INTERNATIONAL NEWS:CTV Edmonton More than 1,000 motorcycles tested for noise

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http://edmonton.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100622/edm_bikers_100622/20100622/?hub=EdmontonHome CTV Edmonton More than 1,000 motorcycles tested for noise

Officers conducted free noise testing for participating motorcycles over the weekend prior to a new noise bylaw kicking in. ctvedmonton.ca

More than a third of motorcycles tested for noise by patrol officers this past weekend exceeded what will be the new legal limit, according to Edmonton police.

Edmonton police conducted a free two-pronged test at, with no penalties for those who failed. The first phase recorded the motorcycle when it was idling, with 92 decibels set as the legal limit. The second phase recorded the bike between r.p.m benchmarks of 2,000 and 5,000, with 96 decibels set as the maximum allowable volume.

Officers tested 1,076 motorcycles over two days, with 397 failing under the city's new rules.

Some bikers feel the bylaw unfairly targets motorcycles and should apply to all vehicles. As of July 1st, riders found to have an engine louder than 96 decibels could be slapped with a $250 ticket.

"There are lots of other noisy things around the city -- they are just picking on us," said biker Jim Saulnier.

Edmonton is the first municipality in Canada to approve a motorcycle noise bylaw, which passed after considerable debate earlier this month. The old bylaw carried a $115 fine for riders with loud bikes but didn't give a hard target for what counts as excessive noise.