NPR on Biker Persecution in AZ

[SWriverstone]

Just heard a story on NPR's "All Things Considered" about a small war going on in Carefree, Arizona. (Yep—that's actually the town's name. And it's got streets with names like Easy and Tranquil. Must be a retirement community, LOL.)
 
Apparently Carefree is a yuppy-ritzy-uppity kinda place...and Cave Creek is umm...more "earthy." According to the story, bikers enjoy riding to Harold's Corral in Cave Creek...and the only roads to get there go through Carefree.
 
The citizens of Carefree don't seem to like all the bikers' loud pipes, so they passed an 80dB noise ordinance, with fines of up to $750. The cops in Carefree measure it with microphones on the roof of their patrol cars. The ordinance is posted by signs that show a motorcycle. One biker says this is discrimination.
 
Recently, Harold's Corral set up a wooden platform along with a big decibel level meter...and the bikers all lined up to measure their pipes, LOL. Only a few were louder than 80dB...but of course the problem is when 3-4 bikes rumble through Carefree together.
 
The story had no conclusion, so go figure—what was obvious was that Carefree, the bikers, and Cave Creek were not getting along too well!
 
Scott

[Playinthestreet]

If they enforce the same noise limits for auto exhaust and stereos I don't have a problem.  80db is the federal standard IIRC.  I don't know the test perameters however.

[Mookie]

I can probably sneeze louder than 80dB

[Lawn Dart]

I don't find it discriminating at all.  I, for one, don't like loud pipes.  they truly are a nuisance, IMO, especially the twit who guns his open piped HD at 1am outside my house.

So I do say yes, bust them and write them a ticket.  And I also say bust anyone with a fart-can on their 4-banger automatic equiped poser civic.  

The riders are claiming it's discrimination.  HD's factory exhaust does NOT violate the Federal noise laws.  IF they choose to change the factory exhaust for a set of straight through pipes that bellow at 120db, then they have also willingly and knowingly violated the law.

Since when does intentional violation of the law equate to discrimination?

Laguna Beach has strictly enforced noise laws as do many other communities.  Heck, last time I was in Julien there was a police baracade and the police were intentionally testing bikes for sound violations.  It's not unusual at all.

[forester]

Cave Creek has a HAMC.  They probably set that thing up to see if they could nab some Hells angels club members on drugs or weapons charges as they pass through.

[Uncle Bob]

they actually enforce a sound ordinance?  How DARE they!!

I'll never understand some peoples ideas of "freedom".

[mailman1175]

I can probably sneeze louder than 80dB

I've farted louder than 80db... It had to have been that loud: it woke me up.

[Captain Obvious]

I don't see anything wrong with it. They like many others are fed up with the loud pipes group. In reality there is next to no reason to have them, other then being penis extenders.
I would bet the law applies to ALL noise from vehicles over 80db. Fart cans on ricers, and booming subs as well. I don't know this for sure, just a guess.

[R1150RTMark]

I'd be extremely surprised if that testing 'method' was constitutional ('equal protection of the laws' - 14th Amendment).
 
IIRC, for a noise ordinance to have any 'teeth', the testing has to be done at 'X' feet from the source. And if the source is an engine, the law has to specify the relative throttle position - or maybe even rpms.
 
Disclaimer - I am NOT a lawyer, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express earlier this week. Twice!

[dagwood]

Yup...my neck of the woods is loud pipe central.  Not a problem for me unless it's 2am and it wakes me or my children up.  Idiots on HDs just don't practice any restraint and are too busy looking cool 'round here to care about the bluehairs in Carefree.  BTW Cave Creek is the home of one Sonny Barger...

[Bounce]

i'd add my +1 if enforced on all vehicles and boom boxes/stereos.

[Uncle Bob]

btw, here's a local (AZ) news article on it

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1128noise1128.html

they have a comment section, and lots of people with loud exhaust talk about how important the loud exhaust is for safety reasons.   I call BS, but whatever.

[Tar Snake]

I don't find it discriminating at all. I, for one, don't like loud pipes.

That wasn't the stock pipe on your RS last time I heard it!:D
 
I think soon cops will wise up and look for the stamped EPA info on exhausts and write a ticket regardless of wide open pipe or what we consider pleasingly mellow.
 
My Sprint's not stock either so I'm just engaging in a little "Pot meet Kettle"

[SWriverstone]

I think the claim of discrimination was specifically directed at having a motorcycle on the sign (as opposed to a jackhammer or—ideally—nothing), as if motorcycles are the only loud thing in town.
 
In my college town, there's one thing that makes me near-homicidal, and it's not loud cruiser pipes. It's THUMPIN' SUBWOOFERS.
 
I'm totally serious when I say I've come close to buying a paintball rifle at Wal-Mart and using it to plug those a**holes when they literally rattle the glass in my windowpanes while driving by!
 
Scott

[cbsnbiker]

Gee, Carefree should be proud of all those intrepid riders who are saving lives left and right with their loud pipes! Why, the town could probably get rid of its hospital and ambulance corps!

[roadrailer]

I say bravo! Bonus points if they're nailing "tuner cars" and loud stereos too.
 
This is going to start happening in more and more place, just watch. The public is sick of it, and is starting to realize they don't have to be subjected to knuckledraggers who equate decibels with penis size.

[swimmer]

btw, here's a local (AZ) news article on it

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1128noise1128.html

they have a comment section, and lots of people with loud exhaust talk about how important the loud exhaust is for safety reasons.   I call BS, but whatever.

Yeah, there all soooo concerned with safety. And tell me what group of riders is known for not wearing helmets etc...  Insecure dipshits.

Do you think I could run for president on a "make America more quiet" platform?

[Uncle Bob]

When I worked at the bike shop, I had the.....pleasure?....of riding some open exhaust cruisers on test rides.  

I have to say, I have never ridden anything that compares to noise volume. I really have no idea how people ride these things for extended miles without being completely deaf, especially without full face helmets and ear plugs.

There was no way to ride them in a quiet matter. Being gentle on the throttle and short shifting seemed to make little difference.

I won't attempt to say that sport bikes don't have some loud exhaust also. But its extremely rare to see a sport bike with no baffle whatsoever, and even the most free flowing baffle will greatly reduce sound vs a completely open header.

No, I don't like any super loud exhaust, but if all bikers would at the least have half decently baffled aftermarket exhaust, and no straight pipes, I don't think this would be nearly the issue that it is. As has been said, it only takes a small percentage of morons to ruin it for everyone. I read a previous article about Carefree AZ, when they inacted the original sound ordinance, and cops started recording and citing/warning motorcyclist to put the word out, they had many bikes register over 115 Db from 25 feet away. That is so unbelieavably off the charts of "beyond loud" its hard to quantify.

There is no justification for that, I don't care who you are.  

But a commonly forgotten item on the whole "bikes and noise" issue, about restricting bikes "freedoms". There have been EPA noise regulations since the mid 70's. It has been illegal to modify your exhaust with non-EPA exhaust for over 30 years. There are no new regulations on this, although its often sited otherwise. The difference is bikers in general have drawn enough attention to this problem, that its actually starting to get enforced in some places.

My ZRX, is as quiet as a stock bike, but my exhaust is not EPA approved.....Some of the ordinances that are coming out in places though, I'd still get sited if I get pulled over, which is rather sad. But I know who to thank on that

[SWriverstone]

Yet another controversial noisemaker that more and more towns are cracking down on is...the LEAF BLOWER! I'm sick and tired of listening to those things—run by people who are too damn lazy to use a rake (and who end up using about as much time making noise as they would with a rake).
 
Grrrrr.....
 
Scott

[Tar Snake]

Yet another controversial noisemaker that more and more towns are cracking down on is...the LEAF BLOWER! I'm sick and tired of listening to those things—run by people who are too damn lazy to use a rake (and who end up using about as much time making noise as they would with a rake).
 
Grrrrr.....
 
Scott

I've never quite understood the concept of leaf blowers. They just take the crap from here and blow it over there:headscratch: Then they come back next week and blow the crap from over there back here:bash:
 
Now if they were leaf sucker uppers we'd be onto something!:)