Bikers won't like sound of this!

BY FRANK LOMBARDI
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Thursday, December 11th 2008, 2:18 AM

Vroooom that noisy motorcycle once too often and the city could own it.

In a new bid to stem motorcycle noise, the City Council is set to pass a bill requiring all bikes to sport tags certifying approval by the Environmental Protection Agency.

No EPA tag, you get a ticket, without the officials having to prove the bike exceeded the 80-decibel limit set by the city's noise code.

"Today we go a long way toward taking the squeal out of the hogs," said Peter Vallone (D-Queens), chairing a final bill hearing Wednesday in the Public Safety Committee.

Under the bill, expected to pass the full Council Dec. 18, a first conviction carries a maximum $1,000 fine and temporary confiscation until the penalty is paid.

A second conviction hikes the maximum fine to $2,500 and imposes permanent forfeiture.

NYPD Lt. Daniel Albano testified that existing laws require cops to catch noisy motorcyclists in the act, which is difficult and can entail potentially hazardous chases.

The new measure would let single officers on foot patrol - or other city agents - ticket parked motorcycles, he said.

It gives police "an extra tool to get at what is truly a serious problem," said Councilman Alan Gerson (D-Manhattan), who crafted the bill based on a law in use in Denver.

But biker Bill Ferraro, president of the Union Ironworkers Motorcycle Club, Local 580, testified that "it's unsafe for us to ride when the pipes are too low."

He also said the city can't close its budget gap "with confiscation of bikes and seizure."

 

I don't know about NY, but the one bit of good news in the Denver law is that it only applies to post-1982 bikes. So, at least some of us don't have to worry about it.

Colorado actually has a lot of laws like this: modified suspension (lifted or lowered) and tires that stick out more than 1" from the body are two examples. These laws aren't often enforced, but it seems that cops who are having a bad day will sometimes just start handing out tickets for them.

Colorado Springs also has an exhaust noise law. It's a bit less unreasonable, in that it at least applies equally to cars and motorcycles... As I understand it, the basic requirement is that any exhaust system that's louder than stock is illegal:

"It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle with an exhaust system that has been modified in a manner which amplifies or increases the noise emitted above that emitted by the exhaust system originally installed on the vehicle."

I don't know anyone who's been ticketed for it, though.

 

bull crap, anyone who is annoyed by loud motorcycles doesnt have a soul, gosh, what is this world coming to?

 

So what if a bike came stock with straight pipes, such as many OCC customs?

 

Peter Vallone (D-Queens)? Is that his gang, the Drag-Queens?

 

you can buy a brand new bike from a number of custom makers, and because you bought it from a "dealer" doesnt mean its LEGAL.

a guy i indirectly know got a faulty equipment ticket when he went to take his license test on his brand new K&K (?) chopper. it had those mufflers that look like straight pipes, and dont really muffle. he was above the 82db limit even with the mufflers. he got a ticket with his passing license test.

 

I've been saying it for years - loud pipes don't save lives, loud pipes pizz off your neighbors! Who then get city council to pass laws against motorcycles - a la the above. How many cities now have neighborhoods where motorcycles aren't allowed? I've read of a few... and I suspect what we're hearing here will become more common.

 

it's not loud bikes that is the problem it's morons like my neighbor. he has some kind of straight piped harley. he works graveyard and every night around 11:30 he takes off like a bat out of hell and wakes up the whole damn street.
i don't care if you have a loud bike, but don't be a moron and go WOT right in front of my house at f'ing midnight!!!
those are the guys ruining it for everyone.

 

My 550 had an open Kerker 4-1 on it when I got it and it was so GD loud I was ashamed to ride it. Now, it still has a nice howl at speed even with the stock exhaust.

 

I personally wish that the pinhead Harley riders in my part of the world were required to manage their freakin exhaust noise to the same levels the rest of us are expected to. Straight pipes are absolutely the most inconsiderate thing a rider can do to a motorcycle. Loud pipes save lives. What a bunch of crap. Put a couple mufflers on the thing and go take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses. You will learn skills to keep you alive. Reasonable sound levels sure would help the image of motorcycle riders in the non-riding community.

 

Here! Here!

Ever end up in a group ride behind one of these clowns?

And it's NOT only Harleys.

 

The noise coming from those coffee can mufflers bug me alot more than the rumble coming from a Harley with straight pipes.

 

Shooter,
Anyone who likes loud pipes will be deaf if they ride long enough. Having worked in a Ear, Nose, and Throat clinic I can testify to the damage caused by loud pipes.

Just about every state if not all states have laws against straight pipes. All exhaust systems must have a sprk arrestor in the pipe. VERY few of these straight pipes have them.

Aside from the law they are just down right obnoxious.

As mentioned above, Loud pipes don't save lives............helmets and common sense do.

Bring on the laws, I'll even hold the clipboard while the cop writes the ticket.

The Buff

 

It appears that all of us on this thread have had occaision to experiece riders on bikes with straight pipes. Some seem to like 'em and some don't. Fine.

But why don't the cops write these guys up? If you tried a stunt like this with your 4 wheel vehicle you wouldn't get 2 blocks without getting a ticket. And yet you hear bike riders regularly raising hell and they never seem to get ticketed. Just doesn't seem right.

 

sheesh, whenever i hear a harley guy with loud pipes step on it it always brings a smile to my face, my neighbor has some small harley and hes got it piped and when i hear him coming down the road i always run to my window to watch him, i like loud pipes..

 

For this particular city ordinance, that would be OK. There may be other ordinances under which they could write you up for disturbing the peace, though.

Also, from what I can see, our local city ordinances aren't that well thought out. There's another one that says,

"PROPERTY: Any public or private property which is not an improved public street or highway, or an improved private street constructed in accord with City standards and approved by the City.

VEHICLE: A motorcycle, motor-driven cycle or motor vehicle, as the vehicles are defined in the motor vehicle laws of the State of Colorado, including, but not limited to, motor scooters, motorbikes and minibikes.

C. Prohibited; Exceptions: It is unlawful for any person to drive or ride any vehicle upon any property which is within six hundred sixty feet (660') of a residence or other occupied structure or property authorized for motorcycle use as required herein, except that this subsection C shall not apply in the following instances:

1. Where the vehicle is ridden, driven or used upon property by the owner, resident or tenant of the property; and provided that the operation shall not be within six hundred sixty feet (660') of the neighboring residences or occupied structures unless permission has been granted by the neighboring residents or occupants; or

2. Where the vehicle is ridden, driven or used by a visitor when the visitor is accompanied by a copy of a written authorization from the owner or occupant of the property, the original of which has been filed with the City Clerk; and provided that the operation shall not be within six hundred sixty feet (660') of the neighboring residences or occupied structures unless permission has been granted by the neighboring residents or occupants; or

3. Where the use is permitted pursuant to the City's Zoning Code. "

As far as I can tell, based on this, I need the written approval of all my neighbors to ride my bike into my driveway or garage! (Unless the city zoning code corrects this.)

 

Well this is total crap.
Impose fines if you will but, there are laws about cruel and unusual punishment.
Get caught with loud pipes twice and they sieze your bike F'in' crap.
This is america not some dictator ship governed by the whims of fancy.
Shit pisses me off everyday.

 

You're right, this is not a dictatorship. But, I have to ask - when does your right to loud pipes infringe on my right to live in a peaceful and quiet neighborhood? When does it infringe on my right to not have my health impacted by it?

This new ordinance is not that unusual. Most cities have something very similar already in place.

For example - St. Paul, Mn requires any motorcycle (built after Jan 1, 1975) to not exceed 90db (measured at 20') for speeds over 35mph, and no louder than 85db for speeds less than 35mph.
7030.1050 MOTOR VEHICLE NOISE LIMITS FOR MOTORCYCLES. 7030.1050

Keep in mind that sound levels over 80db will cause Noise Induced Hearing Loss. Put a set of pipes that are right at those levels on a bike and ride it long enough, and you will lose your hearing. Speaking as someone who has a thankfully minor case of this already (musician), I don't think it's unreasonable for a city (county or state for that matter) to put an ordinance in place to protect the physical and mental health of it's residents.

Don't get me wrong - like Schooter, I like the deep, throaty, rumbling sound that many bikes have. What I don't like is being forced to listen to it from 1/4 mile away when my windows are closed...

 

lol... I like loud pipes too. Where I'm from probably a good 20 percent of the trucks on the road are louder than most of the harley's. But, I agree that you shouldn't ride by someones house in the middle of the night trying to see how loud you can be.

What about laws against people who have more money in their stereo than their house. The windows on my house rattle when one guy rides by.
And I could see writing a ticket for someone just tearing it up in the middle of the night trying to be loud, but ticketing a parked bike is crazy.

One more thing. What about the firedepartment when they come by with every siren on the thing goin, and blowing the horn like crazy, when there isn't another car on the road for a 5 mile radius. (I don't have anything against firemen, the fire department, or any one affiliated with it. I appreciate them being there)

 

Loud exhaust is just another way that people like to express themselves.

As for me I like stealth, Quiet and Fast, I don't like to draw any attention when I'm on the gas.

The cops here write tickets all the time for loud exhaust and loud stereo music. Just one more way for the city or county to extract $$ from anybody who drives or owns an evil fossil fuel motor driven vehicle.

 

move to michigan gentlemen around here they dont write anything it can be as loud as you want and as long as your lights work right they leave you alone

 

Bs they dont get pulled over, ive gotten pulled over 2 times back when i had my silverado, my dad wouldnt let me straight pipe it, so i drilled an s load of holes in the pipe before the muffler, and both times i got pulled over i got down on my knees and pointed at it, then i wold say, must be rusted out, the cops usually pull you over, but dont write you tickets..

 

I'm sure if you lived in a rural area anywhere it would be tough to get in trouble for loud exhaust.

 

ya, i live on a farm, just going through town, and the cops are really anal cuz they have nothing better to do

 

Just to be fair, I was getting an excessive noise ticket from having my radio a little too loud in my truck, when this Harley goes roaring by with open pipes setting off car alarms in the parking lot I had pulled into. I asked the cop if he planned on going after that guy. He said there was no law against that. Guess if we're gonna patrol loud noise, we need to patrol ALL loud noises....jets taking off, dogs barking, babies crying, brakes squeaking, police sirens. Glad I live in America, land of the free.

 

I hate loud pipes on a Harley, because it's such a stupid crappy engine I don't want to remember they make 'em.
A loud Mustang GT sounds great, but a Ferrari v12, for that I'll run out of my house. They make don't make loud Ferrari's anymore.
If I hear a sport bike coming down the highway, I'm compelled to step out and watch it go by.

 

true 'Dat

 

Read more carefully, my rant was on the excess of the penalty.
Take my bike 'cause it's loud.
Who the hell do they think they are.
"Your stereo is to loud, give me your car."
"You laid rubber at the light, hand over the pink slip."
If you think this is right move, please.
Balance the budget some other way, leave working people alone.

 

My mistake. All too often I end up in a similar discussion about noise levels from our amps and PA systems...

I did a little checking and would definitely have to agree about the penalties being excessive - $1000+impound for fist offense and $2500+permanent impound for 2nd offense is definitely Draconian.

Here, you get popped for loud pipes, and it's $121 fine per offense, with no limit to the number of offenses...

Makes me glad I don't live in NY... 8O

 

HERE HERE! Great having huge government legislating all aspects of our lives. Makes me feel nice and safe and cozy yummy yummy warm.

One thing(Or two or so.)

If they are going to haze me about having loud pipes
I think it's only right that my neighbors, with their tricked-out lawn mowers have to put mufflers on the damn things. Make cutting the grass quiet and unimposing. Maybe get goats. Though you'll have to pass more laws to regulate where they can drop. But hey! Look on the bright side, all that sh*t should bring in more money in taxes; cause if you make laws there will always be people who don't comply right?
I hate that mower sound.

Also vacuum cleaners. Horrendous things. I should have my upstairs neighbor arrested for disturbing the peace. She needs baffles on that thing. Should have the government tax those baffles. Also, you should need a license that you can only buy from Uncle Sam.

Also, my mother-in-law. Get her a ticket would ya? Never shuts up. Hurts my ears. Shove a baffle in her face. Make her sound like a rice-burner. That would make me giggle. And on the plus side, if they'd seize her after the second offense....

OOH! Chainsaws and children too. Can't forget those little so-and-so's. Can't stand them.

More money you got, more freedoms you can have? Sounds like civilization to me! Regulate and tax everything. Fine everyone you can. Build that bankroll. Make everything nice and safe and secure... Keep everyone in line. Take it away little by little.

Control. Control. Control...

Wish I had a baffle yet? I do have some pipes I must say. Perhaps a fine is in order...


Sarcasm enough yet?


To hell with BS laws. My bike running requires earplugs or you're going to be buzzing for a while. I absolutely love it. Every time some rice-burners sounding car/bike rips off, I'll feel free to rattle them. Poor lil' Fast n the Furious wannabe. Can dish but can't handle it. Call the fuzz. Go ahead and ticket me. Then seize and impound my bike.

I'll just go get another one that's just as loud just to spite you.

I remember something about it being the responsibility of men to stand up to unjust government. Did BB toss that document yet? Dunno. Either wa, civil-disobedience via "auditory celebration devices" seems good to me in this case.

 

I live in a somewhat rural area. The speed limit on my street is 55. When this Harley with drag pipes comes around the corner a MILE away I can easily hear him shifting through the gears as he accelerates. Takes him about a minute to get to my house and go by. When he goes by, it's incredibly loud. TOO...LOUD... I know many of them feel that if the bike is loud, then people will be aware of them. But this guys bike is overkill...

 

Hey,Marko ... Pep Boys has a 30% off sale on mother-in-law baffles ... but I'd be willing to bet that they are already sold out !

 

horses would be the step up from goats, however only landscapers could justify the cost.

i have both...and both work GREAT. 8)

 

Hey Marko,
Don't hold back brother.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Upstate rules.
:twisted:

 

Marko and i would get along just fine.

 

why do i get the feeling if i was on a bike in NYC my mufflers would be the last thing i would be thinking about

 

Is it just me or does anyone else see the irony in it when the cops put on the siren to pull someone over to issue a noise violation ticket? What a country!

 

As someone who lived in an apartment on Main Street in Daytona Beach through three Bike Weeks, I feel qualified to say loud pipes SUCK!!! Nothing like 10,000 open-pipe Harleys all starting up at the same time at 3AM when the bars closed to ruin a nights sleep when you have a mid-term exam the next morning.

I believe that people who run loud pipes fall into one of two groups. First, there's the "Look at me!!!" poser crowd that are trying way too hard to convince everyone that they're tough biker dudes. Then there's the anti-social group that are just out to annoy as many people as they possibly can for kicks.

Don't try to tell me that loud pipes saves lives. I have actually witnessed several accidents where an elderly driver panicked by being buzzed by inordinately loud bikes have run off the road or hit other vehicles. In one case of poetic justice, the rider that caused the accident actually got caught up in it. He had dropped the hammer on his 'Busa with aftermarket pipes just as he came up next to the driver's side window. The panicked driver swerved so hard in the wrong direction that she clipped the back of the bike, sending it and the rider tumbling down the highway.

After saying all that, I must say that I do believe that New York is going about it all wrong in both the way they determine infractions and the fairly outrageous penalties. I can understand the frustrations that have lead them to propose this law, but I just don't see how they could legally say that your bike is too loud even though they never heard it but because it doesn't have this silly little EPA sticker on it. If it passes I think it will be challenged in court fairly quickly.

 

"loud pipes save lives"

BULL FREEKIN CHIT!

i have never heard an approaching straight piped harley or D&D piped rocket until it was RIGHT NEXT TO ME! anybody who says otherwise is full of it.

most stock crotch rockets in stock dress can outperform the human rider that sits upon it. wtf is the loud pipe doing for you, other than draining your wallet.

all harleys with straight pipes are just wasting our precious oxygen, as they are making no more power than if they had straight through glasspacks, that look exactly like straight pipes anyway!

 

Just wanted to let you know that I did get a very considered answer from my local government. They told me that yes, the munipal ordinance I asked about DID apply to cars, even though the title specified motorcycles, but no, I don't need my neighbors' permission to drive into my garage because city zoning laws allow for garages and driveways.