19A NCAC 03D .0541      EXHAUST EMISSION CONTROLS

(a)  An exhaust emission shall not be approved if the vehicle is a 1968-year model or newer and any of the visible emission control devices placed thereon by the manufacturer are missing, disconnected, made inoperative, or as set forth in G.S. 20-128(d) have been altered without approval of the Department of Environmental Quality.

(b)  If the unleaded gas restrictor on a vehicle manufactured after model year 1967 has been altered or removed a new or reconditioned catalytic converter and unleaded gas restrictor must be replaced before the vehicle shall pass inspection.

(c)  An exhaust system shall not be approved if:

(1)           the vehicle has no muffler or other exhaust system of the type installed at the time of manufacture or does not operate as designed by the vehicle manufacturer;

(2)           the muffler, exhaust, or tail pipes have leaking joints;

(3)           the exhaust or tail pipes have holes, leaking seams, or leaking patches on muffler;

(4)           the tail pipe end is pinched;

(5)           the exhaust system is equipped with muffler cut-out or muffler by-pass; or

(6)           any part of the system passes through the passenger compartment.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 20-2; 20-39; 20-128; 20-183.3(a)(9);

Eff. October 1, 1994;

Readopted Eff. October 1, 2021.