Wearing Earplugs when you ride in the event of it being illegal

[B-rent]

In my post "Legality of ear plugs" http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,30098.0.html, I posted an experience I'd had with a police officer and me finding out that ear plugs were illegal in the state of Maryland.

If you found out that wearing ear plugs was illegal in your state/country, would you stop wearing them when you ride despite the potential loss of hearing?

[Z50a]

I would search the AMA site and find out if they are aware of the law(s), being (what sounds like) too general.
It is illegal in most states to ride or drive (as far as I know) with headphones / earbuds ......, in your ears for obvious reasons.
I would think most people that were involved with the writing of the law have no comprehension of the fact, that someone might want to wear foam earplugs on a motorcycle.
Just for the purpose of taking wind noise down a few db.....  
Even if the law is written (specific wording) to specify "sound producing" or "sound blocking", which may not include "sound reducing" foam earplugs.  I seriously doubt that your average LEO would know of the specific wording (or cared), unless he / she rides.  
I know many people that ride with foam earplugs, for anything beyond a quick errand...., never mind highway riding.

[MisterSmooth]

It's almost irresistible to say that I'll stop wearing earplugs when they pry them from my cold, dead fingers...or to quote my Second Amendment right to wear earplugs...but seriously,

I will always wear earplugs on long rides (anything over an hour) regardless of its "legality."



Actually, BIKE (UK) just did an article on wearing earplugs and measured the hearing of two motorcyclists in their forties, one who wore earplugs and one who never did.  Although admittedly this is lousy science, the guy who didn't wear earplugs had classic symptoms of early hearing loss.

[Rude_Rydah]

Earplugs, headphones, sounds deading devices, I'll wear whatever the hell I want.

As to the argument that you can't hear emergency vehicles with the above, I'll tell you, I can't hear them when they come from behind me with or without stuff in my ears, so who cares.  And in my car, I blaze the stereo so loud I wouldn't hear the second coming if it was happening.

[Huron52]

 I would not stop wearing my ear plugs....

 Riding to work I wear my flip helmet so the security guards can see my face and match it to my card.  The other day they seemed to want to talk to me about the bike and other unrelated work stuff. They had this funny look on their face when they found out I had earplugs in and helmet on and could still carry on a conversation with them. well duh!

[rabbott5]

Since I suffer from heaing lose already, I will protect what I have left.  The stupid things I did in my younger years thinking it won't hurt me, shooting guns, sirens (fireman for 28 years), riding with no earplugs, just to name a few.  So if I can protect what I have left I will.  The law in Illinois says I can use an intercom so, I'm working on some combo earplug/ear buds.

[UFO]

Pffft.  How often does the average rider get pulled over?  Not often. Screw the laws...earplugs always.

[cmonkee]

Well, I lost a lot of my hearing in the army, and I'm not trying to lose what I have left.  So I'd make sure the big Motorcycle groups know about this.  Also, I think it would be easy enough to fight in court if it came down to it.  I.E. the plugs I wear don't block out all sound, just certain frequencies.  Huge latitude for arguments on that one.

C

[zer0netgain]

When the state accepts responsibility for any adverse consequence that flows from obeying the laws they create, then I'll CONSIDER putting their laws above my well-being.

That is why I will never surrender my guns....EVER.

[Scratch33]

In my post "Legality of ear plugs" http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,30098.0.html, I posted an experience I'd had with a police officer and me finding out that ear plugs were illegal in the state of Maryland.

Incorrect; as I stated in that thread.  Custom earplugs are excepted:

§21–1120.
  
(a)   A person may not drive a motor vehicle on any highway or on any private property that is used by the public in general in this State while the person is wearing over or in both ears earplugs.

(b)   A person may not drive a motor vehicle on any highway or on any private property that is used by the public in general in this State while the person is wearing over or in both ears a headset.

(c)   A person may not drive a motor vehicle on any highway or on any private property that is used by the public in general in this State while the person is wearing over or in both ears earphones attached to a radio, tape player, or other audio device.

(d)   The provisions of subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section do not apply to:

       (1)   A person engaged in the operation of either special construction equipment or equipment for use in the maintenance of any highway;

       (2)   A person engaged in the operation of refuse collection equipment who is wearing a safety headset or safety earplugs;

         (3)   A person wearing personal hearing protectors in the form of custom earplugs or molds that are designed to reduce injurious noise levels. However, custom plugs or molds shall be designed in such a manner as to not inhibit the wearer’s ability to hear a siren or horn from an emergency vehicle or a horn from another vehicle; or

       (4)   A person wearing a prosthetic device used to aid the hard of hearing.

(e)   (1)   The provisions of subsections (a) and (c) of this section do not apply to a person operating an authorized emergency vehicle under emergency conditions.

      (2)   The provisions of subsection (b) of this section do not apply to a person operating an authorized emergency vehicle:

             (i)   Under emergency conditions; or

             (ii)   Who is wearing a headset for the purpose of communicating with other emergency personnel.

http://mlis.state.md.us/asp/web_statutes.asp?gtr&21-1120


 

[JimWilliamson]

Should an officer give me grief about plug use I might retort that I heard his siren and pulled over...

[DCLXVI]

It is also illegal to drive faster than the posted speed limit but I do it every once in a while so yes I will wear my ear plugs.

[BamBam]

When I got my Arai helmet last year I was told it was "well ventilated."  Read that, WIND NOISE.  I will always wear hearing protection on a ride of any considerable length, (1/2 hour or more).

[maddjack]

In Pa by the letter of the law they are illegal,I don't care,I hear better with them and I am not going to go deaf just because some law maker doesn't understand why using them is better

[highside]

My hearing is worth for more than the meager chance of getting a small ticket for wearing plugs. I have a bit of tinnitus from my shooting hobby before I clued into quality hearing protection and its bad enough as it is to have hearing problems under 30.

[couchflyer]

It wouldn't matter, I wear ear plugs.

[pdxfj]

I don't wear ear plugs when commuting to work and back or just around surface streets.  Any ride over about 30 minutes on the freeway and I will wear them.

If I were to get a ticket for wearing them I would go to court and challenge it.  Why should it be against the law to protect my body and well being?  I wear gear to protect myself if I become separated from my bike, why should my hearing be any different?  I actually hear better at speed with the ear plugs in than with out.

Same goes for being at a rock concert.  I wear earplugs not only to protect my hearing but everything sounds better with them in.

[bomber]

I wear em -- got popped once (secondary violation along with a performance award) --

I asked the judge why deaf people can drive legally -- write this down on your hand, so you don't forget -- it didn't help

;-}

[JetJaguar]

I wear 'em and I know they're illegal.  Here, you can only wear custom-molded earplugs that are perscribed to treat a medical condition.  I'd rather pay the ticket than lose my hearing.

[Scoop]

That's an incredibly stupid law.  I would urge all residents of those states who have noise induced hearing loss and who ever rode a motorcycle to sue the state for the costs of their hearing aids, batteries, accessories and assessments.  That would change the law in a hurry.  
Really, if a 22-30 dB noise reduction from an earplug prevents one from hearing emergency vehicles or other warning devices, it's time to look at the output of those devices.  Wind noise on a bike is generally going to do more masking than the attenuation caused by earplugs.  In fact, it should be a law that earplugs HAVE to be worn in order to hear emergency signals.  If we are going to run around making dumb laws that is....