New York City Tries to Ban Loud Motorcycle Exhausts
"Today we go a long way toward taking the squeal out of the hogs," announced Councilman Peter Vallone Jr.
Vallone Jr. was referencing a final bill hearing that intends to bring an unprecedented approach towards eradicating loud motorcycles in New York City. According to the NY Daily News, the proposal would require every single bike in the city to wear an Environmental Protection Agency sticker proving that the motorcycle complies with the established 80 decibel limit.
The bill, which is expected to pass on December 18th, calls for a first offense to carry a maximum $1,000 fine and temporary bike confiscation until the amount is paid. A second offense? A $2,500 maximum fine and permanent forfeiture of your ride... yep, you read correctly; the city could basically repossess your motorcycle-- even while it's parked-- if it doesn't wear the right sticker.
The AMA has posted a response which states "This is no way to operate in a democracy," adding that "The issue is that the New York City Council is unfairly singling out motorcyclists because motorcycles are the only vehicles covered under the bill." They also provide contact info for Speaker of City Council Christine Quinn, who is no doubt eager to hear from those of you with an opinion in the matter.
I've never personally been a fan of pipes so loud they're deafening, but the idea of requiring stickers based on a vague 80 decibel limit seems Draconian. Surely there's a halfway point where lawmakers and enthusiasts can meet, isn't there?
***UPDATE: Turns out the bill has been tabled for the time being... thanks to all who expressed their opinions to NYC officials!***
Related:
- New Laws Seek to Stifle Noisy Motorcycle Exhausts
- Oakland Motorcycle Cops Stir Controversy with Loud Pipes
- Man Shot Over Loud Motorcycle Exhaust
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Comments
I live in NYC and once made the mistake of living on 1st Avenue. The city, or rather the transit system, is the worst noise offender. There is a screech that emanates from the transmission coupling of the accordion buses that pierces the brain. Then there are container trucks that sound like thunder with every bump they hit. Then there are the rolling doors on delivery vehicles that chatter on every road imperfection. I didn’t sleep much that year.
Now when I walk across 1st on my way to the subway, I am still astounded at the noise. Compared to that, some reasonable pipes would be a soothing sound.
On a good note, the issue has been tabled for now with no date as of yet to reintroduce the bill. Some of us are taking this extra time to rally as many voices as possible because they’re just waiting for us to cool down and slip it by again. If anyone in NYC wants to voice your opinion, here’s the list of council members…
http://council.nyc.gov/html/members/members.shtml
Or if you just want to voice your opinion from anywhere outside of NYC, it couldn’t hurt.
LF
I’m currently in my lab working on a device that would accuratly measure exhaust sound, and when comple will donate it to the city so that we all not need suffer for the sins of others. Notice how i call them “others” as opposed to idiots…
If the bill ever does pass, it would eliminate biker toy runs for children in the city, parade participation by some motorcyclists, and unknowing tourists on motorcycles would be at great risk of having their bikes confiscated and damaged. The city would become a dead zone for all motorcycles.
Good point, Erika.
My rep, Jessica Lappin, wasn’t a sponsor, but I gave her my opinion anyway.
Control freaks in this city. Some days (maybe most!) I just can’t wait to move west, buy land and live in a yurt.
Theres only two ways to prevent bills like this ever coming into play. First way would be to police ourselves and reduce the noise polution, which will never happen, most noise makers neither know how close this bill is to being pass nor care. The second and more realistic way is to show the city theres worse evils than noise, for example, thousands of motorcyclists stopping to smell the roses on the brooklyn bridge or celebrating counting our pennies at all tolls in the city during rush hour, everyday till we get our way…
I *hate* loud pipes. I hope this eventually passes in NYC, and everywhere. It is unfair that only bikes are targetted, but realistically, 99% of the offenders are bikes.
What about the garbage trucks at 4am, the semis downshifting on the BQE, the little cars with the rattle can mufflers? And the MTA busses setting off the over-sensitive car alarms? This is a giant metropolis, motorcyclists do not make 99% of the noise!
Having lived in Manhattan for a few years now, I have to agree with Erika and say that there are a whole lot of offenders out there!!
Andrew, take a good look in the mirror and listen to what you’re saying. “I hate loud motorcycles and i want to see everyone suffer”. Does my period go befor or after the quotes…?
Andrew, you really got me riled. Most uptight people live in “complexes” and such. So i hope you complex one day soon takes the lazy route and simply bans bikes from the little shell shocked commmunity you live in. To be honest with you, i’d really rather see you hit a patch of ice while be tailgated by several large trucks, but thats just me…
What is she? The noise natzi! That is the way Hitler came to power!!
Kiss our loud harley @$$ !! We’ll always ride loud !! Mark my words !
You harley guys can probably afford the summons, seeing how you’re able to pay two to three times more for a bike than its actually worth…
Thye can attach the “No loud pipes” sign to ones that say “$350 fine for blowing your horn”
Good luck with that….
i think we should outlaw these idiots who try to take away everybody’s freedom just because they don’t like something. tough s*** if you don’t like loud pipes they do save lives, deal with it, its my right as an american tax paying citizen. whats’ next? are we going back to prohibition and outlawing alcohol next? where does all this lunacy end?
Yeah I’m glad this one went to the shelf, because as anybody who lives here knows, the cops who walk around giving tickets are for the most part the NYPD’s dullest bunch, so when in doubt, confiscate and collect $1000. Thats how it works. Write a ticket to every car on the street and see who takes the time to fight it in court. I’ve been here four years, received about 10 parking tickets in that time, and I’ve only had to pay ONE of them because the rest were bogus. I won’t be able to seek justice that easily when they have the right to steal my bike for whatever reason they see fit (lets be honest!!) Will I have to pay $1000 to get my bike back while I’m waiting for my case to be heard? And I guarantee that $1000 isn’t the only fee.. Don’t forget the impound fee, the towing fee, the storage fee, convenience fee, driver safety fee, for all i know they might even charge sales tax. This is obviously sponsored by some grouchy councilperson in Queens with nothing better to do than craft legislation to get back at his neighbor’s annoying hobby.
Here’s another thing though.. Loud pipes do not save lives, at least not as much as a giant florescent, retro reflective motorcycle jacket. Sure, you look like a transit worker on a motorcycle, but I can personally attest that even on the worst days on the BQE, cars stay at least twice the distance off your rear end when you’re ultra visible. Nobody cares about pipes, and you can only hear the bike once it’s gone past you, AND in the city, there’s way more noise pollution to compete with than anywhere else, and to add to what everybody else says, there are WAY worse offenders, ESPECIALLY trash trucks, buses, semis, trains and multi-megawatt sub woofers.
I’m a biker (over 20 years) and don’t need loud pipes and don’t like loud pipes and am sick of the idiots (yes idiots) who have them. So my letters are going out in favor of the ban. Sorry to impinge on the coolness all you harley riders exude, but I’m sick of you idiots.
This is the dumbest thing i have ever heard of. The city will take your bike if you dont have a stupid sticker… I agree that some bikes are loud, but deal with it!
Simple and plain this is common decency at work. There is no justification for the insane loud pipes in a crowded city.