Oregon Law
Law as of Jan 1, 2026
Chapter contents
815.005Consistent parts and equipment authorized 815.010Compliance with standards for equipment; federal standards to supersede state 815.015Department inspection of vehicles for compliance 815.020Operation of unsafe vehicle; penalty 815.025Causing unreasonable noise with vehicle; penalty 815.030State vehicle equipment standards 815.035Rules for standards for roadside warning devices 815.040Standards for window and windshield material 815.045Rules for use of traction tires, retractable studded tires and chains; signs 815.050[1983 c.338 §442; 1985 c.16 §232; 1993 c.751 §73; repealed by 1995 c.492 §8] 815.052Rules establishing standards for protective headgear 815.055Rules establishing standards for safety belts, harnesses and child safety systems 815.060Rules establishing standards for slow-moving vehicle emblems 815.065Rules establishing standards for hydraulic brake fluid 815.070Road warning signals for tow vehicles or wreckers 815.075Selling vehicles or equipment that violates rules; exemptions; penalty 815.077Providing airbag or automobile supplemental restraint system component that does not comply with federal standards for make, model and year of motor vehicle; violation is unlawful practice 815.080Providing safety belt, harness or child safety system that does not comply with standards; exemptions; penalty 815.085Servicing with or selling unapproved brake fluid; penalty 815.090Replacement of vehicle windows with unapproved material; penalty 815.095Unlawful sales, installations or representations concerning pollution control systems; penalty 815.097Providing vehicle with mercury light switch 815.100Operation of vehicle that violates equipment rules; penalty 815.105Exemptions from equipment requirements 815.107Exemption from equipment requirements for street rods 815.109Exemption from equipment requirements for racing activity vehicles 815.110Requirements for and use of slow-moving vehicle emblem 815.115Violation of emblem requirements; penalty 815.120Exemptions from emblem requirements 815.125Requirements and standards 815.130Improper brakes; penalty 815.135Exemptions from brake requirements 815.140Failure to use vehicle traction tires or chains; penalty 815.142Failure to carry vehicle traction tires or chains; penalty 815.145Exemptions from traction tire or chains requirement 815.150[1983 c.338 §476; 1985 c.16 §248; 1987 c.145 §1; 1991 c.67 §222; repealed by 1997 c.326 §2 and 1997 c.493 §6] 815.155Unlawful use of device without wheels; exemptions; civil liability; penalty 815.160Unlawful use of metal objects on tires; civil liability; penalty 815.165Exemptions from prohibition on tires with metal objects 815.167Prohibition on selling studs other than lightweight studs; exemption 815.170Operation without pneumatic tires; civil liability; penalty 815.175Exemptions from pneumatic tire requirement 815.180Standards 815.182Kinds of fenders or mudguards required for specified vehicles; placement 815.185Operation without proper fenders or mudguards; penalty 815.190Exemptions from mudguard and fender requirements 815.195Requirements and standards 815.200Violation of visible emission limits; penalty 815.205Exemptions from visible emission limits 815.210Operation of vehicle without approved material in windows; exemptions; penalty 815.215Failure to have windshield wipers; exemptions; penalty 815.220Obstruction of vehicle windows; penalty 815.221Tinting; authorized and prohibited materials; certificate 815.222Illegal window tinting; dismissal; penalty 815.225Violation of use limits on sound equipment; exemptions; penalty 815.230Violation of sound equipment requirements; exemptions; penalty 815.232Unreasonable sound amplification from a vehicle; penalty 815.233Enhancement of penalty for violation of ORS 815.232 815.235Operation without rearview mirror; exemptions; penalty 815.237Forward crossview mirror; failure to inspect; exemptions; penalty 815.240Unlawful use of image display device; exemptions; penalty 815.245Violation of minimum clearance requirements for passenger vehicles; penalty 815.250Operation without proper exhaust system; exemptions; penalty 815.255Operation of vehicle for hire without speedometer; exemptions; penalty 815.260Operation of recreational vehicle with unsealed disposal system; exemption; penalty 815.265[1983 c.338 §499; repealed by 2001 c.335 §5] 815.270Operating vehicle that is loaded or equipped to obstruct driver; penalty 815.275Failure to mark end of load with light or flag when required; penalty 815.280Violation of bicycle equipment requirements; penalty 815.281Selling noncomplying bicycle headgear; renting or leasing bicycle without having approved headgear available; penalties 815.282Operating motorized wheelchair on bicycle lane without proper lighting equipment 815.283Violation of motor assisted scooter equipment requirements; penalty 815.284Violation of electric personal assistive mobility device equipment requirements; penalty 815.285Failure to carry roadside vehicle warning devices; exemptions; penalty 815.290Exemptions from equipment requirements 815.295Failure to have required pollution control equipment; exemptions; penalty 815.300Exemptions from requirement to be equipped with pollution control system 815.305Disconnection or alteration of pollution control equipment; penalty 815.310Proof of compliance with requirements 815.315Use of improper certificate for pollution control system; penalty 815.320Unlawful certification of compliance with pollution control requirements; penalty 815.325Unlawfully requiring repair for certification of compliance with pollution control requirements; penalty 815.400[1985 c.251 §8; 1987 c.119 §4; 1987 c.750 §11; 1989 c.43 §36; 1989 c.148 §17; repealed by 1991 c.873 §53] 815.405Department review of odometer disclosure statements 815.410Illegal odometer tampering; prohibition; exceptions; civil action; penalty 815.415Unlawful repair of odometer; rules; civil action; penalty 815.420Unlawfully removing odometer repair notice; penalty 815.425Failure to submit odometer disclosure; penalty 815.430Submitting false odometer disclosure; penalty 815.440Unauthorized possession, use or distribution of traffic control signal operating device; exemption; penalty 815.445Authority to use traffic control signal operating devices; costs 815.555Tampering with a vehicle metering system; penalty

Chapter 815 — Vehicle Equipment Generally

ORS 815.230 Violation of sound equipment requirements; exemptions; penalty

(1)

A person commits the offense of violation of vehicle sound equipment requirements if the person drives or moves on any highway or owns and causes or knowingly permits to be driven on any highway any vehicle that violates any of the following equipment provisions:

(a)

A motor vehicle must be equipped with a horn in good working order, capable of emitting sounds audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 200 feet.

(b)

No vehicle shall be equipped with any bell, siren, compression or exhaust whistle.

(2)

This section is subject to the exemptions under this subsection in addition to any exemptions under ORS 801.026. The exemptions under this subsection are partial or complete as described in the following:

(a)

Authorized emergency vehicles are subject to sound equipment requirements and limitations as provided in ORS 820.370 and 820.380.

(b)

Vehicles of special interest that are registered under ORS 805.020 are not subject to this section if the vehicles are:

(A)

Equipped with original manufacturer’s equipment and accessories, or their equivalent, and are maintained in safe operating condition; or

(B)

Street rods that conform to ORS 815.107.

(c)

Bicycles are subject to requirements and limitations on sound equipment as provided under ORS 815.280.

(d)

Antique vehicles are not subject to the requirements if the vehicles are maintained as collectors’ items and used for exhibitions, parades, club activities and similar uses, but not used primarily for the transportation of persons or property.

(e)

The requirements do not apply to road machinery, road rollers and farm tractors.

(f)

Electric personal assistive mobility devices are subject to requirements and limitations on sound equipment as provided under ORS 815.284.

(3)

The offense described in this section, violation of vehicle sound equipment requirements, is a Class C traffic violation.

(Sound System Amplification)

Official sources · 2Tap to view provenance and version history

Online copy of the published ORS edition

Provenance

Version history

Earlier statutory text is available in an ingested published ORS edition.