New law puts the brakes on obnoxious motorcycle noise

http://www.theacorn.com/news/2010-09-30/Editorials/New_law_puts_the_brakes_on_obnoxious_motorcycle_no.html New law puts the brakes on obnoxious motorcycle noise
2010-09-30 / Editorials Anybody’s who’s ever ridden a motorcycle knows that a biker’s best friend is his loud tailpipes, which produce an ear-splitting rumble that alerts other motorists to keep a safe distance away.
“If they can’t see us, at least they can hear us,” or so the theory goes. Bikers say loud pipes serve as an early warning system.
The noise, however, goes over the top when it’s so loud that it sets off car alarms and sends pedestrians running for cover, says Sen. Fran Pavley of Agoura Hills, whose new legislation in Sacramento requiring illegally modified motorcycles to pipe down was recently signed into law by the governor.
We love our motorcycles, don’t get us wrong. Riding is fun and it feels oh so good. But this is not about limiting the freedom to ride, it’s about basic common sense and decency. Some pipes are just flat out too loud.
“Our motorcycle-riding governor clearly recognizes that a few bad apples on our roads are infringing on the rights of others with their illegal, attention-seeking loud pipes,” Pavley says.
Senate Bill 435, which is sponsored by the American Lung Association, will give law enforcement a new tool to enforce current anti-tampering and noise level statutes for motorcycles. (The removal of catalytic converters leads to more pollution, but most people would say it’s the noise issue that speaks to them the loudest.) It’s time to put a lid on the obnoxious pipes, which is what SB 435 attempts to do.
Removing factory installed emissions equipment violates existing state and federal regulations, but until now, enforcement has been lax. Motorcycles aren’t subject to smog checks, which is when most illegal tampering is found. Bikes can still use aftermarket exhausts, as long as they’re stamped and qualified by the EPA. Few loud systems are.
Unfortunately, the new law doesn’t allow cops to pull over the bikes for noise alone—there must be some other infraction. The first penalty is a fix-it ticket. Subsequent offenses will cost up to $250.
The law, which applies to motorcycles and aftermarket parts going forward from 2013, is not a panacea, but it’s a good first step toward bringing a little peace and quiet back to the streets.