OFF THE WIRE
CALIFORNIA ENACTS ANTI-MOTORCYCLE NOISE LAW
Motorcycle-riding California Governor... Arnold Schwarzenegger has put his stamp of approval on a controversial law aimed at cracking down on motorcyclists who replace stock exhaust systems with aftermarket pipes that don’t comply with federal EPA noise and emissions standards. Under SB 435 by State Senator Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills), the Motorcycle Anti-Tampering Act makes it illegal for motorcyclists to remove and replace federally required emissions equipment, and motorcycles manufactured after January 1, 2013 will be required to display a readily visible and unalterable label stamped into the pipes that indicates that they meet federal standards. Bikers will still be able to install aftermarket exhausts, but for bikes built after 2013 the replacement parts must be EPA-certified and permanently stamped. Similar anti-noise laws have been enacted recently in Boston and Denver. Illegal tampering with emissions systems in California will be a secondary violation, meaning that motorcyclists would have to first be pulled over for some other infraction before officers could inspect for the presence of the EPA stamp and issue a citation. First time offenders could face up to $100 fine, but it will be considered a "fix-it" ticket and proof of repair would get the violation dismissed, though subsequent infractions could result in fines of up to $250. Pavley’s original bill sought to include motorcycles in the state’s SMOG emissions testing program, but after being stymied by intense lobbying by state and national motorcyclists rights organizations, she later reintroduced the measure to instead force motorcycles into compliance with existing federally-mandated sound and air pollution levels.