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The new measure would let city agents ticket parked motorcycles without the authorities having to prove the bike exceeded the 80 dB limit set by the city's noise code. The bill was approved by New York City’s Public Safety Committee Dec. 10 and goes to the full Council for debate Dec. 18. A first conviction carries a maximum $1,000 fine and temporary confiscation of the bike until the penalty is paid. A second conviction hikes the maximum fine to $2,500 and imposes permanent forfeiture. The New York bill was based on an ordinance passed in Denver in 2007. There, as of July 1, 2007, motorcycle owners are required to keep their bikes at 82 dB. The ordinance also requires bikes made after 1982 carry an EPA compliance tag to be displayed on the pipes. The EPA rates maximum permissible noise level for street motorcycles at 80 dB for motorcycles manufactured in model year 1986 or later. However, in many states, legislation has remained unchanged since the early 1970s, when maximum permissible noise level was set at 86 dB. The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) says it opposes excessive motorcycle noise. In the past several years, the AMA has spent well over $100,000 defending lawsuits and confronting legislative prohibitions. Based on its opposition to excessive motorcycle noise, the AMA has publicly recommended the following: In October, the 2008 American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Congress passed a 94 dB standard for all amateur and Pro-Am motocross and off-road competition, effective in 2011. The new level mirrors both the 2009 standard for professional motocross and Supercross racing in the United States, as well as the level mandated by the FIM (Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme), which governs international motorcycle competition. Currently, sound limits for amateur motorcycle competition are 99 dB for closed-course competition and 96 dB for cross-country racing. |
