Noise laws in my town

[Falstaff]

Putting aside complaints from motorcyclists throughout the region, the Colorado Springs City Council told police Monday to keep enforcing a controversial noise ordinance. Bikers have been unhappy because officers have been ticketing them for having modified exhaust systems. The altered mufflers and pipes cause motorcycles to be louder, police say, resulting in $50 fines. Riders have complained to city officials that enforcement is arbitrary because noise violations are issued without the aid of a decibel meter. Several activists have suggested a biker boycott of the city, and that message has gone out in national publications. Council members, getting their first presentation on the months-old controversy Monday, said the officers’ actions are in response to complaints about noise. They directed Police Chief Luis Velez to work with motorcycle dealers to educate them on the laws but didn’t ask for any change in the policy. “It appears here that we’re doing the right things,” Councilman Larry Small said. “If there’s areas for improvement, I think that can be done through working with the dealers and riders.”

Several motorcycle enthusiasts at the informal council meeting vowed to continue fighting for change. They plan to show up en masse at today’s formal meeting to tell council members they feel they are being picked on to generate revenue. “It’s a quality of life issue for us,” said Steve Turner, the local representative for the motorcycle advocacy group ABATE. “The ability to build, operate and customize motorcycles is an expression of freedom.” The controversy revolves around what bikers consider a form of profiling. Several say police have pulled them over at stoplights and given them noise citations without measuring the noise levels of their vehicles. City law does not require a decibel meter to enforce the law, Velez told the council Monday. Officers are put through 10-hour training sessions and told to watch for disturbing noisiness and to examine whether the exhaust pipes are stamped as being certified. Velez argued that tickets to motorcyclists are not as prevalent as protesters claim. Eighty-three were given to bikers for noise or exhaust violations in the first half of 2004, as compared with 526 issued to cars, typically modified in the Euro racing style. Vice Mayor Richard Skorman said this seemed an appropriate response after police received almost 5,000 noise complaints last year. Councilman Randy Purvis said officers listening for the violations are welltrained. Turner said there is not an organized protest, and he does not plan to lead one, which he thinks would be counterproductive.

After speaking out today, the group intends to continue writing letters and gathering signatures on petitions to change the law. It is considering taking a test case to court, challenging the issuance of noise violations without a decibel meter.

In my town, if the cop thinks your too loud, he can give ya a ticket for your exhaust noise. Now on the one hand I think it is great, just to get the Euro styled noise makers off the streets and keep them from racing up and down the surface streets at night, and killing people, the bikers will have to play along as well, and have a mature attitude about the impact they have on tax payers here in town..Laws already exist about noise polution from entertainment systems in cars, so that point is moot. In many ways I say "bravo" to the community for putting a stop to the disruptive self indulgence of bikers and snot nosed kids with too much money and time...but a part of me recalls how exciting it was to burn up tires on the street and crank Black Sabbath as loud as it would go...just for the sheer fun of it....

[krazy1]

Where I live Cars with loud exaust get tickets fast... Harleys on the other hand usually get ignored by the police but that is problably becasue I live in Harley's home town. Oh well... I wish they would say something about some of the bikes here since most have NO muffler what so ever but I don't think it will ever happen here.

[Nacht]

i truly love people that ride through parking lots with their stereo cranked because they think i want to hear it...

[GutterPunk]

hey man that ticks me off... stupid law i got my fine from

[drakesteakn]

stupid people who think they got race cars. AHAHAHA . most of the time its a beat up car with a crappy engine. good for the police. now to get the stereos from blasting over everything.

[G@MeBoY]

i have 2x250watts sony digital amps and 4x sony Xplod in my boot, I loooooveeee to set of car alarms when I drive trough the city center day or night Not to mention how chiks dig this, summer evening, honda s2000 and 400watts of bass coming out from the boot. Sorry, but I know no other way to f*** different babe every weekend

[GutterPunk]

Hey you drive w/ your stereo blasted drake you hypocrite. I blast mine, not cuz i want you to hear it more as you have to hear it in a point of ignorance and non caring. i like to watch people roll up windows while next to me its a bored sense of entertainment when it comes to an hour drive every day.

[germanjulian]

Originally Posted by G@MeBoY

i have 2x250watts sony digital amps and 4x sony Xplod in my boot, I loooooveeee to set of car alarms when I drive trough the city center day or night Not to mention how chiks dig this, summer evening, honda s2000 and 400watts of bass coming out from the boot. Sorry, but I know no other way to f*** different babe every weekend

I know a diffrent way....

[G@MeBoY]

@germanjulian: TELL !

[Asmoday]

if you don't know any other way to get layed i truly feel sorry for you...

[Geminiwave]

I hate it when people blast their stereos but I hate it the MOST when they have huge subwoofers...those are the worst because they physically hurt my body to feel that much tump(and I cant imagine its good for the nearby structures)

[G@MeBoY]

LOL I do, but then I get stuck with something called "girlfriend" that wants kids/home/devotion and I dont want that just yet It's a funny country I live in, girls tend to became wifes as soon as possible ANd also I said " different girl every time" and the fastest way to do that is like this, perhaps there are other ways, but I know this one, someone else has different tactic, and taht's ok.

@asmoday: whats wrong with this way ? Nice girl, nice music, nice time... layed is layed And it's cheaper this way, no dinners, no weeks invested, no obligations...just pure fun for bouth parties

[Asmoday]

lol....nothing wrong with getting layed in that way...every way is a good way.. But you stated that it was the only way you knew...

Sorry, but I know no other way to f*** different babe every weekend

[G@MeBoY]

@geminiwave: it definitly makes you feel the bass (I listen to dj missjah most of the time), it also sets car alarms on ! the ting I never do (and will not) is to park in front of citizen building and wake up people.

@Asmoday: I meant that only for DIFFERENT girls during weekends, not regular girlfriends, when I find The One (again) I will not "do" others

[Nacht]

it's still extremely disrespectful and annoying.