SF Police To Issue Tickets For Loud Motorcycles-effective 5.30.09

[sfarchie]

I guess it starts now... http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/san_francisco&id=6840340

Excerpt from the link
"Police are only focusing on Fishermans Wharf and North Beach. They say it is a noise ordinance that has always been on the books, but now they are making it a priority.

"These motorcycles that we're targeting are the same motorcyles that are doing doughnuts in the middle of the street, driving down setting off car alarms, rattling windows... It's an offensive noise. It's offensive to elderly people, to young people... It's a problem for merchants," explained Police Sgt. Neil Swendsen.

Police will start cracking down on riders whose bikes do not sound like average motorcycles without muffler modifications. First, the motorcyclist will be issued a fix-it ticket, to change their bike back to the way it used to sound. If the owner does not comply another fine could be added.
When asked how officers will be able to gauge which bikes are modified they simply said they will know when they feel it.
"When it starts to rattle the fillings out of your teeth, you know the bike is too loud," said Sgt. Swendsen.
The enforcement will last through the summer. Based on residents and business owner responses, the ban could spread to other parts of the city.

[BikerGoddess]

[Just removed my duplicate topic.] It's a real crock, isn't it? I guess this means DQ can't ride through North Beach anymore. And he so enjoyed setting off car alarms there... This latest enforcement will be totally based on cops' perceptions. I think the SFPD should be required to carry decibel meters and define an actual noise limit.

I know of at least one rider who got ticketed during Mods vs. Rockers today--for what I don't know. It would have been awfully difficult--but really amusing--for SFPD to try to ticket a few hundred riders in the Stockton tunnel. It was the largest gathering of aftermarket exhausts that I've seen in a long time! [moto]

[Formerly Known as Hawaiibiker]

"When asked how officers will be able to gauge which bikes are modified they simply said they will know when they feel it. "When it starts to rattle the fillings out of your teeth, you know the bike is too loud," said Sgt. Swendsen."


Being relatively new to California, I'm really surprised to hear that they're not required to use a decibel meter to determine if you've exceeded a specified db threshold before a ticket can be issued.

I did a google search but couldn't find a definitive answer .... does any one know?

[Princess]

Limit is 85 db. Stock is 85 db. Anything louder is not up to code. I guess that means no one on the board can ride warning-less in North Beach/the Wharf.

[mostrobelle]

Given the location(s) of the crackdown I don't think it's us that they're worried about.  There are large groups of Harley riders who cruise up and down Embarcadero--they go down to Fisherman's Wharf and then come back to Pier 27--a local Harley bar on the Bay.  The noise they make really does rattle your teeth.  Our Ducs are NO comparison--even as much as we'd like to think they might be.  No, they're not "legal" but I'd be shocked--and I mean SHOCKED--if any of us were to get a ticket for this new ordinance.   

[DanTheMan]

Reason #686 why i won't live in SF. Enjoy the crack down 

[BikerGoddess]

Given the location(s) of the crackdown I don't think it's us that they're worried about.  There are large groups of Harley riders who cruise up and down Embarcadero--they go down to Fisherman's Wharf and then come back to Pier 27--a local Harley bar on the Bay.  The noise they make really does rattle your teeth.  Our Ducs are NO comparison--even as much as we'd like to think they might be.  No, they're not "legal" but I'd be shocked--and I mean SHOCKED--if any of us were to get a ticket for this new ordinance.   

Umm, have you heard DQ's Arrow system lately? That's a citation waiting to happen. We were thinking of going to dinner in NB tomorrow night but now it's probably out of the question. Unless DQ can Jedi mind-trick a cop...

[mostrobelle]

Yeah, I've heard it--he and I sat on the sidewalk and revved our engines one time. (His was louder.)  I've heard the Harley's too. (I work down there and my monitor rattles when the Hogs roll by.)  DQ's Db's aren't even in the same galaxy as these things.  Trust me.  I like motos--I even like Harleys--but these suckers are off-the-charts annoying and businesses on the strip and home-owners on the hill are complaining.  DQ would have to kill like 17 virgins on a pilgrimage while doing a wheelie naked and jerking off in front of a bunch of school kids in order to get more attention than the Harley's from the cops down there.       (Please give us warning when he's going to take on this challenge.  I want to have the red-hot poker ready to gouge out my eyes.)   

[ROBsS4R]

Thanks Mostrobelle 

I am never going to get that image out of my head now 

[GrendelsTwin]

Given the location(s) of the crackdown I don't think it's us that they're worried about.  There are large groups of Harley riders who cruise up and down Embarcadero--they go down to Fisherman's Wharf and then come back to Pier 27--a local Harley bar on the Bay.  The noise they make really does rattle your teeth.  Our Ducs are NO comparison--even as much as we'd like to think they might be.  No, they're not "legal" but I'd be shocked--and I mean SHOCKED--if any of us were to get a ticket for this new ordinance.   

+1 

"Harley Davidson - The most effective way to turn gasoline into noise without the side effect of horsepower."

[Itsasickness]

I was going to say that I would prefer that they keep it as Cops idea of loud than using a dB meter, than I'd be toast!  But setting off car alarms is a right of passage for Ducati owners, down with the Harley's 

[BikerGoddess]

Thanks Mostrobelle 

I am never going to get that image out of my head now 

Ditto.

[Craig Thomas]

DB Killers   

[Labbedds]

theres no db killers for the arrow carby's 

[Spidey]

I know some folks in the SFPD Traffic division.  Next time I talk to one of them, I'll get the scoop.