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"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 always gets a slap, whether from my gramma,
law enforcement or nanny government.
I
know...none of you reading this have loud pipes.
(HA) 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. 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 AMA & MRF initiated
a “Pipe Down” campaign last year. I’d like to see a “Responsible
Revving” campaign 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
these irresponsible idiots ruin it for me and then sell their
bikes when they’re not ‘outlaw’ enough to fight the tickets.
Can anyone out there make me 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 for all the irresponsible things these welfare
riders are expecting ABATE to smooth over without any help from
them. “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 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, look in
the mirror yourself if you’re still wearing a helmet and then
tally up your hours of involvement. We can all do much much more
to make change.
“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 as being one of the culprits!! Has he joined an SMRO yet? I’m out here fighting for
you, Arnold! See the online version of the petition: http://www.dennistorres.com/petition.php
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 1st,
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.
California's
Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division has taken drastic steps to
limit motorcycle noise. Passing a new law in 2003 with stepped up
enforcement.
See the OHV mufflers that have passed the 101 dBA testing: http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=23038
See the SAE J1287 test standard: J1287
Exhaust Sound Testing Standard (pdf)
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”
greenie whackos whine that 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.”.
UPDATE: At a 6/28/04 City Council Meeting, Mayor Burns repeated his warning to
motorcyclists that police would start cracking down on noise
violations. The mayor was
awake at 2:30 a.m. recently and heard loud motorcycle pipes from a
bike that apparently was halfway across town. "I'm not going to have the citizens
of Kewanee suffer just so a few individuals" can have loud
pipes on their bikes." Councilwoman Shirley Leggett said,
"The neighbors are calling me on a pretty regular basis
now" to complain about motorcycle noise. Citizens may sign complaints against
motorcycle riders if they can get a license number and are willing
to go to court to testify against the rider.
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.
Seattle, WA.
6/16/04. The Seattle Police Department will begin to issue
citations to loud motorcycles near the Fauntleroy Ferry Dock.
Complaints from homeowners led to the crackdown. If officers deem
a motorcycle to be too loud or having a modified exhaust, a
citation will be issued.
The Iron Butt Association, (1000 miles in
24 hours) the " World's Toughest Motorcycle Riders" will
exclude a bike from entering the once every two years "Iron
Butt Rally" competition should your bike exceed 105 dBA,
based on the SAE J1287 test procedure.
Understandably, The IBA does this, "In the interest in
maintaining good relations with law enforcement agencies and the
general public." The IBA further urges participants to obtain a
sound test to avoid last minute disqualification. Take a look at the IBA's strict noise standard: http://www.ironbutt.com/tech/exhaust.cfm
Paul
Snyder from ABATE of California Local 22 contributes to 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."
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
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