bus powered by a gasoline engine shall discharge to the atmosphere at or within six inches forward of the rearmost part of the bus.

EXCEPTION: Type I small forward control buses (14,000 GVWR Class) and cutaway model buses (10,000 GVWR or less) may discharge the exhaust behind the rear wheels.

c. The exhaust system of a bus powered by other than a gasoline engine shall discharge to the atmosphere either:

(1) At or within 15 inches forward of the rearmost part of the vehicle; or

(2) To the rear of all doors or windows designed to open, except windows designed to be opened solely as emergency exits.

6. Inspection of trailers and semitrailers will include a visual inspection of the venting of cooking or heating appliances to the outside of the trailer or semitrailer to determine if the heating and cooking appliances are adequately vented to the outside to prevent the asphyxiation of occupants of any trailer or semitrailer by the operation of the heating or cooking appliances.

a. Reject the trailer or semitrailer if not equipped with a vent or venting system to the outside.

b. Reject the trailer or semitrailer if there is any complete or partial obstruction of the vent or venting system.

Statutory Authority

§ 46.2-1165 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR545-01-07 § 67, eff. May 1, 1990; amended, Virginia Register Volume 10, Issue 8, eff. February 9, 1994; Volume 32, Issue 24, eff. October 3, 2016; Volume 35, Issue 25, eff. September 1, 2019.

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