Harley-Davidson Dealers Sued for Installing Illegal Exhaust Systems

Cracking Down

In recent years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been cracking down on tuners of all kinds, or more specifically, those that remove emissions equipment or install parts that are illegal for road use in certain states. While this trend has mostly been relegated to diesel engines and those that perform emissions equipment deletes, it's now working its way into the world of Harley-Davidson, it seems. 

Photos: Intermountain Harley-Davidson

Breaking the Rules

According to Courthouse News Service, an environmental non-profit group called Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment is the plaintiff in a newly filed lawsuit, which has accused multiple dealerships in the Salt Lake City, Utah area of installing aftermarket exhaust systems on motorcycles that violate EPA rules. 

Photos: Intermountain Harley-Davidson

Moving Forward

Those exhaust systems don't utilize catalytic converters in some cases or have had those pieces removed, which results in louder pipes and more emissions being emitted, according to the lawsuit. Recently, U.S. District Judge David Barlow ruled that the lawsuit could proceed, but only the EPA violations piece - he struck down the group's request for a noise violation and a preliminary injunction against the Harley dealers, at least. 

Photos: Intermountain Harley-Davidson

Lacking Evidence

"UPHE essentially seeks an assumption that because defendants sell, install, and remove parts that affect motorcycles’ noise level, its members have been exposed to the same," Judge Barlow wrote in his decision. "But UPHE and the record are silent on the evidentiary basis for the assumption. There is no record evidence that the noise emitted from the motorcycles accumulates in a ‘noiseshed’ or otherwise impacts those that are not in the immediate presence of the noise when it is emitted."

Photos: Intermountain Harley-Davidson

Danger to the Public?

Regardless, the group of SLC-area dealers - which are all owned by the same company - will continue to battle in court following this decision. Those dealers are accused of "significant, repeated, and ongoing violations of the Clean Air Act and Noise Control Act," according to the lawsuit, "which have been and continue to be at the expense of the health and well-being of Physicians’ members and the public at large."

Photos: Intermountain Harley-Davidson

Writing on the Wall

It's unclear if the plaintiffs in this case have enough evidence to ultimately walk away with a victory, but regardless, the proverbial writing is clearly on the wall here. We've seen the EPA and various groups really begin to go after entities - whether that be aftermarket companies or dealerships - that violate emissions laws as of late, meaning that our days of riding around on catless bikes are probably numbered. 

Photos: Intermountain Harley-Davidson

>>Join in the conversation about this legal issue right here in Harley-Davidson Forums.

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