OFF THE WIRE
BY: AMANDA BELAND
fosters.com
John Huff/Staff photographer Sally Naumann gets the decibel levels of her Harley Davidson motorcycle checked by local law enforcement during a voluntary testing at Seacoast Harley Davidson in North Hampton Sunday.
Members of the Harley Owners Group (HOG), a Seacoast chapter of motorcycle riders, looking to comply with state law gathered at Seacoast Harley Davidson on Sunday morning with several law enforcement agencies to take part in a voluntary decibel exhaust test, followed by a group ride.
Between 8 and 10 a.m., registered riders were able to receive free decibel testing on their bikes to see if their exhaust matched up with the law. According to the state ordinance, the level released must not exceed 106 decibels.
After paying their $10 driver registration fee for the ride, $5 per passenger, riders lined up in the Seacoast Harley parking lot. When their turn arrived, each rider pulled up their bike in-between two cones and started the bike to the correct rev. The decibel level was then measured through a meter and the rider was told whether their bike was compliant.
According to Rye Police Chief Kevin Walsh, controlling the decibel level on motorcycles is important because not only is it the law to do so, but because a higher decibel level means more noise for the homes and businesses around where the riders and their riding groups like to travel.
"We're excited all these groups have come together," said Walsh.
Officer from Rye, North Hampton, Hampton, Portsmouth and New Castle assisted with the decibel testing.
or Rick Lizotte, treasurer for HOG, complying with state law is just one more thing him and his group can do to dispel stereotypes associated with owning a motorcycle.
"We're not all gang riders," said Lizotte. "We all have jobs. We just like riding bikes."
Lizotte said an average of 300 people participate in each HOG ride. He said it's important to keep the decibel level in compliance with state law because otherwise it creates a lot of noise and perpetuates the stereotypes he's trying to dispel.
HOG rider Salley Naumann, of Portsmouth, agrees with Lizotte. She came out to the decibel testing to make sure her new motorcycle was in compliance.
"We would like to show that hey, we're in compliance," said Naumann.
