The City of Boston earlier this month enacted an ordinance outlawing motorcycle exhaust systems that are not approved for on-road use by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

According to the new law, passed June 3, "No person shall park, use or operate a motorcycle within the city of Boston, manufactured subsequent to Dec. 31, 1982, that does not bear the required applicable Federal EPA exhaust system label pursuant Code of Federal Regulations Title 40, Volume 24, Part 205, Subparts D and Subpart E."

The Boston Police Department has the authority to fine any motorcycle that doesn't display the federally required label. All violations are punishable by a $300 fine.

In a June 1 note to the Boston City Council, Maureen Feeney, chair of the committee of government relations, wrote that the new law "would simply give local authorities a tool to better enforce existing noise standards."

City residents, representatives from the Boston Police Department, the Environment Department and the Transportation Department testified in support of the initiative at a May 26 public hearing. Residents in attendance at the hearing described how loud motorcycle noise disturbs the atmosphere of their neighborhoods, especially in areas like the historic North End, during warm months.

"This ordinance isn't creating a new noise standard, but simply providing a tool to increase local enforcement," Feeney wrote.

A group of motorcycle enthusiasts already are in the process of drawing up a lawsuit to have the new law removed.

"There are existing laws on the books at city and state level to enforce but the council went overboard on this," says motorcyclist Larry Cahill. "The absence of the imprint does not mean that the exhaust is loud. It just means that the manufacturer did not certify that the original motorcycle/muffler combination met the EPA standard. Oh, by the way — the certification is only valid for one year or 3,750 miles."

Boston isn't the only metropolitan area to enact such a law. Other local governments, including Denver and Fairfax County, Va., have enacted ordinances requiring exhaust system labels.

—Submitted by Guido Ebert