Denver Enforces Noisy Double Standards for Motorcyclists

By Astrid Bidanec

Denver, June 4th, 2007- City officials have approved changes to a law that might cause many bikers additional and unexpected expenses, while singling them out for unfair treatment, according to the American Motorcyclists Association (AMA).

Denver’s revised vehicle noise ordinance, now allows police to issue tickets to riders in the city if their motorcycles, including models dating as far back as 1982, don't have a federal Environmental Protection Agency sound-certification label on the exhaust systems.

Naturally, this excludes all custom built motorcycles, since the original exhaust has to be installed by the manufacturer. Violators are given two weeks to correct the problem, or they are fined $500.

In spite of the inclusion of all motor vehicles by the Denver ordinance, only motorcycles would be subject to the EPA sound certification labeling requirement, which is an addition to the already performed sound test.

Motorcyclists are faced with the choice of paying the fine, or spending their cash on the approved manufacturer’s exhausts. Motor Vehicle owners in comparison are free to purchase their replacement mufflers at less expensive retailers, like Midas or Meineke. This creates an unfair standard in the eyes of the AMA.

"We understand the motivation for cities to pass laws controlling sound levels from traffic," said Ed Moreland, AMA Vice President for Government Relations. "But the approach being taken in Denver creates a special class of enforcement that unfairly targets motorcyclists. Loud trucks and cars are every bit as annoying as loud motorcycles, but only motorcyclists would be subject to this new provision of the labeling law."

While the new regulation has been in effect since July 1,st the AMA plans to appeal it and collaborate with the City Council to create a new solution to the noise problem.

"We look forward to working with the Denver City Council to come up with a more reasonable solution for dealing with excessive sound levels from traffic," Moreland said. "Our experience has shown that there are a range of approaches cities can take to this issue without imposing restrictive laws on motorcyclists."

The AMA has successfully worked with the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the past to rescind a similarly unfair provision. Moreover, it has hosted national summits uniting bikers, manufacturers, law enforcement and government officials to overcome the disturbance of excessive motorcycle noise.

Source: http://home.ama-cycle.org/newsroom/amarelease.asp?rnum=A07009