Are police and legislators protecting the after market noise industry over tourism? Seems we get more money from tourism. Yet a scan of any Expedia or Trip Advisor review section for Oahu will turn up multiple complaints about motorcycles and dirt bikes heard from hotel rooms.
Also, board meeting minutes usually list 6-8 muffler violations a month. Are they the same 6-8 people? Are police scared to make these stops?
I’ve exchanged emails with my two representatives (city and county) and talked to HPD and i’m done. This state seems to pride itself on its incompetence and laziness. I’m looking forward to my move date.
Quieter O'ahu Response:
Great question. Let us pose a rehtorical question to you in response: Who do you think makes the largest donations to the election campaigns of local politicians, after market noise industry on O'ahu or tourist visiting Waikiki? The obvious answer to that question is also the answer to your question. The industry selling after-market exhausts for motorcycles, mopeds, trucks, and automobiles, and the after-market industry for overly powerful and irresponsibly loud audio systems are well organized locally, and they are backed by national lobbying groups as well. All of these groups contribute to campaigns and that inevitably buys influence. Tourist, and even many of us locally who oppose this racket, do not have that level of organization or influence. Yet.
Enter "Quieter O'ahu." One of our goals is to become organized through a comprehensive email distribution list that will be used to forward information on noise and noise-related legislation and other issues to our members. Ultimately it will be used to organize email campaigns to lobby HPD, City Council, and the Legislature on noise reduction and enforcement of existing ordinances and statutes. You've been added to our distribution and, hopefully, you will assist when we move forward with a campaign to let HPD and our politicians know that enough is enough.
Mahalo,
Quieter O'ahu