Jeune magique et intellig
2009-05-06, 06:57 PM
Bad boy or girl bikers who love to rev those engines and hear the roar of a noisy exhaust on their motorcycles take note.
The Fredericton Police Force hasn't forgotten last fall's pledge to crack down on exhaust systems on motorcycles and muscle cars in the capital city this summer.
Police Chief Barry MacKnight said officers will target "the worst of the worst'' as they try to reduce noise associated predominantly with motorcycles that have unbaffled exhaust systems.
Under section 35 of the Motor Vehicle Act, the driver of a motor vehicle operating on a highway has to ensure that the vehicle is "equipped with a muffler and exhaust pipe or pipes in good working order and in constant operation so as to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and no person shall operate a motor vehicle equipped with a muffler cut-out, by-pass or similar device."
The legislation is tough to enforce without a defined decibel level. The test for excessive noise is a subjective one, MacKnight said.
But there are police forces that have successfully charged drivers. Local officers are training with those agencies on evidence gathering to obtain convictions under the provincial law, he said.
"Now we're at the point where there's going to be more aggressive enforcement," MacKnight said Tuesday after a public safety and environment committee meeting at city hall.
"Those people know exactly who they are,'' said MacKnight. "If they don't change their pipes to something reasonable that complies with the law, then our officers are going to be dealing with them."
He said it's a quality of life issue in the capital city.
"The community is fed up with it and they are demanding that we take action, and we are taking action," the police chief said.
"We're focused on the worst of the worst here because the community has said to us that they're fed up with this, that they can't enjoy their property with these bikes going by.
"Let's cut to the chase and call it what it is; this is about those bikes that have basically straight pipes on them.''
The majority of the driving public is law-abiding and will comply, he said.
The police force has been encouraging local motorcycle dealers to educate their customers about the legislation and the crackdown.
While education is part of the effort, he said, expect fines of $172.50 for breaching noise provisions.
Motorcyclists stopped for excessive noise can also expect to face routine registration, insurance and helmet checks.
New Brunswick's Association of Chiefs of Police and the Department of Public Safety are also discussing legislative reform proposals to create a law that's easier to enforce.
"The Motor Vehicle Act as it exists now is difficult to work with," MacKnight said.
But despite the obstacles, convictions are being made, he said.
Coun. Bruce Grandy, who represents Ward 2 (Nashwaaksis), said the biggest issue is with motorcycles.
"When you sit there, they go by. They rev and rev and rev, wanting attention," Grandy said.
"I'm behind you guys (police) 100 per cent."
"This is one of the most annoying rites of spring," said Coun. Stephen Chase, a self-declared motorcycle aficionado.
"It's an attention-getter."
Unlike MacKnight, who hopes that word of mouth and peer pressure might bring change, Chase said most of the people who embrace the
noise aren't susceptible to peer pressure.
The Fredericton Police Force hasn't forgotten last fall's pledge to crack down on exhaust systems on motorcycles and muscle cars in the capital city this summer.
Police Chief Barry MacKnight said officers will target "the worst of the worst'' as they try to reduce noise associated predominantly with motorcycles that have unbaffled exhaust systems.
Under section 35 of the Motor Vehicle Act, the driver of a motor vehicle operating on a highway has to ensure that the vehicle is "equipped with a muffler and exhaust pipe or pipes in good working order and in constant operation so as to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and no person shall operate a motor vehicle equipped with a muffler cut-out, by-pass or similar device."
The legislation is tough to enforce without a defined decibel level. The test for excessive noise is a subjective one, MacKnight said.
But there are police forces that have successfully charged drivers. Local officers are training with those agencies on evidence gathering to obtain convictions under the provincial law, he said.
"Now we're at the point where there's going to be more aggressive enforcement," MacKnight said Tuesday after a public safety and environment committee meeting at city hall.
"Those people know exactly who they are,'' said MacKnight. "If they don't change their pipes to something reasonable that complies with the law, then our officers are going to be dealing with them."
He said it's a quality of life issue in the capital city.
"The community is fed up with it and they are demanding that we take action, and we are taking action," the police chief said.
"We're focused on the worst of the worst here because the community has said to us that they're fed up with this, that they can't enjoy their property with these bikes going by.
"Let's cut to the chase and call it what it is; this is about those bikes that have basically straight pipes on them.''
The majority of the driving public is law-abiding and will comply, he said.
The police force has been encouraging local motorcycle dealers to educate their customers about the legislation and the crackdown.
While education is part of the effort, he said, expect fines of $172.50 for breaching noise provisions.
Motorcyclists stopped for excessive noise can also expect to face routine registration, insurance and helmet checks.
New Brunswick's Association of Chiefs of Police and the Department of Public Safety are also discussing legislative reform proposals to create a law that's easier to enforce.
"The Motor Vehicle Act as it exists now is difficult to work with," MacKnight said.
But despite the obstacles, convictions are being made, he said.
Coun. Bruce Grandy, who represents Ward 2 (Nashwaaksis), said the biggest issue is with motorcycles.
"When you sit there, they go by. They rev and rev and rev, wanting attention," Grandy said.
"I'm behind you guys (police) 100 per cent."
"This is one of the most annoying rites of spring," said Coun. Stephen Chase, a self-declared motorcycle aficionado.
"It's an attention-getter."
Unlike MacKnight, who hopes that word of mouth and peer pressure might bring change, Chase said most of the people who embrace the
noise aren't susceptible to peer pressure.