Every once in a while something comes along that really pisses me off and I have to spread the word. Yesterday one of those things happened.
I rode into Boston and when I came out from my appointment, I found that the Boston Police left me a little note. Not the dreaded orange kind where I end up owing them money kind of note. This was something new and interesting.
Pipe down please
PIPE DOWN PLEASE
Be considerate of the neighborhood where you are operating your motorcycle. Loud exhaust pipes become a quality of life and a noise issue. We need your cooperation.
There is a Massachusetts Law under Chapter 40 Section 22 for Excessive Noise, an EPA Federal Law that requires the labeling of exhaust pipes and a City of Boston Ordinance on Altered Exhaust Systems. Please operate your motorcycle within the confines of the law. Boston Police Officers will enforce the law when you have altered exhaust pipes or caused excessive noise from your exhaust pipes. Be courteous and obey the law. It’s much nicer to be quieter.
Boston Police Department
Now if I look beyond the total pandering copy of this sickly sweet “we hate you” note Boston’s well documented prejudice of bikers shows through.
There have been rumblings of this evil $300.00 Boston City Ordnance among riders here in Massachusetts. Basically, it’s illegal. This Ordinance goes well beyond pulling you over if your bike is stupid loud. This specific ordinance requires that a Motorcycle Exhaust must carry an EPA stamp which is visible to a parking or police officer who can issue a citation if they don’t see the EPA stamp – violation is subject to a $300 fine. Citations can be issued whether the vehicle is in operation or parked on a street in the City of Boston.
So now Boston wants my pipes to have some sort of stamp on them visible to a parking nazi, yet the State of MA says that I must have heat shields on my bike. How can you have both? Also, just because an exhaust pipe has a stamp doesn’t mean it falls within the 105db limit in MA.
If we allow fascist dictators like Mayor “Mumbles” Menino, of Boston, or any local officials to concoct asinine laws directing their prejudice against us, they will legislate our past time of motorcycling completely out of existence. We must take a stand against this tyranny.