Noise Legislation

[Don]

From Hemmings e-Weekly Newsletter:

Loud Pipes annoy the living
“You meet the nicest people on a Honda,” the ads once said, a not-so-veiled reference to the straight exhausts currently favored by the daytime-stockbroker/weekend-hog-rider set. The ape hangars of the Easy Rider era may have gone the way of the CB whip antenna, but loud pipes seem to have thrived.

And increasingly, municipalities aren’t amused. In response to the absence of an enforceable federal noise pollution standard, cities and towns across the country this summer have been enacting their own legislation. Here is just a small sampling:

New York City: A minimum $440 fine for “a motorcycle on any public street or highway which is: (1) not equipped with a muffler to prevent excessive or unusual noise; (2) equipped with a muffler from which the baffle plates or screens have been removed or altered; (3) equipped with an exhaust device without internal baffles, known as straight pipes; or (4) equipped with an exhaust system that has been modified in a manner that will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor of such vehicle above that emitted by the exhaust system originally installed on the vehicle.”

Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Gives law officers noise-enforcement powers, and “make(s) unlawful the operation of motorcycles with improper exhaust systems on public rights of way, to prohibit using noise-creating devices on public rights of way in a manner that draws the public’s attention to the source of the noise.”

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: “The making of unnecessary noise, by or from a motor vehicle upon, near or adjacent to the streets or other public places in the City by horns, engine whistles, bells, sirens, radios, amplifying systems or otherwise, is declared to be a public nuisance.”

Denver, Colorado: “It is unlawful for any person or for any owner to allow any person to modify, tamper with, alter, or change any motor vehicle in any manner that causes the sound emitted from the motor vehicle to exceed the corresponding sound pressure level”; 82 decibels at 25 feet.
- By David Traver Adolphus

[Wes Tausend]

...

Don,

I just read a bike publication that mentioned Denver,(?) Colorado, I believe, as recently passing legislation directed at bikes that requires original exhaust complete with sticker. The rag said the bikers were upset at being singled out.

So Cobra's and other rods will soon go down with them I suppose.

Some over-the-top dipshids ruin it for all, again.


...

[BMK]

Mmm and in most states over here there is a noise authority that sets up and then go about pulling vehicles over at random.

Noise how does anything above 90dB sound - or not sound. If you are above they defect your car and you have 14 days to rectify the problem and have it tested.

My new XR8 ute sounded like a vacumn cleaner running.

I lowred it and put a new system and airbox on it. Now sounds a little like a GT XR8

[Wes Tausend]

...

Hey, great pic, Bernie. they should sell those over here.

I see my 1994 pick-up is starting to rust above the rear wheel wells.


...

[imagine2frolic]

For a while in Oakland Ca. there was a whistle tip craze going on. Customers kept coming in, and asking me for a whistle tip. If this tip was installed properly on the tailpipe, it would sound like a steam whistle. Finally the city passed an ordinance for them to be outlawed. I have to admit it was the most annoying sound I have ever heard from a car.

[Excaliber]

Hawaii recently passed a noise limit law as well. As a Cobra owner I am concerned it could become a problem down the road. So far 'enforcement' has been light, aimed primarily at the LEGIONS of modified mopeds. In some parts of town there are so many mopeds it's like entering a bee hive of activity as they 'swarm' the streets.

[Norain]

Seems to me that most of the "music", there's a stretch for ya, that comes blastin out of the cars a lot of kids are drivin is way more annoyin than any exhaust sounds I have ever heard. Just my 25 cents worth. Cya, Jerry

[BMK]

Wes Tausend

My son took the photo in the pine forest just after the area had been cleared.

The re plant in a year.

The ute is a V8 quad cammer. Has a 5 speed auto.

www.mountgambier.sa.gov.au