Loud Pipes? Now Hear This!

 

"That government is best which governs the least,
because its people discipline themselves."

~Thomas Jefferson

 

Read s l o w l y. I HAVE loud pipes and I’d like to keep ‘em.  I'd like to think that I use them responsibly, and sparingly. I don’t cuss in front of my Gramma and I don’t gun my engine on a quiet city street. Rude and disrespectful behavior gets a boney fingered slap, either from my gramma, or nanny government. Stupidity is always awarded with grief.

 

I know none of you reading this have loud pipes. (humor) We all know it’s the “Welfare Riders” that are causing all the problems. You know who they are, the show-offs who enjoy the benefits of riding, lanesplitting, etc. without ever doing any work to preserve the privilege.  They get their picture in the magazine riding a clean low mileage bike while you and me storm the state capitol in January in the rain getting parking tickets while they stay home. (what? you weren't there either?) They don’t write letters, they don’t get involved in elections and they don’t have a clue. Well, that’s OUR fault. Yours and mine, for not being ‘loud’ enough about it to the newbies who are about to ruin it for all of us.

 

"If a Nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be... if we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed." ~Thomas Jefferson

 

It’s time we police ourselves before the police decide to do it for us.  The MRF & AMA held a National Summit on Motorcycle Noise in 2003, and agreed that excessive motorcycle noise is a serious issue in some communities and that it may become an issue in many more. Both believe the potential exists for it to affect motorcyclists' rights nationwide. Me, since I can't go around enforcing my own program of shame and humility, I’d like to see a “Responsible Revving” campaign of some sort take hold in California aimed at, well, you know who. Something drastic has got to be done to avoid the oncoming “Recipe for Resentment.”  I’m not about to let a few irresponsible wanna-be Ken and Barbies ruin it for me, only to sell their bikes to G.I. Joe when they’re not ‘bad-ass’ enough to fight the tickets. (and don't call me)

 

Can anyone out there make up a ‘courtesy ticket’ book? Just like a real citation to let people know what’s at stake. I want Radio Shack to donate a decibel meter for this mention, and I’m gonna sit outside Biker hangouts with my meter, writing “courtesy tickets” all day long for the irresponsible wrath of stoopidity these welfare riders are expecting ABATE to smooth over without any reciprocation in kind. (the famous "reach around")  “Why wait for your first ticket to join ABATE? Join TODAY!” We’ve been here for 20 years, where the hell have you been? With a slick little membership form on the back. I’m tired of sitting back and doing nothing.  We need ACTIVE members. We need money and they aren’t contributing. Let’s stir it up!  They aren’t helping us anyway, so we have absolutely nothing to lose.  Don’t get smug just yet, you need to look in the mirror yourself and see if you’re still wearing a helmet. If so, question your own hours of involvement and adjust accordingly. If you aren't seeing change, it's probably because you've given up. We can all do much much more to help make positive changes for the Rider's Rights Movement.  My big question is, WHEN?  After it's too late? 

 

 “When government accepts responsibility for people,
then people no longer take responsibility for themselves”  ~George Pataki

 

To substantiate what I’ve been preaching to the “really cool” members of “Club Peacock”, this is what I found on the net in only ten minutes of searching: 

 

Malibu , CA. Residents are circulating a petition to force police agencies to enforce decibel standards on motorcycles traveling on Pacific Coast Highway .  The Governator was actually implicated in the newpaper article as being one of the culprits.  Is he an ABATE member yet?  I’m out here fighting for you, Arnold! (And by the way, tell the CHP Brass to stop lobbying against us in committees and such...it's ok to enforce, but not ok to influence the law on my dime)

 

Monterey , CA . The Monterey Police Dept. has begun an educational/enforcement program to silence “excessive noise.” The P.D. has obtained 3 decibel meters and have begun issuance of notices until the end of June. Come July 1^st, you’ll receive a citation. (hint: read the Vehicle Code and FIGHT the ticket) Also, DO report any tickets to Splatt’s Citation Database at

www.bikernation.us. (thanks for the tip, Mike!)

 

Point Reyes , CA. Point Reyes Station has repeatedly had to endure what many residents call "infantile" behavior by out-of-town motorcyclists.  While the Highway Patrol and Sheriff’s Office acknowledge that some Harley owners modify their mufflers to make their motorcycles louder, most motorcycle noise results from the bikers traveling in groups, officers say.

 

New York City . Mayor Bloomberg is spearheading an effort to overhaul the city’s 32 year old noise ordinance by doing away with handheld decibel meters for an ‘audible noise standard’.  If the City Council adopts the proposal, police could issue summonses based on what they hear with their EARS - not a meter. The “PC” crowd says noise is affecting their ‘quality of life’.

 

Marshfield , WI . A State Trooper trains small city police departments around the state on what’s legal and what’s not and now they’re writing $86 dollar tickets in Marshfield and making easy money.

 

Kewanee , IL . There has been a growing problem with loud motorcycles in the city, and violators will be ticketed. The Mayor says, "I think the privilege of running around making noise is being abused badly by some motorcycle riders.”.

 

Portsmouth , NH . Various police agencies have set up checkpoints to warn riders against modifying their machines. As “Fast Ed” slowly rolled away with his written warning, a bystander yelled out “light ‘em up!”

 

Rabbit Hash, KY. Motorcyclists from Indiana , Ohio and Kentucky , 200-300 a day on weekends have been asked not to visit. As one resident puts it, "You've got a few idiots who want to gun their engines when they leave. It gets a little out of hand,"

 

Bristol , RI . The Bristol Town Council allocated up to $10,000 to the Bristol Police Department for extra weekend patrols this summer to combat the increased noise created by motorcycles. The patrols will specifically be aimed at stopping and ticketing motorcyclists who have altered their engines to make their bikes louder.

 

Rhode Island . Proposed legislation would set fines at $100 for the first violation, $250 for the second violation and $500 and revocation of registration for a third and subsequent violation.  This Bill specifically targets motorcycles. Currently, motorcyclists who have removed the baffles on their bikes are given a five-day ticket, meaning you have five days to prove that your motorcycle has been restored to the legal state, at which time any pending fines are waived.

 

Government is an unnecessary evil. Human beings, when accustomed to taking responsibility for their own behavior, can cooperate on a basis of mutual trust and helpfulness.  ~Fred Woodworth

 

Paul Snyder from Local 22 Joins the Tag Team

 

This comes right back to the bottom-line issue of "Personal Responsibility".  I know many people who have "modified" exhausts or drag pipes who never get tickets.  Why?  Because they are NOT showing off, they are NOT goosing it around town, they are NOT purposely drawing extra attention to themselves (and yeah, they stay out of Huntington Beach ).

 

The folks who get the tickets are those who cry out "Hey Look At Meeeeee!" .... and spoil the ride for the rest of us. Sure, there are always going to be checkpoints and inspections where the letter of the law cannot be side-stepped ... but when we cannot discipline ourselves and our fellows, Big Brudda will be very happy to step in and do it for/to us.  It's another revenue maker, it makes it look like the lawmakers are doing something quasi-useful, and it helps to keep the citizens appeased.

 

As I've said before, I enjoy the sound of a sweet-runnin' strong motor .... but I don't enjoy the siren or the red-and-blinkies behind me.