Falmouth Targets Noisy Motorcycles

[jaredonfilm]

Hard to believe this hasn't been posted yet.



Cape Cod Times
By Aaron Gouveia
agouveia@capecodonline.com
May 22, 2009
FALMOUTH — Rod Baltz has been listening to the ocean waves lap against the shore from his Falmouth summer home since 1967.

But over the last few years, Baltz, 85, said nature's soundtrack on coastal roads like Grand Avenue is often blocked out by excessive noise from passing motorcycles. As a result, Baltz helped form the Quiet Roads Association and sought help from the Falmouth Police Department to ticket people with defective or modified exhausts in an effort to cut down on noise.

"The noise is embarrassing and it's an imposition on residents," Baltz said. "We're not a bunch of firebrands or anything, but it's a quality-of-life issue."

Falmouth Police Chief Anthony Riello said his officers began focusing on noise abatement last summer. Using existing patrols as well as part-time help funded from the general overtime budget, police monitor "hot spots" like Grand Avenue, Menauhant Road and Central Avenue and pull over any motorist with an exceptionally loud vehicle.

Officers inspect the vehicle to see whether the muffler is an original part. If not, that is considered an after-market alteration and is illegal, Falmouth police Sgt. Douglas DeCosta said.

Officers ticket violators at their discretion. Police Sgt. Douglas DeCosta said the fine is $35 for a defective exhaust or muffler, and $50 for a modified system.

Last year police issued 63 citations, DeCosta said, and officers will be on the lookout for noisy vehicles starting this weekend.

Richard Strawn, 59, of Marstons Mills, has been riding motorcycles for 35 years and periodically rides his Harley-Davidson Sportster along ocean roads in Falmouth.

Strawn said most bikers are responsible and strive to make sure they are in compliance with all laws and regulations. However, he said motorcyclists in certain areas are unfairly targeted by law enforcement personnel and stopped for indiscriminate noise complaints.

"They can stop you just because they can, just in certain areas that have certain townspeople that get a bug up their butts about noise," Strawn said via cell phone, while attending a motorcycle rally at the Statehouse.

Riello said his officers do not haphazardly target bikers, adding that responsible motorcyclists have nothing to fear when traveling through Falmouth.

"Our officers can tell if someone is on a crotch rocket going 90 MPH," Riello said. "But motorcycles do make a certain amount of noise, so no one will bother four or five motorcyclists riding their Harleys."

[a13x]

Crotch rocket? Nice. Cause Harley's of course can't go 90. Stereotypical prick.

[Woodsy]

OK before anybody gets all up in arms, I was born and raised in Falmouth. I ride there often. I have NEVER had a cop screw with me for anything. This is mainly targeted at the ridiculously loud exhausts. the reason for the provision is if they do pull over a straight pipe harley they cannot ticket him without a sound meter. this allows them to hit him on the aftermarket exhaust with out having to produce the meter. if you are not in the wrong bring it to court.

As i said i know these guys, the cops are good people down there. that being said we have a bunch of squids and cruiser riders running straight pipes that are a bit much. if you ride a sport bike with a decent aftermarket exhaust i can say with confidence you will not be ticketed. I ride my VTR1000 with low mount microns down there all the time and the only thing the cops have ever said to me is that is sounds nice.

[SRTie4k]

I can understand the rediculously loud blat of Harley's with straight pipes, but any modified system? Bullshit.

It's all those retirement towns you have to watch out for. Old bastards.

[Woodsy]

I can understand the rediculously loud blat of Harley's with straight pipes, but any modified system? Bullshit.

It's all those retirement towns you have to watch out for. Old bastards.

Falmouth is not a retirement community. I assure you that the only way you will be pulled over in falmouth is if your pipes drown out a siren. the problem is that the law currently did not have any provision for citing a motorcycle for noise unless it was offically tested on the side of the road. in this instance if the cop gives you a ticket they will provide you with a staion to go to where they will test it for FREE and if you pass, no ticket. if you can pass inspection you will pass this.

[jaredonfilm]

Falmouth is not a retirement community. I assure you that the only way you will be pulled over in falmouth is if your pipes drown out a siren. the problem is that the law currently did not have any provision for citing a motorcycle for noise unless it was offically tested on the side of the road. in this instance if the cop gives you a ticket they will provide you with a staion to go to where they will test it for FREE and if you pass, no ticket. if you can pass inspection you will pass this.

I don't know about that. A friend of mine has a zx-14 with HR1 cans which passed inspection last week. He was pulled over on Wednesday, cruising in 2nd gear. Apparently the officer let him go as they are just stepping up enforcement on the regulation. He was told though, to not ride in Falmouth with that exhaust anymore.

[ChicknStripEatr]

"Welcome to Cape Cod"
Now give us your money and get the FUCK out!

[-jro-]

"Our officers can tell if someone is on a crotch rocket going 90 MPH," Riello said. "But motorcycles do make a certain amount of noise, so no one will bother four or five motorcyclists riding their Harleys."

[Doc]

What about loud cars?

[scubasteveRR]

"Welcome to Cape Cod"
Now give us your money and get the FUCK out!

Bwahahahahaahahahah

[Pittenger5]

Damn crotch rockets

[Woodsy]

What about loud cars?

not proud of it but i did get ticketed for a loud exhaust when i was in high school as well as a ticket for my sound system. if you drive a loud civic though there you will be ticketed. take if from me, i am a guy who is all about government staying out of my life, but if you get ticketed in falmouth you deserve it. Hell, i would say half the force rides motorcycles.

[Doc]

Hell, i would say half the force rides motorcycles.

Harley's I bet.

Glad to see that they are not discriminating.

[Pittenger5]

You can all laugh at my sewing machine exhaust now. Ill wave at you when I cruise my black ass through falmouth without a second glance.

[Woodsy]

Harley's I bet.

Glad to see that they are not discriminating.

Mostly GSXR's. you would be surprised how many motorcycle cops ride sport bikes.

[thebambino79]

^^^
Oh no... they are ok! It was clearly stated that loud MOTORCYCLES bother this old man...loud cars, no their noise isn't bothersome.

[BLACK SQUIRREL]

No Falmouth For me then

My bike sounds Like a supercross race

[Pigman]

Going to buy a Slash Cut and head down there.....for sure.....


I am so sick of PC shit its just getting way to outta hand.....suck it up and DEAL WITH IT.

[KawiSmurf]

My first reaction to this was to get really pissed off, and go off on a rant about old bastards worrying about "quality of life" at 85 (WTF)? Not to mention gross misuse of police resources. But then I calmed down, and realized that this just seems to be a sign of things to come, the way the tides are turning against aftermarket exhausts everywhere.

I was happy when my bike passed inspection with the new pipe this year, but then realized that maybe it was a little too loud, especially when I'm getting more and more comments like "that's louder than my father's Harley," or "it sounds like a pissed-off two-stroker." So if I get stopped and questioned, so be it. I'll just do my best to avoid towns and people like this. Any prick that uses the term "crotch rocket" as unlovingly as this guy did seems to have an underlying bias, in my eyes.

'Quiet Roads Association'? Seriously? Get a hobby, folks, besides ruining mine.

[ChrisNoF4i]

Ohh, if I had a nickel.

[Pittenger5]

I am so sick of PC shit its just getting way to outta hand.....suck it up and DEAL WITH IT.

I will retell this story. I pull up on my KTM with bone stock exhaust to a stop light. A kid about my age on a Harley (sportster I think, straight pipes of course) pulls up next to me, and says "wow, thats really quiet for a street bike". Some people legitimately think that its the proper way to have it loud as fuck. I love bikes as much as anyone, but hang out on Newbury with us some night and listen to the douchecanoe's leaning on the rev limiter for 5 minutes with D&D pipes. I want to ban loud exhausts. And I dont care what anyone says, some of those Harleys are loud as fuck, and you can literally hear them 5 blocks away.

[Pigman]

I will retell this story. I pull up on my KTM with bone stock exhaust to a stop light. A kid about my age on a Harley (sportster I think, straight pipes of course) pulls up next to me, and says "wow, thats really quiet for a street bike". Some people legitimately think that its the proper way to have it loud as fuck. I love bikes as much as anyone, but hang out on Newbury with us some night and listen to the douchecanoe's leaning on the rev limiter for 5 minutes with D&D pipes. I want to ban loud exhausts. And I dont care what anyone says, some of those Harleys are loud as fuck, and you can literally hear them 5 blocks away.

Loud exhaust is one thing being a Douche is another and I shouldn't have mine on BAN status cause some tool want's to over rev there Motorcycle....give the Tool the ticket for revving it up not me....my 2 cents

[Woodsy]

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.60 (J2ME/MIDP; Opera Mini/4.2.13057/516; U; en) Presto/2.2.0)

I would venture to say, if he was not speeding, FF36Buell could go through Falmouth with no problem. Is is the people with the "loud pipes save lives" arguement that have a problem. If I am 1000ft away and I can't have a conversation then you should be ticketed. I can say that everyone that I have ever ridden with would not have a problem in falmouth. If you doubt that PM me and I will take you on a ride down there this weekend. Falmouth has some of the best roads in the state for sport bikes.

[Pittenger5]

Loud exhaust is one thing being a Douche is another and I shouldn't have mine on BAN status cause some tool want's to over rev there Motorcycle....give the Tool the ticket for revving it up not me....my 2 cents

Problem being is the public doesnt differentiate and then leads to them calling the police and whining about bikes.
And like I say, I like Harleys, I rode one once, it was fun, but some of them are OBSCENELY loud. I live right off the Fells Way in Melrose and you can head them miles away, cruising down the road. I got no problem with them, but I can see why a LOT of people do.

[Doc]

"If loud pipes save lives, Imagine what learning to ride that thing would do"