I have a video of a motorcyclist generating over 120 dB of noise at 6:32 a.m. one recent morning in front of the new condos by Duncan McNaughton on the makai side of the Ala Moana Shopping Mall. This guy is there EVERY morning about the same time. He returns around 4:35 or 5 in the evening, acting the same way each time. I'm interested in nailing him, of course. But I'm interested in the larger issue of what are our laws, what are the penalties and what can be done if the enforcers refuse to enforce.
Thank you.
Quieter O'ahu Response:
Aloha
That's LOUD. Too LOUD. Hearing damage LOUD.
And from visiting our website you'll also know it's illegal. Illegal in the sense that the Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspection (PMVI) Guide for motorcycles clearly directs FAILING the inspection on any motorcycle modified to emit noise louder than originally installed. I believe that's around 80dB. See page 5 of the link below.
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/files/2013/01/mvso-PMVI-Manual-for-Inspectors-of-Motorcycles.pdf
Police will tell you they have no way of measuring dB. The counter to this is "Fine, then as a sworn officer "suspecting" an illegal modification, remove his inspection certificate and direct that his motorcycle be inspected by the "reconstruction station" to determine if it still meets OEM specifications." They CAN do that. Unless they just want to blow you off.
You can also call or email the media. I believe our website contact information under What To Do When Enforcers Won't Enforce is correct for the TV and print media. Contact them. Maybe they'll come cameras rolling and record the guy and then ask him "Hey, what's up with that?" That's a newsy item and maybe they'd want to tell that story.
Civil Beat is another good outlet. Email them. They're always looking for newsy stories and are particularly good at representing problems of the common man.
Go to your Neighborhood Board and tell this story and that HPD will/won't assist. HPD has a rep at every Neighborhood Board meeting, usually a Sergeant or Lieutenant - let them explain to the neighborhood why HPD isn't enforcing the law!
Just some ideas. But here's what NOT TO DO: don't confront this guy yourself. That just never ends well. Use HPD, use the media, use your neighborhood board. I'm fairly certain that in that mix you'll get visibility for this issue and perhaps resolution.
Mahalo,
A Quieter O'ahu