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Not sure if this is still active, but I'm at my wit's end with the motorcycles here. The cops wont do anything. The motorcycles seem to get louder and louder every day.
Quieter O'ahu
Where to begin. Well, maybe at the beginning.
First, we have ample ordnances and statues on the books that 'Could' be enforced by HPD, but the matter is, simply, that they do not. They will tell you that the ordnances and statues are written vaguely, and that there's no accurate way of determining that a motorcycle is too loud. Yeah, really! You can find many of these very straightforward ordnances and statutes here: Hawai'i Noise Laws and here: Reporting Noise Violations.
So the next route is to understand that the really loud motorcycles are loud because the exhaust has been modified to remove the muffler and use a "straight pipe" from the manifold to the environment. Some of these straight pipes have additional baffles added to the interior to increase the resonance (noise) of the pipe. Aftermarket, and illegal, exhaust systems have been documented as loud as 127dB(a). That is many, many, many, many times louder than permitted under Hawai'i's laws and statues.
But another approach could be to report the offending motorcycle, or motorcycles to HPD on the basis of their being illegally equipped according the the "Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspection (PMVI) Guide for Inspectors of Motorcycles." You can find a copy of the PMVI at: PMVI Manual For Inspectors Of Motorcycles.
At page 5 of the guide it specifically addresses the requirement for an exhaust system. This includes the requirement for a functioning muffler. Straight pipes do not have mufflers, hence, the officer can compel the owner to have the motorcycle re-inspected - usually by the Dept of Motor Vehicles Reconstruction Branch, to determine if it's in compliance. This will make the owner reinstall the muffler or face fines or possibly forfeiture. The requirements from the PMVI are:EXHAUST SYSTEM (Line 6 of Form)
Components must be securely mounted, have no leaks or an unacceptably loud
sound level. Welding cracks is an acceptable method of repairing an exhaust pipe. Fail exhaust system if:
--It is leaking.
--Any component part is not securely fastened.
--Any component part is missing, equipped with exhaust cut-outs, by-pass or similar devices or lacks a muffler. Installing a baffle in an open pipe is acceptable provided it reduces the noise level to about that of a stock exhaust system.
--Emits a much louder noise than that emitted by the vehicle as equipped from the factory, or
--Exhaust gas is not exiting beyond the passenger.
But to really take care of this problem will require our elected officials to bring pressure to bear on the Chief of Police and Officers of HPD to enforce the laws. And if those laws are, in fact, too vague, make them clear and make HPD enforce them. To do this I suggest you email your Neighborhood Board, your Council Person, and perhaps even notify the media - they're always up for a good human interest piece. You can find contact information for each of these at this link: Things You Can Do.
When it comes to the egregiously out of control noise of motorcycles, boom cars, car and truck illegally modified exhausts and other sources of noise, we have to combat the problem by making our own noise. Exercise your email and let your elected representatives know that you're not going to take it any more.
Good luck.
Very best regards,
Quieter O'ahu
Not sure if this is still active, but I'm at my wit's end with the motorcycles here. The cops wont do anything. The motorcycles seem to get louder and louder every day.
Quieter O'ahu
Where to begin. Well, maybe at the beginning.
First, we have ample ordnances and statues on the books that 'Could' be enforced by HPD, but the matter is, simply, that they do not. They will tell you that the ordnances and statues are written vaguely, and that there's no accurate way of determining that a motorcycle is too loud. Yeah, really! You can find many of these very straightforward ordnances and statutes here: Hawai'i Noise Laws and here: Reporting Noise Violations.
So the next route is to understand that the really loud motorcycles are loud because the exhaust has been modified to remove the muffler and use a "straight pipe" from the manifold to the environment. Some of these straight pipes have additional baffles added to the interior to increase the resonance (noise) of the pipe. Aftermarket, and illegal, exhaust systems have been documented as loud as 127dB(a). That is many, many, many, many times louder than permitted under Hawai'i's laws and statues.
But another approach could be to report the offending motorcycle, or motorcycles to HPD on the basis of their being illegally equipped according the the "Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspection (PMVI) Guide for Inspectors of Motorcycles." You can find a copy of the PMVI at: PMVI Manual For Inspectors Of Motorcycles.
At page 5 of the guide it specifically addresses the requirement for an exhaust system. This includes the requirement for a functioning muffler. Straight pipes do not have mufflers, hence, the officer can compel the owner to have the motorcycle re-inspected - usually by the Dept of Motor Vehicles Reconstruction Branch, to determine if it's in compliance. This will make the owner reinstall the muffler or face fines or possibly forfeiture. The requirements from the PMVI are:EXHAUST SYSTEM (Line 6 of Form)
Components must be securely mounted, have no leaks or an unacceptably loud
sound level. Welding cracks is an acceptable method of repairing an exhaust pipe. Fail exhaust system if:
--It is leaking.
--Any component part is not securely fastened.
--Any component part is missing, equipped with exhaust cut-outs, by-pass or similar devices or lacks a muffler. Installing a baffle in an open pipe is acceptable provided it reduces the noise level to about that of a stock exhaust system.
--Emits a much louder noise than that emitted by the vehicle as equipped from the factory, or
--Exhaust gas is not exiting beyond the passenger.
But to really take care of this problem will require our elected officials to bring pressure to bear on the Chief of Police and Officers of HPD to enforce the laws. And if those laws are, in fact, too vague, make them clear and make HPD enforce them. To do this I suggest you email your Neighborhood Board, your Council Person, and perhaps even notify the media - they're always up for a good human interest piece. You can find contact information for each of these at this link: Things You Can Do.
When it comes to the egregiously out of control noise of motorcycles, boom cars, car and truck illegally modified exhausts and other sources of noise, we have to combat the problem by making our own noise. Exercise your email and let your elected representatives know that you're not going to take it any more.
Good luck.
Very best regards,
Quieter O'ahu
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