Noise abatement law draws loud protest

Loud noise from motorcycles’ engines may have caused the City Council to consider cracking down further on illegal exhaust systems, but loud noise from the bikers’ themselves has resulted in further review of the penalties.
A proposed City Council bill that would enforce stiff penalties on motorcycles with loud exhaust systems has been sent back for further review after protests from motorcycle enthusiasts and City Councilmember Leroy Comrie.
“Having to purchase an additional sticker you have to pay for - it’s just an additional tax on motorcycle riders,” said Joseph Bechtold, representing the Local 3 motorcycle club in Astoria. He rides a stock Harley Davidson.
City Councilmember Peter Vallone proposed last month to enforce stiff penalties - which could have resulted in seizure of the bike on only the second offense - on motorcycles missing a sticker from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These stickers would verify the bike was free of a “straight pipe,” an illegal exhaust pipe system without baffles, thus causing loud noise.
Since the bill was originally intended to test for noise, not a sticker, opponents claimed the bill as written would not even deal with the noise violators directly.
Opponents of the bill pointed to its lack of fairness: manufacturers are required to provide the official stamp of approval for the bike to pass inspection, but many times this stamp is not even visible. In some cases, the bike could have the legal exhaust system, but could be ticketed if it is missing the approval stamp.
“There was an acknowledgement on all sides of the problem with the bill and it wouldn’t pass muster in court,” Comrie said. “It couldn’t be implemented as written, when you can’t determine if a pipe is legal or not.”
Comrie said the City Council would continue to review the bill to deliver the original intention: improve the quality of life of residents whose lives are disturbed by loud motorcycle noise.
A vote on the bill had been expected last week, but it has been delayed until the bill is finished and another public hearing - date to be determined - is held.
Ellen Patterson, a researcher for the Concerned Citizens of Motorcycle Safety, conducted a test at several motorcycle dealerships in December to see the visibility of the EPA sticker. Of 69 bikes delivered, 24 were completely missing the sticker, and 16 of the 45 motorcycles with the sticker had it in a not-so-visible location.
The city enacted the straight pipe ban in 1986, so bikers who ride motorcycles made before then often experience a tough time getting a pipe from the original manufacturer.
Many bikers believe “loud pipes save lives,” since they help other motorists realize the bike is on the road. In the time of soundproof cars, iPods, and cell phones, Patterson said the 80-decibel sound limit by the city is outdated.
“These laws were last updated in 1986, and are in need of serious review and updating to conform with modern motorcycling issues,” said Patterson, who rides a Suzuki 1000.