Shir Haberman
seacoastonline.com
State Rep. Michelle Peckham, R-North Hampton, is looking to file a bill to lower the allowable noise level for motorcycles in the next legislative session, which begins in January.
"It has been suggested that this is an issue that needs to be addressed by the Legislature," Peckham told the Select Board on Monday night.
Peckham said she will introduce a bill modeled on the California law passed last year that requires motorcycles to not exceed the 80-decibel noise standard of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The current motorcycle noise level allowed by New Hampshire state law is 106 decibels.
Peckham noted that three attempts by the Legislature to reduce motorcycle noise in the past four years have failed. She called opposition from the motorcycle lobby "fierce."
"The motorcycle community and motorcycle dealers are telling us that if we pass (this kind of legislation) and make it effective in January, it means that every single motorcycle on the road is basically out of compliance, and all those individuals will have to remove their mufflers and replace them with EPA-compliant mufflers, which is a great expense to these people," she said.
Peckham said, in response, she essentially wrote her bill to make the legislation effective Jan. 1, 2013. The move would grandfather all motorcycles on the road today that are compliant with the state's 106-decibel standard and allows motorcycle dealers time to deplete their inventories, she said. However, her bill would require any motorcycle brought in for service after the legislation's effective day to put on EPA-compliant mufflers at that time.
She urged those who support the town's motorcycle noise ordinance passed by voters in 2010, to get behind her legislation.
"We really need people's support to come to Concord and testify," she said.
North Hampton police are not enforcing the town ordinance on motorcycle noise. Seacoast Motorcycles, the Harley-Davidson dealer on Lafayette Road, filed suit in Rockingham Superior Court last July seeking a preliminary and permanent injunction against the town enforcing the ordinance, claiming it was unconstitutional and interfered with its business. Town Administrator Steve Fournier said North Hampton officials decided not to fight the preliminary injunction request because of the money it would have cost to defend it. The request for a permanent injunction is still in the hands of the court.
Police Chief Brian Page said he is using every tool at his disposal to curb excessive noise and has partnered with Seacoast Motorcycles in an attempt to "bring some peer pressure" to local riders. A new brochure was produced, and signs urging motorcyclists to stay safe and stay quiet will be up around town shortly, he said.
Aside from motorcycle checkpoints North Hampton holds with Portsmouth and Rye police, as well as state troopers, Page said he appeared on a radio talk show with four other area chiefs to discuss motorcycle noise. He said he and some other chiefs have made contacts with the New Hampshire Motorcycle Association and Seacoast HOGS with the hope of holding noise information sessions with club members.
